Will Wetline

The Salmon River's dam was running the minimum flow, 185 cfs, to support the fishery. Reports from the previous two weeks said that there were still salmon coming up and increasing numbers of steelhead and browns were following them. Local intel had it that there were fish to be caught but a heavier flow of water would carry a stronger scent of freshly-laid salmon eggs to entice more big trout to leave lake Ontario and make their way upriver to feast. Here's a look at the stretch of the river that we fished: The first day we fished, October 26, we caught mostly salmon in the last stage of their life cycle. Aaron sorted through them and found a steelhead. The next day was cold with light to moderate rain but who cared? There were more trout passing by: My first. Don's brown did not want a photo op but it finally settled down enough for me to get this shot. Aaron displays a chunky brown. When we got to our spot the next morning there were several others there who had traveled from Hoboken. Their guide had set them up with egg sacs under floats. They were happy Hobokeners because they hammered the steel steadily for the first hour. They left about 1:00 and I was able to work the spot that I particularly like. Not a whole lot happening the rest of the day but I did land one . Another brown for Don. Break time for senior steelhead slayers. Ron from Connecticut relaxes on the right. Ron knows more than a little bit about Salmon River steelhead and is known as "Guru" by the rest of his gang because that's what a newspaper reporter called him when he won a trout derby on Candlewood Lake. Another member from CT, Dave, is referred to as "a machine" due to his efficiency hooking and subduing these magnificent fish. No pic of Dave this year but if you look up last year's post, you can see him in action. And let's not forget Lou and Eric who were not able to make it this year: they're both top sticks. Note to Lou: I used the Drennan fluoro and had only one break-off and it wasn't at the knot. Alright, break time's over. Let's say goodbye to this fine fish. Hope to see you next year!

Breaking news! https://www.bassmaster.com/news/minor-and-lanier-win-college-event

Uh . . . didn't think these pics were going to end up here. See, I got a PM from Glenn that while he was going through the latest pics thread, he discovered a number of photos were "lost" due to server issues and asked that I replace them. Found the Latest Catch Pics thread from June 6, 2015 but couldn't edit it . . . so those pics from May and early June '15 ended up here.

The barring on this hair and hackle perch was done with a Copic G99 olive marker. Solarez "Bone Dry" (thin) UV resin protects the collar.

Here's your basic 1/8 oz. crawfish pattern football jig which early prespawn smallmouth will consider a menu item when moseyed, paused and twitched across the bottom. This will be presented with a St. Croix Avid/AS70MLF, and a Shimano Stradic 2500 filled with 6 lb. Seaguar InvisX.

I have long suspected that smalljaw has an advanced degree in wire puzzle making. You might review this post from a couple months ago which covers different methods of closing loops on spinnerbaits. https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/226411-help-on-a-spinnerbait/

I work with a woman who's always fashionably dressed. When her husband harvested a bear I asked her if she could maybe score me a piece of its hide for jig making. Robin brought me a very generous piece. I made some jigs and then turned them into earrings.

I'm not at all surprised to hear that others have tried a number of streamer fly patterns rigged on a dropshot. I don't expect to be able to get out on my home water, a clear water reservoir in Massachusetts, for a while, but I've given a couple my ties to experienced fishing buddies to try out. I'll report back if they're successful.

Fallser, I did not weight them. I wiped the heads with both alcohol and lacquer thinner but it was the nail polish - which sure smells likes it's lacquer based - that brought back the glossiness I wanted.

Thank you. Hook down.

So what's a trout fly doing here, you ask? Well, this 1/8" wide strip of rabbit was designed by Dan Byford in the mid-'70s for trout but I say a version 3 1/2" - 4" long just might be of interest to smallies rigged up via dropshot. Here's the recipe: Hook: TMC 9395, size 4 Body: Hareline Dubbin Flat Diamond Braid Wing: "Zonker" rabbit strip Beard (optional): calf tail Thread: UTC 140 denier Note: The head is finished with Solarez thin UV resin which cured hard but had a film on it which dulled when touched. A coat of Hard As Nails made it glossy again.

Amazon doesn't recommend this box specifically for fishermen's storage of terminal tackle and fly tying components, but I sure do! https://www.amazon.com/Lockables-Double-Organizer-Fourteen-compartments/dp/B004N5MIF8 You can probably find this organizer at craft shops too.

I've been very pleased with Mike's work too.

That is a very generous offer, Allen, and if I lived in MD rather than MA I would join you. I'm sure it will be an excellent opportunity for brainstorming among bait makers.

A-Jay used a Senko for a jig trailer with big results on a Mexico trip several years ago.

I hadn't thrown a crankbait in several years but certain conditions called for one - and nothing else was working for me.

Allen, I've found that "not remembering buying" or simply an inability to bring back the feeling behind an excited purchase from say, 30 years ago happens more frequently as I get older. I did a thorough inventory of my stuff - all the way to the back of the hall closet - packed it up and brought it down to an annual fishing and hunting flea market. This sell off of unused gear, some of which was 40 years old, provided a bit of cash and more room, some of which has been filled with new stuff that I do use. It gives you a lighter feeling and that's a good thing.

