Paul Roberts

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14miles is A LOT of fishing! I added a couple things above.

Sounded like a fun day. Yeah, go knock on some doors. Often, anglers simply don't bother asking and never find out what's just around the corner!

Gosh, depends on how tortuous the river, current speed (low flows can double your time), how you fish, etc... . Better to end up with a shortened trip, than too long I think, remembering back to "The Death Float" a couple friends and I endured when over-ambitiousness combined low flows turned the trip into a haul rather than a float. We also had a hard time recognizing our take-out in the dark. Good idea to make a real good mental note of your take-out, and I know some guys that use a reflective marker that a flashlight beam will pick up. I'd suggest, if it's new water, you make a shorter run first. If it's good water you'll catch plenty. Get more ambitious after you know the playing field. 18-20" fish -that's likely pretty big water. If there are decent numbers of them, and it sounds like your water may have that (large and "managed" for smallmouth), it probably isn't whether you will find such a fish, but whether you bring it to hand. Often, when stream smallie fishing, you can catch so many "lesser" fish, and they are so strong, knots and line gets weakened. All the while the call to re-tie nags. "Ah just a couple more..." Then, you set the hook and feel something really solid, that you can't move, until it realizes it's hooked... :-[ One more technique that is useful: With all that water you see on a float you simply don't have time to do them all justice as you work your way toward your take-out. Cast (even pull out and wade) the real obvious spots, but with those longer deeper pools try this: Drag an appropriate weight jig directly below the boat as you drift through the pool, staying as close to bottom, even ticking or dragging it. We picked up a lot of fish this way, and often added walleyes and cats to the catch -both make for a great camp supper.

You are in for a treat. What fun! In my book, some of the best freshwater fishing there is bar none. Here's a jumble of advice: Remember, you can always beach the boat and wade-fish good stretches. If you end up really liking this kind of fishing, consider bringing a tent and make a few days of it. You'll get to see water few do, even in well populated areas. Streams (with current) are less affected by bright sun than stillwaters, so I often abandoned the lakes and ponds and hit the streams on such days. Slow rivers though can be more stillwater-like, so cover and shade becomes helpful on such waters. In faster more open waters, the bass may bite with abandon under bright sun. I don't know that river (size, lake/pond-like, current, cover-wise) of course, but I'd stay with lighter tackle -L or ML spinning rod and 6#. I actually often use an UL and 4# -even on good sized rivers. But my waters didn't have lots of wood -mostly cobbles and boulders, so I'm fighting them in open water. I often used a fly-rod too. I also wade-fished small creeks a lot, with an UL; very simple and just great fun. Many little creeks I knew could give up 50 to 100 fish days, "lunkers" being 14 to 15inches -spectacular fish on an UL. River smallies are often aggressive and my word do they fight! I liked small twister type grubs (bring lots of heads), in-line spinners, floating Rapalas, small topwaters I think you can keep it pretty simple. River smallie fishers nowadays just rave over tube jigs, but either they weren't available or I wasn't aware of them back then. One trick that really worked to add catches is to switch lures. Fish a pool or pocket and catch a few, then switch lures say a jig then an in-line and often you'll catch a few more that had become jaded to the first. I say liked and used bc there are no smallie streams near me now and that is a real loss. Time of year? June (early summer) will be GREAT! Spawn over and bass feeding like crazy. I also liked late summer when flows had receded which consolidated habitat, and the bass too. I've actually located areas with such concentrations that I could catch 15 to 25 decent smallies from each small pool! A bit of safety advice: If you are drifting a stretch of river (two cars), don't bite off too much water on your first outings. Three miles of road can be 10miles of river if it winds much. Do check maps before you go. I once drifted a section of the Genesee River in NY in a canoe. I have a habit of wanting to cast to anything remotely interesting and pulled out at the head of a wide riffle to cast to a log and eddy. Too shallow, but I noticed the river bottom was flat as a billiards table. Intrigued, I waded down the riffle, and found myself peering over a 100ft falls! There were people below and they looked like ants! There was no warning. If I hadn't pulled out to fish that ridiculous spot, I literally would not be sitting here typing this.

I hit the smallest shallowest ponds first: 6-7feet max and ~2acres. They heat quickly.

Yup. And it's true too! That's OK. I'm even happy with chubs and a hand-line. You know, it even seems that BassMaster mag is embarrassed about the north. They only recognize bass over 10lbs. Maybe a new mag should be developed, DinkMaster. Hey, while we're at it, how about a redeye, Coosa, or Guadalupe board???

