Did a 5 mile float with some some buddies yesterday on the lower J.
Fishing was poor. This was my first float on the river this year and I'd estimate it was my worst day of catching since the 2010 WW jam. :-o
I managed four bass and jumped or missed a handful of others. My buddies did better using spin gear and soft plastics. The bird watching was, however, excellent.
WEATHER: Partly cloudy turning cloudy, humid, 80-something.
WATER: 79 degrees F (confirmed with thermometer); stained although clearing further downstream; 3.7' at Newport gauge. Banksides were often muddy due to jet boat wakes.
HATCHES & FORAGE: Little of note, Damsels were heavy over the water and there were some splashy rises, but not many and fish were not looking up. Rolled rocks turned up many nymphs.
OBSERVATIONS: For this stage in the summer, I'd say the river looked a bit behind. Vegetation, for example, was less verdant than I expect to see at the end of July. The shoreline lizard grass beds were just beginning to form and island willow grass beds were also just emerging or not present at all. Submerged grass beds were also smaller and less prevalent than they usually are in this section. These results are, I think, a result of recent high flows.
I spent much of the time standing up and watching the water with my polarized glasses. I saw a lot of fish, including pretty good numbers of YOY bass. Adult SMBs were around, but none seemed bigger than mid-teens. I expect to see more big bass in this section along the shoreline shallows. I also saw sunfish here and there but no redds. As usual, quillbacks were numerous and there were a lot of carp, several with bass riding 'em. Catfish were very numerous and I saw dozens of them, all cookie-cutter sized fish around 20-25" in length. Many of the catties were in loose groups of several fish. They showed no interest in my flies. Saw no walleyes, rock bass, or muskies although I was looking for them. It should be noted, I was watching shallow water along the shoreline or mid-river riffles.
The bass today lacked their usual aggressive summer demeanor. They often followed my flies but turned away or just nipped at it. To the extent that we found willing SMBs it was mostly in the the riffles and faster water. Shorelines under overhanging trees did not produce today. As the day progressed, the fish did seem to become a bit more active. We quit at about 5pm.
Fishing was poor. This was my first float on the river this year and I'd estimate it was my worst day of catching since the 2010 WW jam. :-o
I managed four bass and jumped or missed a handful of others. My buddies did better using spin gear and soft plastics. The bird watching was, however, excellent.
WEATHER: Partly cloudy turning cloudy, humid, 80-something.
WATER: 79 degrees F (confirmed with thermometer); stained although clearing further downstream; 3.7' at Newport gauge. Banksides were often muddy due to jet boat wakes.
HATCHES & FORAGE: Little of note, Damsels were heavy over the water and there were some splashy rises, but not many and fish were not looking up. Rolled rocks turned up many nymphs.
OBSERVATIONS: For this stage in the summer, I'd say the river looked a bit behind. Vegetation, for example, was less verdant than I expect to see at the end of July. The shoreline lizard grass beds were just beginning to form and island willow grass beds were also just emerging or not present at all. Submerged grass beds were also smaller and less prevalent than they usually are in this section. These results are, I think, a result of recent high flows.
I spent much of the time standing up and watching the water with my polarized glasses. I saw a lot of fish, including pretty good numbers of YOY bass. Adult SMBs were around, but none seemed bigger than mid-teens. I expect to see more big bass in this section along the shoreline shallows. I also saw sunfish here and there but no redds. As usual, quillbacks were numerous and there were a lot of carp, several with bass riding 'em. Catfish were very numerous and I saw dozens of them, all cookie-cutter sized fish around 20-25" in length. Many of the catties were in loose groups of several fish. They showed no interest in my flies. Saw no walleyes, rock bass, or muskies although I was looking for them. It should be noted, I was watching shallow water along the shoreline or mid-river riffles.
The bass today lacked their usual aggressive summer demeanor. They often followed my flies but turned away or just nipped at it. To the extent that we found willing SMBs it was mostly in the the riffles and faster water. Shorelines under overhanging trees did not produce today. As the day progressed, the fish did seem to become a bit more active. We quit at about 5pm.
