salvelinusfontinalis
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 7,267
The river was on absolute fire!
I decided to go back to the area I was at before where I had witnessed a very strong population of smallmouth hanging along the West Bank. Gearing up in the boat launch parking lot is always a treat while talking with many of the river regulars. Lots of experience in these spin guys and it's always refreshing to exchange information.
I kayaked out to the main island and decided to poke around rather than fish for about 30 minutes. The wild flowers in full bloom while looking across the river is always a special treat. I reflected on my own conversion from a spring creek trout fisherman into a smallmouth river fisherman, the challenges I faced and the things I have learned. Still along ways to go but I believe Iam doing just great on my own. Books and articles have helped this process but nothing is more valuable than the time spent on the river observing. On that thought I continued my trek to the West Bank.
The river was up a good 6-8 inches higher than my last visit to this stretch. Rocks that were once exposed were now submerged just below the surface. I have found in the last few years that smallmouth change their holding lies monthly, weekly and daily so where are they this time? I tried what worked last time, which was fishing structure in the slack water along the bank but this proved to be futile. I took off my streamer and went to a green and yellow frog popper. I got a takes along the current seams just out into the river and along the submerged and exposed rocks. Game on!
The action was hot from 9:30 till I quit at noon. I would report how many fish I caught but i will keep mum on the fear of being called a lair. All I can say it is it was insane! It got to the point if I saw the fish jump and it was a 10-12 inches that leaped out but missed the fly I would toss somewhere else. I was looking for the hogs I already had numbers because it was just too easy. I landed a few hogs but....
Near the end of the stretch I wedged myself on a submerged Boulder in a "stronger" current seam sideways. I did this to stay stationary so I could fish a few boulders along the bank next to another current seam. I tossed the popper about 15 yards out across and gave it a few pops and I got a very subtle take. I pulled up and the fish immediately swam towards me. I thought to myself yep another smaller guy and then when the tension got back on the line my reel just screamed. This fish ran and ran. Bulldoged me constantly and WOULD NOT give up. At one point his head crested the surface along with the top of his tail and I could tell this was a serious smallmouth. Then it went back to bulldozing all over the river. Then I heard a plunk and my rod felt lighter. Sure enough my reel feel into the current right beside me. *%#*!!! I said. Now I have my hand n the fly line trying to pull this massive smallie in who is full of **** and vinegar. Then I hear the boat grinding on this barely submergered rock. The fish was pulling me off of the rock! If that happens I would be in real trouble because my reel is on the bottom of the river. I got the net ready and bang! Landed this fish. Thank god I got a long handled release net!
I painted my net with inches and the fish taped out at 22" just under 23" but I'm happy with calling it 22". Took a few pics which came out bad, I need a new camera, but it was hard to get a pic with all the shaking I was doing. I estimate the fish at almost 6lbs. Looked plain colored bronze out of the water but fully barred when I released it. Herons were flying over me squaking as I admired to fish while I was releasing it. I leaned over with my net and scooped up my reel but lost another pair of eye glasses. Doh!
Afterwards I parked the yak on a big rock and got ohut. I was still shaking terribly from what just happened. Another yak angler came up and asked if I caught them all. I said likely not, I'm not gonna be greedy, I'm going home to spend time with my wife.
When I get the pics off my camera I'll post them. I don't have home internet, just my phone. This trip confirmed I need an angler yak with an anchor and drag chain by next season.
Best fishing thrill of my life!
I decided to go back to the area I was at before where I had witnessed a very strong population of smallmouth hanging along the West Bank. Gearing up in the boat launch parking lot is always a treat while talking with many of the river regulars. Lots of experience in these spin guys and it's always refreshing to exchange information.
I kayaked out to the main island and decided to poke around rather than fish for about 30 minutes. The wild flowers in full bloom while looking across the river is always a special treat. I reflected on my own conversion from a spring creek trout fisherman into a smallmouth river fisherman, the challenges I faced and the things I have learned. Still along ways to go but I believe Iam doing just great on my own. Books and articles have helped this process but nothing is more valuable than the time spent on the river observing. On that thought I continued my trek to the West Bank.
The river was up a good 6-8 inches higher than my last visit to this stretch. Rocks that were once exposed were now submerged just below the surface. I have found in the last few years that smallmouth change their holding lies monthly, weekly and daily so where are they this time? I tried what worked last time, which was fishing structure in the slack water along the bank but this proved to be futile. I took off my streamer and went to a green and yellow frog popper. I got a takes along the current seams just out into the river and along the submerged and exposed rocks. Game on!
The action was hot from 9:30 till I quit at noon. I would report how many fish I caught but i will keep mum on the fear of being called a lair. All I can say it is it was insane! It got to the point if I saw the fish jump and it was a 10-12 inches that leaped out but missed the fly I would toss somewhere else. I was looking for the hogs I already had numbers because it was just too easy. I landed a few hogs but....
Near the end of the stretch I wedged myself on a submerged Boulder in a "stronger" current seam sideways. I did this to stay stationary so I could fish a few boulders along the bank next to another current seam. I tossed the popper about 15 yards out across and gave it a few pops and I got a very subtle take. I pulled up and the fish immediately swam towards me. I thought to myself yep another smaller guy and then when the tension got back on the line my reel just screamed. This fish ran and ran. Bulldoged me constantly and WOULD NOT give up. At one point his head crested the surface along with the top of his tail and I could tell this was a serious smallmouth. Then it went back to bulldozing all over the river. Then I heard a plunk and my rod felt lighter. Sure enough my reel feel into the current right beside me. *%#*!!! I said. Now I have my hand n the fly line trying to pull this massive smallie in who is full of **** and vinegar. Then I hear the boat grinding on this barely submergered rock. The fish was pulling me off of the rock! If that happens I would be in real trouble because my reel is on the bottom of the river. I got the net ready and bang! Landed this fish. Thank god I got a long handled release net!
I painted my net with inches and the fish taped out at 22" just under 23" but I'm happy with calling it 22". Took a few pics which came out bad, I need a new camera, but it was hard to get a pic with all the shaking I was doing. I estimate the fish at almost 6lbs. Looked plain colored bronze out of the water but fully barred when I released it. Herons were flying over me squaking as I admired to fish while I was releasing it. I leaned over with my net and scooped up my reel but lost another pair of eye glasses. Doh!
Afterwards I parked the yak on a big rock and got ohut. I was still shaking terribly from what just happened. Another yak angler came up and asked if I caught them all. I said likely not, I'm not gonna be greedy, I'm going home to spend time with my wife.
When I get the pics off my camera I'll post them. I don't have home internet, just my phone. This trip confirmed I need an angler yak with an anchor and drag chain by next season.
Best fishing thrill of my life!