OUCH! I can still hear and feel chunks of my front teeth breaking off. My dentist once asked me if I grind my teeth in my sleep. I replied, "No. I fish. A lot." He said, "STOP IT!". Eventually I bought clippers, bc my front teeth have no sharp edges anymore. John, hang a retractor with a pair of clippers on your coat/vest. They're cheaper in the long run.

Do they float?

GREAT lure! Nothing "old" about them. I use the #11 as a twitch bait in clear water when temps hit ~55F. I use the #13 as a wake bait a bit later -say 60F+. I use spinning tackle, 8lb mono, and a small snap (gives a better roll after the twitch.

I actually got out fishing today! Normally I'm doing ice-out winterkill checks at this time. But we had little snow this year, and the ponds thawed early. Every few years I actually get to fish in February. Got 6 LM, all were well away from shorelines and took either an X-Rap or a shad style grub. Water was 46F@7ft, 52F@1ft, 55F@3 (at the warmest N corner). Also caught (fouled) a decent bullhead. I don't know about you all, but my wife teases me about not bringing fish home often enough. So I was able to make her happy too. And my son had a great time playing with that bullhead in the sink, and helped me prepare it. He was pretty excited to check out the organs and the stomach contents -some mush and an intact killifish. We ID'd it as a brown bullhead. I at first thought it might be a yellow (which I've never caught before) but it had dark whiskers -and my son corrected me -"They're not whiskers they're barbels, Papa!" It felt great to finally get out! I'm now keeping my eye glued to the weather and planning my next outing. Monday's looking good. Back in business!

In spring I find bass that appear to be heat soaking, and appear not to be interested in feeding. That was my first thought of what you are seeing. It could be this, or they are just being spooked before you get to find out. Posted by: daviscw I assume your fish are SPOOKING -as in bolting. But to give you an idea of how aware bass can be in shallow water, here's a description of something subtler, that can make a huge difference: Bass (and other fish) that can see you may not even show major signs of being spooked. Often (if you are observant) its just a sag of the fins, a "sulking" behavior, that will tip you off that you've already screwed up. If I see this I mark the exact spot, leave the area, then sneak back (sometimes within 5 minutes) and remain hidden, say behind a shrub, and then cast well beyond, and catch 'em. The only difference is that I am not visible. This is the idea behind the "Tomato stake" ploy used by bed fishers. Under brilliant blue skies I make sure that not only the lure doesn't touch down near them, but that the line doesn't either. This may mean casting from several steps away, then walking back in line with your fish, and laying the line down just to one side of them and THEN retrieving the lure to them. This is a pain, and the landscape doesn't always allow for it, but it has shown me that such fish are catchable, just incredibly aware and spooky. The easiest route will be this: Wait for clouds.

Again, the long-lined white/pearl plastic worms on a jighead as the Lindners tout for pelagic smallies is an interesting and seemingly fitting option, although I've never tried it. Bladebaits might work well. They sink faster than stones and that vibration is just too much for smallies. I've used them in shallower water and they really catch active smallies fast.

I had a hard time thinking of any this morning. Must have got up on the right side! But after reading others, YEAH I DO! I agree with many of em. Why is Green Pumpkin called that?!! It's not green. What's a pumpkin got to do with it? Pumpkins are green! How does this help me choose a color without going to the shop and looking at it?? It's just not right. Now, this one shouldn't bother me either, I suppose, for the same reason as Natural stated. But, there is something wrong with spending a lot (most?) of your time thinking about yourself, which is what some such people I know do with most of their time. So, in this selfish spirit, I'll let it bother me for a bit. How about the woman I had lunch with who, between talk of recycling and the state of the natural world, righteously returned her drinking straw to the waitress stating, I don't use plastic. All I could think of was all the jet fuel burned to haul her sorry as$ to Nepal for her latest spriitual adventure. Do the math honey. Which reminds me of a great commentary on the urban elite, who fancy themselves as environmentalist/outdoors people, but rarely set foot outside -or at least off-trail. http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/dec/30/eyeing-that-hypocrite-in-the-mirror/ Yup. And a good one. Me, I hate seeing mutilated jaws on fish. It started in my trout fishing. Those popular spots often close to towns or bridges, or famous places that people fish because others (many others) found 'em, before (for) them. So...someone is happy catching fish (over and over again) with mutilated jaws (warped, scarred, and some with both maxillaries gone!), and smiling for the camera! Go find your own fish! Think for yourself! Hike a little, LIVE a little! I know this is kinda unfair, but, it represents something (in my own head of course) that's 180degrees from what satisfies me in my fishing.

That would be the state record where I live. Don't expect to see such a beast. I can't quite imagine a head that big. Your fish have some length too. Our (CO) state record at 11-something was only 22inches long! Just a gorgeous bass you have there. Paul, what do you make of the coloration on these fish (last two you've posted)?

