Spankey

You are right they were very popular and productive during the early 80’s. Long before the finesse craze came about. T-Rig, split shot and jig head them. Then they dried up locally for me. Not from being so popular but my belief of they were not so popular on a local level. But during that time many finesse style worms were becoming available and in my opinion much better. I’d like to have 10 cents for every Smallie I caught on a Mr. Twister Silk Worm or even the old Lucky Strike Razor Worm. In the 90’s the original Mann’s Dragin Worm I loved them. So did the river smallies. I still fish the Charlie Brewer sliders worms and jig heads fairly regularly.

Is an oppressive week here in my parts of PA. I was on the water by 5:00a and trailering up to head home by 8:10a on Mon., Thu. and Friday. The earlier hours were not carrying over the previous days heat. Could start off with 65-70 deg. air, no wind and water like glass. I didn’t set the world on fire. But didn’t take a skunking. My hookups were fish in 13-18 feet of water but nothing I’d call respectable fish. Biggest positive of the week was fishing some new soft plastics I’d picked up over the winter. All were productive. I’d never fished any of the ElaZtech baits. TRD Craws, Pro Craws, Goats and Hula Sticks. I’m not ready to put them on any pedestal yet but they hold up great. Easy to repackage and reuse. Have no intention to be on the water today or tomorrow, brutal temp. conditions, don’t want to deal with other people. Too hot for that.

Lake largemouths I’m fishing 25% Casting and 75% Spinning as a guesstimate. Based mostly by lure type. Whether I fish casting or spinning I’m fishing for the biggest bass in the lake with confidence in both. Being a northerner my approach and how I go about things may be different if I was from the south where expectation would be different.

Yesterday kicked our heat wave off. I had a line in the water by 5:05 am, surface temps were 72-74 deg. Was off the water by 8:30 trailering up. Smaller fish were biting on edges of pads but I don’t believe these were spawned fish too small. Basically bank runts. Biggest at 12”. The heat wave may do me some good because I don’t think the numbers of baitfish and panfish are in the pads, grass and brush. Not knowing the spawn very well is a death for me. Fish will be moving shallow. Finding summer homes. Just not there yet. Will be there again on Thursday morning. Supposed worse day of the wave but I can’t control that. Local weather has heat wave to break back below the 90’s on Sunday and rain possible Monday or Tuesdays.

Waterproof weatherproof portable radio for the boat. My bass boat does not have one built in. I’m ok with that. My present unit I’ve had since the 80’s and have been talking about a new one. I have to play with it some. Be out with me by the weekend.

You guys are not alone. But you can hear some crazy crap out there at night. Fox and coyotes make some weird noises. Noise most people have never heard before.

There are a couple that I use. Long time user. But does it help……I don’t know. Does it hurt…..I say no. I have myself convinced that smallies do like garlic on some days. Some of my soft plastics I will not put it on. They work better with whatever factory is doing to them.

We just had terrible storms move thru Eastern Penna. Heavy Thunderstorms with severe Wind. I knew they were coming but didn’t expect to this magnitude. All hooked up and ready to roll for the am but I’m gonna hold for Monday morning. Feeder creeks will be a mess.

My plan is to have a line in the water by 5:00 am and if I’m at the ramp pulling out at 9:00 I’ll be fine with that. Gonna try to do a couple of back to back morning.

Be safe. Sorry to hear about your episode. I didn’t have a situation in particular but over the last few years I can’t tolerate it like I use to. I’m lucky enough that I can fish the lake or the river during those oppressive times and can catch some shade. Hot but don’t have to sun bake. I’ll pull the plug after 2 or 3 hours and call it a day.

I don’t have a problem fishing in the summer sun. It is what it is. I know when to quit. If I tried it while sucking back coffee, ice tea or with Coke or Pepsi it would be an instant headache. Water or water with Crystal Light I reach for first. Gatorade or PowerAid is probably a good choice but I have to cut it 50/50 with H2O. This coming week we are gonna have temps that are up there. I’m sure I’ll be on it before sun up and will probably drift fish the shade side. Be safe.

Great post. I usually have a small cooler with me but there has been times where that was left on the kitchen table. That will cut down on the amount of time I planed to be out. If I remember in route up to the lake I do have one spot where I can run in and pick up water or Gatorade. Open 24 hours. At 4:00 not much open. It works out well if I write myself a note “WATER” and leave it on the kitchen table. Was out for a bit this morning but didn’t forget H2O. We have a horrible stretch of heat coming up Monday til ?????? Hydration is important at any age. You and I are about the same age (I suspect). Be careful.

I didn’t have grandparents either who were into doing things like that for me either. Parents that were not much better. But I’m not going there right now. I’ve been a black sheep for most of my life. I was lucky enough to have a farmer and family friend I use to work for who had me trout fishing seriously at about 10-11 yo. I enjoy being around my grandkids teaching them to fish and shoot clay targets (trap, skeet and sporting clays). They love it, I like spending time with them.