It's unusual to be fishing Quabbin Reservoir for smallmouth with Brad when these fish are settling into their summer offshore pattern. Both Brad and I prefer going after them during early prespawn, late April - early May. Due to the combination of the COVID-19 delayed opening and Brad's ongoing outboard problems, my second 2020 Q trip and Brad's first didn't happen until the fish were (mostly) deep. Cruising out of Gate 43, I drove Brad to a favorite spot, a long ridge with deep water on one side. Lots of sandgrass, more than a few rocks, and a large number of beds that were vacated weeks ago are found here. "Brad, what are you gonna start with?" "Topwater." Me too although the sun was well over the treetops and the smallies surely wouldn't be on top of this flat in 8' of water. "Brad, position us right on the edge, wouldya?" He was very good all day to put up with my back seat driving. A 1/4 oz. popper caught this fish's attention at 7:30 and this one at 7:40. Meanwhile, Brad is also casting but distracted from his presentation by the remote control of the electric with which he was unfamiliar - it was on a boat he had borrowed so we could fish. Folks, let's have a round of applause for a bassmaster doing what he has to do. This chunky smallie slurped up a Texas rigged Smallie Beaver dragged about 20' deep. This day's smallies performed some terrific aerobatics as well as slugging it out in the depths. I hope you've had the experience of fighting a "supercharged" smallmouth; that's the word that comes to mind when describing smallmouth behavior in 76º water. Mid morning we headed out to the big water. Approaching my favorite rock pile, I asked Brad what he was going to throw. "Topwater." Now, The Book says you don't throw topwater when the sun is high on a summer day. I almost said to Brad, "Twenty bucks says you won't bring one up." Glad I didn't because my slender wallet would have gotten even thinner. We worked the hump thoroughly then down a wind-swept shoreline. We moved right along with Brad trying a variety of baits. I was doing a lot of nothing with a Z-Man's Jerk ShadZ, trying to force feed it to the bass. I knew I was working it properly because The Master Snapper himself, Mike Briglia, coached me on soft jerkbait fishing one fine spring day in 2015 and I have done well with this technique since. And let's not even mention hair and hackle jigs reeled and paused or ripped off the bottom their feathers fluttering seductively . . . No. Time on Quabbin is precious, especially this season, and I had been wasting it. I sat down, sipped luke warm coffee, and gave myself a talking-to. "We're working a windy, rocky, steep-breaking bank and the fish will respond to a . . . a . . . deep diving crank!" The weather report had said, " possibility of occasional showers." Brad said he enjoyed it. We needed rain. Coach Belichick would agree that the DT10 was doing its job. We moved on to investigate offshore flats, doing business on clearly defined drops. Precisely presented TRDs and wacky Senkos did the trick. You may be wondering at this point why there are so many pics of this short, gray-bearded jamoke and so few of the tall, clean-shaven captain and guide. Two reasons: Bassmaster Brad was paying attention to the well-being of his netman and, like a few other exceptionally good fishermen, simply doesn't want to take the time for a photo op. Toward the end of the afternoon, Brad deferred the choice of a last stop to me. "Back to the ridge we started on. I know an end-of-the-day sweet spot in 22 1/2 feet of water. Been catching big ones off it for the past 27 years." In position with the Spot Lock on, I cast the same bait that's worked for all those years and couldn't buy a bite. I was happy to serve as netman, however. In order to get this picture, I had to threaten to take away his TRDs. Informed of the time, Brad said his wife was going to be mad when he got home. Tracey, if you're reading this post, I implore you to understand the psychodynamics of real fisherman: The proclamation of "Last cast!" is merely acknowledgment that it's late in the day. You see, leaving biting fish causes severe emotional distress to a real fisherman. It also causes lasting damage to the psyche. I apologized to Brad for arriving at the ramp 14 minutes before the DCR says we have to be off the water. What a great day.

Okay. "Finesse" certainly does extend to presentation.

Leatherbaits trailer (tapered at top), palmered grizzly schlappen, polar chenille

I have not, but I have considered a dubbing loop and rabbit or some other material for a design that hasn't gelled in my imagination yet.

See reply. https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/225271-modified-hooks-for-poison-tail/

1/8 oz. Poison Tail Jig with Owner hook, saddle hackle, bucktail, grizzly hackle topping, Flashabou Accent and a red calf tail throat.

Saddle hackle is commonly used. https://barlowstackle.com/search.php?search_query_adv=saddle hackle&section=product Tie in a few strands of Krystal Flash too. https://barlowstackle.com/search.php?search_query_adv=Krystal Flash&section=product

I've poured several hundred Midwest Finesse jigs using mostly the recommended Owner 5313 but also the Eagle Claw "Lil Nasty" hooks and have never filled an eye. Scratching my head and tugging my beard, the only reason I can think of for a flashing problem with this mold (or others) is that when you pull the casting out, you're missing a very fine chip that has fallen off and is sitting on the face of the mold preventing its proper closure. . . . or . . . Are you taking the time needed to settle the WB-400 fittings into their places properly? No promise when, but when I pour another batch I'll take some pics.