OldManLure

Mutations are what drive natural selection.

Exactly!

I have done this in deeper pools land holes in the river. My thought was to gain depth with minimal effect to its action. I guess the rationale is sound as it produced fish. It’s not a tactic I use regularly, but I can see doing it again in the right circumstance. I have a buddy whose favorite bait is the WeeCraw. He trolls 2 at the same time, with one having a spilt shot added about 12-18” up the line. He does very well doing this, catching fish on both. It seemed a little unorthodox to me, but he grew up next to the river and has done this for 25+ years. It was his use of the splitshot that led me to try it with a swimbait.

New to forum, and just saw your post. Were you fishing from bank or were you on the water? I have fished stretches between Brunswick and Dam 4 regularly in my yak for several years. 2020 was tough for a variety of reasons. I can tell you that this year has been significantly better in both numbers and size, especially just above and below miles Shepherdstown. I have caught PB three times this summer. Don’t give up on the Potomac. It is an awesome river.

Game film. I like it!

I started mine years ago only for river smallies. And it has been a tremendous tool. It has revealed some remarkably reliable trends that have proven pretty productive.

Excellent. Do you refer to it, and do you find it has helped you?

Does anyone else keep a journal with notes about fishing trips. After each trip on the river, I enter notes on my iPhone about depth, flow rate, water temp, weather, water clarity, and catch info (number of fish, size, bait, presentation and location). I have found that several years of notes has been a tremendous help in narrowing choices about what, when and where to fish. A buddy of mine couldn’t believe it when we arrived at a stretch of the river he had never fished and I suggested a couple different baits to start with after referring to my notes that covered 3yrs of trips on that stretch. He might have been even a little impressed when he started catching fish before his first smoke. Even though it may be relevant here, I thought I was in Smallmouth Forum when I posted. Sorry.

There are animals with fins and gills that are a greater threat to a smallmouth population than eagles or ospreys.

Recent member here so I just ran across your post, and I may not be offering any info you haven’t by now discovered. I have fished the South Fork a number of times. If you want to catch smallies, I recommend the Luray Caverns area. Easternport to Alma or Alma to Whitehouse Bridge are two excellent stretches. I’ve never caught less than 30 on either stretch. It is a two hour drive for me, but definitely worth it. I’ve no idea of the capabilities/limitations of the Sundolphin, but there are several spots with elevation drops and fast water. Plenty of holes runs and pools, and lots of structure. It is worth the trip.

My buddy has two of these, and I’ve used one on the river a couple of times. An absolute blast. And they are reasonably priced. If I hadn’t already spent all my money on several kayaks, I would buy one. https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/white-river-fly-shop-lost-lake-round-float-tube-1404250920-1

Regarding the anchor, I think it depends on whether or not you fish in current. I’m sure many people have used anchor trolleys in current without incident, but I bet there have been a few who have experienced an incident similar to mine (I know of at least one). Several years ago, I rushed out and purchased and installed anchor trolley for my new, and first, sit-on kayak. I ran anchor through trolley ring and would secure anchor line on a cleat within reach. I had recognized on a couple of occasions that efforts to free a hung up anchor from the side could cause the yak to tip pretty uncomfortably, so I started making sure the trolley ring was as far forward as possible before anchoring or tugging on it. But then on one trip to river I was anchored in a very slow current and wasn’t paying attention while I tied on a new leader and lure. I did not realize my anchor had released until it the grabbed the bottom and drastically tipped me. The yak took water, I reacted poorly and went swimming. As it turns out, the trolley ring had slowly migrated back toward middle of my yak. I will never use the anchor trolley on anything but still water. I spend nearly all of my time on rivers so I devised my own anchor system for less than $6 that ensures anchor rope always enters water at the bow. I secure the rope in a quick grip cleat with loose end on my leg. Should circumstances demand it, I can easily, quickly release rope and float away from anchor. I have now rigged my two sit-ins with a similar setup, and I have anchored in fairly strong current without incident in either the sit-ins or sit-on.

