Spankey

Don’t hesitate to throw the Deep Wee Craw or the Big Craw. Let them bang the bottom. They are not too big or run too deep for skinny water. That whole series of different craw has been a river favorite for 40 years I bought a few spares a month or so ago, color selection is not that great these days. BUT good producing colors are still out there.

I had my dad out with me at the time. He saw nothing funny in it. Scared him I think.

I’m not very tall. Bout 5’10” and shrinking. One of my favorite spinning rods is a 5’9” Avid for trying to grub, tube and craw fish at docks and fishing up under trees drifting the river. The avid is a bit overkill. But it is a nice set up with a Symetre.

One time I was clowning around on my deck trying to act like Mike Iaconnelli (not break dancing or spinning, I’m a bit heavy for that) but running and jumping around screaming how I had a Big’un on. Truth an 11” Smallie. My foot hit the rear part of the gunnel just right and over I went. My arm was able to catch the gunnel so I really didn’t go all the way under. Bout 7 feet of water. Never lost my rod or the fish. It all happened so fast. I got a good laugh over it.

Good to see you can laugh about it. Glad to see you didn’t get hurt. Good fishing.

I have to get their color Greasy Prawn. It will work for me because it is basically the sand color pattern. Local bait shop guy is not great about ordering (hence I don’t support the guy all that well), do see where I can order it directly. This sand pattern is a good working color for me this time of year. General lack of rain keeps the river very clear. Find it works well at these times.

I really don’t need a dedicated rod for the jigs I throw but recently realized I’ve not thrown a Cabin Creek Spider Jig yet this year. These are great Smallie jigs for the river. Got turned on to them many many moons ago. Will this next time out.

I agree with you 100% on the Nasci. I’ve been buying they since the Symetre had stopped. My grandsons and I are fishing 1000, 2500 and 3000 versions.

GREAT POST ?. I generally use the phrase gut feeling. My recent gut feeling fishing wise was ( not that it was a big deal or all that great ), but I took three of my favorite river Bombers and sanded down the tail finish and painted them Chartreuse tipped. Nothing monumental. But this one section of the river has been staying fairly stained and not producing really all that well regardless of what I threw. I had that gut feeling they were there. Should have done well with those baits. My grandson and I our last time out went through there and caught some on all three baits. No giants but Smallies. Was just that gut feeling to do that and try it. Switching to another pattern of baits I had may have done the trick also but just had in my mind to do this and try it.

Ohio, I sure like the looks of that shoreline vegetation. Hope your lure fishing is still going ok.

Great post, great story, great pic. But I don’t see where that lake/pond above the spillway has anything to do with that fish or its size. That creek you are in looks like it can support that fish no problem. I don’t know your area but seem that fish may have developed to that size since hatched.

Over the years I’ve picked off some dandy’s in the river. My situation is presently like yours. I’m dealing with it. But a 15” river Smallie will outfight his 3lb. Cousin. One of my friends just texted me and he thinks Case is down and out or not producing now. They put out a great product. Good Smallie stuff for river rats. Their hellgies are good stuff also.

My limited experience with Quantum has not been fantastic. They have went back except for one old series BC that is an Iron Series. I Bought my grandson a Nexave that is on a Bass X Rod. Great set up. I fished it a few times with soft plastics. Decent reel for the price. Reel availability made me buy it. Others at the time were tough to get.

Bass fishing from a boat my rod and reel combos stay in great shape. Minimal rash. Even on Stuff I used in the 80’s and 90’s. But my trout fishing stuff gets hammered pretty good. Used super hard.

? Scuppernog

There are a lot of good tubes out there. A Case Tube in Roadkill Camo is at the top of my list.

Great report. I want to get there before I die. Want to go fish it hard and make something happen just like you did. A bit of negative chatter on here about the St. L but I’d have to see it to totally believe it. I see some of the tourney fish and I believe I can do it also. Why not.

Reason I’m saying what I’m saying is, you might need to tie a Rapala type knot so you don’t loose action of the lure. So my thinking is wrong now with the split ring being on there.

??? Do your lures have a split ring tie on or just the lure eye?

Good stuff?

Call me crazy, but over the last few weeks I’ve been fishing my older cheaper/lower end stuff. All good quality stuff. BPS and Cabelas house rods. Daiwa Regals and Shimano Symetres. I’m taking a step backwards on purpose. It’s working out just fine. Went back to some shorter rods for a reason.

I’ll throw a Pop-R type first in summer but as other mentioned I don’t play with it long either. I’m ready to throw a worm or beaver out there regardless to what was going on with the pop-r. The old Rat-L-Trap generally will start the morning off ok also.

Great post. I’m an addict. I’m obsessed. I love fishing river Smallies and put it at my life list near the top. If this is my only bad habit in life I don’t have any bad habits.

Just can’t believe in this day and age in an area that populated, regulation are not monitored or enforced. Surprised locals allow or would allow sewage issues to exist. 2021 not 1921. Have to see it to believe it. Surprised other York staters are not chiming in this.

Friday morning 6:00 am, no wind, water like glass, sun coming up over the horizon. Deer at the ramp. Yes I’m excited!