Got an unexpected face time from one of my grandsons at the lake this morning. He’s soon to be 3 years old. And was touching base with PopPop before day school. He was letting me know he’s ready to go fishing. Will be his first time. Had released a couple of 12”-14” Greenies prior. Wish I would have tanked them for him to see but I never expected a call. Went through this with my two older grandsons years ago. Was fun but did get quite interesting at times. They have been fishing since. One loves trout fishing and would fish everyday for them. This weekend I guess I should let him go pick out a kids rod and reel. Make him part of the experience. Tuff thing with kids are their minds and concentration level are short. They vary. I find that you have to make the outing all about them. I make no attempt to fish. Put them on fish they can catch. Even if they are out for a very short time. If they catch fish only even if a few of them will keep them coming back. My daughters are 42 and 36 and I still have their Disney rods and reels. What they picked out. Should be interested.

Certain things I’ll never have off the boat in season. About the only things I’m real anal about leaving in my are my rods, fishing tools and one of my soft plastics satchels. I’m sure I’ve forgotten things over the years but nothing enough to make me turn around and go home.

I get times where I get busy and can’t fish like I want to but it is usually a temporary thing. I don’t like night fishing for bass but will do so if I get hung up working on things during the day. I’ve have family and work issues get in the way of my fishing plans but those things happen. Use to bug the crap out of me when I was younger but these day if I get screwed up for tomorrow I’ll go the next day. Weekend throws me a curve I’ll go the beginning of the week. Put your family first. The fish are not going anywhere.

Hardbody: Shad Rap, DT6, 8 or 10 Soft Plastics: if it looks appealing it generally works. Wonder is original poster CreekCrappie is still fishing?

My summer conditions are a mix of what you guys face. I bounce back and forth between the lake and the river. This coming weekend suppose to be in the 90’s. We’ve been in a nice stretch for a couple of weeks with low 80’s but brutal winds by the afternoon. Wind is not my friend so I pull the plug before I have to deal with it. We’ve been getting some rains and water conditions have been great but I’d like to see a wet summer without flash floods.

For river smallmouth split shot is my most common worm rig. A curly tail and straight tail RoboWorm and many others in that finesse size have always been productive. I prefer a straight shank light wire worm hook. I’ve been on a FlatWorm kick the last couple of seasons. Don’t fish it exclusively but I rig many ways, jig head to nose hooking with a mosquito hooks. Good Fishing.

Very common when I’m fishing soft plastics. Especially craws, tubes, grubs and creatures.

My biggest pet peeve has not been the sales or stock of items but the password situation I’m into to log into my account. My password doesn’t stay maintained. Gonna have a call to them. Don’t know if y’all agree but I find since Covid has really diminished many many retailers and on-line no longer have stock of a lot of items I use. It’s not a matter of anglers buying these thing up but just nonexistent. Can’t buy line the way I want to.

The local river I fish, and if history repeats itself my nicer fish are gonna come in September and October. I’ve gotten nice ones during the spring and summer months but that transition comes easier to deal with.

I haven’t been on the Delaware River yet this season but will be. I struggle with spawn time so I don’t try to pinpoint it. The tidal sections I structure fish, fish feeder creeks and flats with drop off same as non tidal. Can’t say I ever fished the main body of the river. Would not know how. The D is a mixed bag of Smallies and Greenies from the same areas. They seem to take the same things. But again I’ve never tried to figure out Smallie spawn in the Tidal areas. The D is not too far from my location but I’m fishing non tidal closer to home. Have fun with it.

In the almost 50 years of fishing for them the spawn time has been my toughest thing to figure out. I blame myself. And even when you think you have it figured out the next season(s) it seems like you have to start it all over again. In a river situation I believe they can move for miles because I believe they winter in the deepest holes. Spring/Early spring to me they are a tough bite. I find it very frustrating. Small hair jigs, countdowns, and Shad Raps are some that work for me. Then at the turn of a dime they show up. Where have they been? Most likely under my nose. Good Luck. You are a hard working Smallie Master.

Hope y’all got through the winter or at least working its way out of winter for you. Winter is trying to end for me and I’m ready to pick up where I left off in October. Did not go stir crazy or pull a scene from the Shining on the old lady this winter. She’s lucky. Got some ducks and deer hunting in and I shot in a winter trap league that I’ve been shooting for years, ended on Sunday w/ 13 deg. air temp. in the AM. Finishing up a couple indoor winter projects. Snow runoff should help water quality this season on the river along with moderate spring rains. Been dream a lot lately of those little bassturds. Pretty common occurrence for me to do that. It’s do to the sickness. But woke up this morning in a different light after some good smallie dreaming and had a song pop in my head that stuck for awhile that reminds me of summer smallie fishing on the river. Not sure if you guys know the tune “Rain In The Summertime” by the Alarm. Sure makes me think about those Smallies. Drifting with the current at sunup already 90 deg. praying for a passing shower. Small fishing in the rain is good stuff, usually something good comes out of it. Looking forward to my smallies, BS’ing with you guys, and hopefully can help out some newbies on here. I’ve loved this site for years and you guys are a good bunch.