Juniata River, Mifflin Co, 04/06/10

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Fishidiot

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Had a couple hours this warm afternoon while returning from center state on business - naturally, I wanted to hunt some big pre-spawn smallies in my favorite warm water river, the "Big J." The gage height at Newport read 5.60 which is a good level for this time of year (although way too high for anything more than wading along the shoreline). Although a good level, the river was stained and a VERY balmy 61 degrees F. I fished from shore and struck out at the first spot but the second runs paid off. The bass were laid up along current breaks along deep, shoreline eddies - which is typical for this time of year. I caught several and lost as many more. All but one were over 15" - the photo below was a very heavy fish pushing 19" and, I estimated, about 4lbs. Hits were subtle; a chartruese over orange Clouser fished low and slow did the trick. Would have been nice to have more fishing time today. It was downright warm with temps in the 80s. Folks were out in boats on the river and some teenagers were even swimming! I'd say spring is here. Hopefully 2010 will be a better year for bass than last year. It sure felt good to bend a big fly rod on some of our state's greatest fly rod game fish.
 

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Wow, beautiful fish Dave! Doesn't look like she fit in the net well...
 
Pig! I'm envious! Nice job.

You're gonna need a bigger boat!
 
What a monster! I hope to one day get into a smallie that big on the fly rod. If the pull on spinning gear is any indication, it's a freaking blast.
 
Dave, can you describe your rig that you use to catch big river smallies? Do you use floating line or sinking (tip)? Level leader or what? Tippet size? Thanks.
 
Wow what a fish!!! What did he take fishidiot? On a side note the Annual Butch Ward Touney was held last weekend @ John's River Camp Ground in Duncannon. Two smallies were weighed at 6lbs. 2 oz and 6lbs 11 oz !!!! These fish are wieghed on the boats and immediately released. For those of you who don't know, Butch Ward was the MD BASS FED president for many years and was implemental on making the Potomac River catch and release. This tourney is held to raise money for college scholarships. Tight lines to all!

Mike
 
JackM wrote:
Dave, can you describe your rig that you use to catch big river smallies? Do you use floating line or sinking (tip)? Level leader or what? Tippet size? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Jack,
You bet. I was using a 7WT outfit with floating WF. Leader was about 8-9' tapered to 12lb tippet. All the fish I caught took a chartruese over orange Clouser Minnow about 3" long.

I'll post a tutorial on the Warmwater Forum this evening when I've got some more time.
 
I caught my monster last year on a 5wt with 5x tippet lol. It has made me want to go after smallies more and I have a few spots to explore sometime this season. The fight was by far the best out of any species I've caught so far.


Nice fish Dave!!! I like the deep green color to her.
 
Great fish Dave...I am glad that you got into some nice smallies. That fish sure looks like twenty inches to me!!!
 
afishinado wrote:
Nice Smallie, Dave, but just


[color=FF0000]ONE MORE INCH!![/color]
Click to expand...

Arrgh! You got that right Tom - so close and yet so far. :-D


Actually it needs about an inch and a half - but who is checking right? :-D
 
Yea, I'm also catchin' some nice smallies with my fly rod. This year is turning out to be pretty good even with all the gloom and doom from last year.
Tight Lines












​
 
Awesome fish gents! Thanks for the reports. I'm anxious to get out my 7 wt for the first time. Maybe next week.

Keep the trout -- especially the stockies. Gimme the bass anytime.
 
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