I'll have to try that. I'm curious how they'll respond. Sometimes sighted fish can be darn tough.

This is a good post. No issues here that I can see. A ballpark, as SEnile1 mentions, is really what is appropriate here as it covers most fish in most waters. The rest fleshes things out in better detail -interesting stuff. That's really interesting, and telling. Thanks WRB.

Yes! Once upon a time, I fished smallie "runs" up tribs on NYs Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario. They won't go far upstream, so they are relatively easy to find. Smallies responded really well to lures then and this is the shallowest you'll find the big girls all year.

What you saw sounds to me like it might be a post-winter/pre-spawn migration. In rivers, bass are known to move quite a distance to and from adequate winter habitat -(which would be considered a migration vs a movement). When I first saw the title of your post I thought, "Ahh, the first movements to heated shallows". In ponds, and bays in lakes, warm shallows attract carp, bluegills, and bass. The sun is high enough now for this to be just starting here where I fish. It's the sun that does the cooking, not the air temp so much. I checked your weather for that day and, according to the weather site, you did have bright sun. But, it was COLD that day -not more than 40 in the shade. Yes? Or was it really toasty in the sun? So, I'm suspecting this was a stop on a migration route. River LM are known to use the shoreline as they travel. But, since this cove holds carp and bluegills it'll likely remain a good prespawn feeding area for bass. They'll only stay on into the spawn if the substrate is there. That's my best stab, from 1500 miles away. ;D As to catching them: Stealth is everything under bright sun. They can't see you, your lure in the air, your line flashing overhead or landing on the water. Good luck!

M Starr wrote on Yesterday at 11:56pm: First, are you SURE these fish are "4 lbers"? Is this a guestimate, or on a good scale? A 4lber, if it's fat, will be in the 19" class. tyrius. wrote on Today at 9:44am: This is pretty much right on. Available food does matter. Despite what one might assume, Bob Lusk has mentioned that growth periods in the N and S are actually very similar in duration. The growth period, as roadwarrior mentions, is based on metabolism and is the duration of time falling within the best growth temperature range. In the S, hot summers reduce the growth period. According to Bob, the N and S are pretty close in duration of growth period. What's different, he says, between N and S (besides florida strain bass and trout stocking) is food production, which is many times greater in the S than the N.

Off the top of my head: Growth is highly variable. Rapid growth more common in the S than the N. N bass live longer (up to 20years). S bass rarely surpass 10. Averages for northern LM with good growth in CO and NY (where I've fished and looked into it): 3lb age? 7years 5lb age? 10years 8lb age? 10lbs age? These are so rare in the north that it would be case by case. These are special fish that figured something out, are especially aggressive individuals in un-fished waters, or are genetic freaks. There's data out there. Your DNR will have some for waters in your state.

THAT WAS TONY"S POTATO! IT"S STILL THERE!!?? ;D Sorry to go so far off topic. Great to catch up, mate.

Fly-fishing is a great way to catch 'em -Just love it. Yeah, what always killed me were the guys all decked out like something they saw in a magazine -and carrying a "fly rod" strung with 20#, and sponge impaled on a#1 gold hook. Very short 4-1/2 to 5ft UL rods were the rage for those guys for a while. Imagine a tiny UL blank with 20# on it -then tethered to a steelhead. Dummest thing I still have ever seen in fishing. Took awhile before people began to find that those fish could actually be caught fair and square. First time I appeared at Linear with real fly tackle (late 70s), a guy nearly attacked me shouting, (and I quote) "You're dreamin' kid, I say YOU'RE DREAMIN'!" It was apparent to me right then and there that the wannabes wanted to be real anglers -bad! This is not to put down the newbs of that era, but I'm still PO'd at what that fishery was like back then. Some of it still occurs today I know. I went out of my way to show people how to catch them. Or, I just let 'em watch. I do remember the first time I looked upstream and down at Linear and saw only fair anglers. It was at the "Potato" (named by Tony Argento btw -for "meat-n-potatoes"). We were all shocked and gathered up and almost did a little dance together -a short-lived one though. Anyway, real happy to see you and Kase on that water. You probably already know, but there's steelies to be had from Victor down to the bay. Drop-back was one of my favorite periods. As water levels drop the big ones end up in the deeper holes. I LOVED hanging a big streamer in those pools. They'd simply KILL those streamers, and then jump eye level with you! Something they just can't muster in the winter. Well, your last thread got me goin' LOL. When I saw that water color, I was right there with you.

SF, do keep us posted. Gotta comment on Tuckman's post again: That's some really good clear water info right there. There's a lot behind those words.

Very nice! Looks like great water color, and bright fish. Congrats!