I’m still not convinced that this term is meaningful. What value does it have? Does anyone plan a trip to the river or lake and say to themselves “today I am going after the reaction bite”? Does a ‘reaction’ bite cause you to rethink your choice of lure? Does it change your strategy? Does it matter if a fish hits your lure because it doesn’t like the way it looks rather than because it looks like food? In reality, aren’t all bites a reaction bite?

Right hand when bringing them in on right side of yak; left hand on the other side.

I also used to believe that lures should be retrieved with current. Over the years I have caught significantly more smallmouth retrieving across the current or against the current than ‘with’ it. In fact, just today, I caught 12 smallies, including an 18” and a 20 1/2”, retrieving a spinner bait across the current or upstream. I have no idea which way they were facing, but they saw my lure.

Back in the Spring, I got a great deal on an Xpress boat that had been kept uncovered for some time. The seats were in terrible shape. I contacted manufacturer about replacements, but the cost was obscenely expensive. I then got several reasonable prices for reupholstering. But then I looked online at replacement seats and eventually purchased replacements from Bass Pro Shops. I was able to purchase 2 high back seats and 2 butt seats for less than reupholstering. I replaced the original bench seat with 2 smaller seats which allowed me to modify the one large storage compartment below them into two smaller ones. I believe It turned out to be a good decision. I saved money, they were easy to install and they are not uncomfortable.

On 3 occasions fishing the Upper Potomac, I have boated 2 smallies on a single cast…once on topwater, and twice on shallow jerkbait. I shared with a number of buddies a pic of the two I caught last year on topwater and like me, they were pretty amazed. But it has happened twice this year. I think I was more amazed the second time, mainly because it happened again. But after the third time…I started wondering just how often this happens. Has anyone else had the experience of catching 2 smallies on a single cast?

I lived for several years next to Liberty Reservoir. I don’t know much about stripers, but there are definitely some big ones in there. I could be wrong, but I’m not sure about chicken livers as bait. I caught a few in 90s a few years after they were introduced and before I moved away. Always caught them on live bait…minnows and worms.

Loading up my kayak and visiting new water is a big part of my yearly fishing plans. I love the research, the planning and the anticipation. And regardless of the catch, the experience is always memorable. So far, I’ve visited 7 states to fish some of their rivers, usually driving 2-4 hours. The longest drive has been 10 hrs to north Alabama. Next year I plan to go north. I want to visit some of the renowned smallmouth waters up there. And I’ll add to my collection of temporary fishing licenses.

Live bait. Minnows or worms on a hook with split shot and bobber is a great way to start. When my son and daughter decided they wanted to learn to fish, I introduced them to the fun on small lakes. I started them on live baits. They caught fish and were hooked (pun intended). After several trips, I gave them a quick lesson on cover and gave each an in-line spinner (Mepps, Panther Martin), 1/4oz spinner bait, and a Rapala original floating minnow (2 3/4”). That was 15 years ago. They still fish. Every now and then they even invite me.

You mention “extreme heat”, and it’s unclear if you’re referring to air or water temp. I’ve always caught bigger fish in warm water conditions. Water temp on Upper Potomac during summer is typically 83-84*. A week ago, air temps were in mid 90s, during a 4 1/2 hr float I boated a number of smallies with 5 measuring 18 1/2” or better, including a new personal best of 21 3/4”. Caught all of them on topwater. Several had minnows in their mouth, and one was still working down a crawfish. The science, I believe, is that they go where there is an abundance of easy food. They typically are not going to burn more energy than what their meals provide.

I would focus on technique, and what might be contributing to allowing slack in the line. I have fished for years for river smallmouth from a kayak, and have had the privilege of introducing a number of folks to the experience. What I have seen in nearly all of them is a tendency to sweep their rod tips back and forth to, I guess, stay 'ahead' of the hooked fish. But almost always this rod sweep tends toward a more horizontal plane. I think this rod movement creates brief moments of slack in the line, moments the smallmouth is especially skilled at exploiting. And I think the effects of these 'horizontal' movements are more risky from a kayak due to sitting essentially at the water's surface. In a kayak, you don't have the built-in advantage of the enhanced upward line angle that you get fishing from a boat, especially from an elevated deck. It may be worth taking a quick look at the positions of your rod and line after hooking up before spending money on new hooks, new lure size, different rod action or a new reel.