EliHarris___

Unfortunately not in this area, but that’s probably what it is. I mean it’s not that far of a drive to deeper spots so I’ll try that out

So I’ve been fishing the same stretch of the Huron river and slaying Smallmouth on the Whopperplopper. As a matter of fact, I caught a 22” Smallmouth on the 110. I was catching at least 5 15+” smallmouth a day, Hadn’t been skunked in 2 months. but the last several times I haven’t got a single one! As a matter of fact I haven’t even seen one. I changed Tactics too but still no bass. Where could they all have gone? I’m very perplexed

Update, I applied the tips and went out today, caught 2 LM, 2 SM, a Pike, and a Bowfin, all on the same Loon whopper Plopper 90. Had a bunch swipe at it later and miss, I think the bone color is the way to go once it gets darker. But it’s official, whopper ploppers in rivers are amazing!!! Exactly my strategy too! It works amazing

Yep Haha, yeah I’ve just never caught a bowfin before that. It was a biggin too, It put up a very good fight

So just a medium fast rod instead of MH?

I use the leader because the water is crystal clear. I’ll stop using it for my whopperploppers tho for sure, it’s not like they see the line on top water. Also that’s a little extra stretch I definitely don’t need on a kayak. However for my jig and other non top water, I will probably still use the leader because of how much success I’ve had with the leader compared to without. The water is just so clear Perfect! I’m already using 20lb so that’s easy, just gotta not use the leader

Ok, I’ll definitely try a harder hook set. Thanks, didn’t know that about ugly stick, definitely good to know

Well mainly missing the strike, but that one bass got off, might’ve just been a bad hookset, what do you recommend? Literally would watch it get hit so often, I was actually impressed with how many bites I got, but didn’t land non of em

I was using a 7’ medium heavy uglystick rod, with 20lb braid to 15lb fluorocarbon leader. And as I mentioned, a bone whopperplopper 90

So I went out to the Huron River today, had a rod with a jig w creature bait trailer, and one with a bone whopperplopper 90. I ended the day with only one large mouth, and a Bowfin! I’m very happy about the bowfin but I had probably 12 other bass swipe and miss, or get it and spit it out on the whopperplopper. Or they’d get it and I’d try to set the hook and it pops right out. I had a tank of a LM on the whopperplopper under a bridge and got it all the way to the kayak then out of nowhere just as i was about to land it, it pops off. It’s really just frustrating that I had that many bites and only landed one of them. What am I doing wrong?

So in the next couple weeks, I'm looking to purchase a Fishing Kayak to take to the Huron River to catch some summer Smallies. I'm looking for tips on Kayaks and on baits/ lures to use, and things to look for in a fishing kayak before i buy one. I waded part of the river today using a 1/4 oz rooster tail, i got like 20 large Rock Bass, and only one 1.5 lb smallmouth. not satisfied with those results and want tips to catch more smallmouth regarding what to use. Im starting to resent rock bass, no mater where I go, I catch a million of em

10-13” yeah he was a dink

So I was fishing today in a river with a small rooster tail and this little maybe 10 inch pike took it, but unfortunately it took it really really deep. It was hooked under the deep lower tendon and part of the gill. I struggled for 15 minutes trying to get the hook out to save the pike. Of course dipping him in for a breather as much as possible, but despite my best efforts, he was hooked to bad, his gills were to snagged up, he ended up dying unfortunately. Now to make things even sadder, the river I was in was a no eat area due to high PFAS levels. So I couldn’t use the little guy. Is there something I should’ve done better? He was very small for a pike which made things quite difficult, I did have Pliers, ones I’ve used to get hooks safely out of likes mouths on many occasions, but despite all my efforts, there was nothing I could do.

Awesome! I released her right where I got her if was the case

Yep, my hands were wet and I held lower lip and suported just in front of tail (once again with wet hands

Here’s the beauty I started this thread for. Upon doing more research, it seems like It was just exhausted. I definitely shouldn’t have kept it out of the water for so long, but I think he will make it. As I said before, I want nothing less than to fatally harm a bass, especially one of this size. But from the symptoms I saw and read, he was just spent of energy. He kicked out of my hands under his own strength and there was nothing wrong with the hook set. As said before I do regret keeping him out for so long, it’s still bothering me now Yep, it was probably a little over 5 lbs. she swam away slow but straight up. Didn’t roll over at all

Thanks for the tips, I want nothing less than to fatally harm a catch and release fish, especially one of this size Yes, that’s why I started this thread. I was concerned and needed a little extra guidance. Thank you

Yep, I was doing some research after the fact and that’s about what I saw... I’m just recently getting Super into fishing (have fished a lot before but not often) so I’m learning a lot, just wish I had learned before hand and not through error

So I caught my PB Bass today, I was elated! Taking pictures and everything, but I’m scared I might’ve kept em out a little to long. In total probably 3 minutes, I did dip him in to let him breathe a couple times, but when I went to revive him the last time to officially let him go, he kicked a little and slipped out of my hands. He swam away slow and taxed, I waited and watched for a couple minutes and he didn’t resurface so I assume he’s fine. The hook set was perfect in the side of the mouth, so I know that’s not a problem, but it’s bothering me still. Even tho he did swim away by himself it was just slow and taxed. I just hope he’s ok