I took out some of our hard working military boys yesterday. Three helicopter technicians from the Army National Guard out of Missouri. They will be deployed to Irac sometime next month so keep them in your prayers.

We started close to the ramp as it was 17 degrees, third cast by Sgt Shaver produced a nice 19" cold but feisty chunk which was a great way to start the day. 4 more, all over 17 , lots of hot coffee and some pb&js were on the agenda before making the ice run I had planned . We arrived at our final destination and preceded to boat another 23 solid Susquehanna Bronzebacks none under 15" and 3 Wally's one pushing 21" by working a Mike's 3/8oz shakey head B n R rigged with a 2.5" beaver also B n R. These guys picked up the technique quickly and by the end of the day had it down which was good because it was a tough conditions kind of day. Water 44, Air 32- 40 Muddy, Falling water (a foot while we were out there), slow presentation, and not allot of fishable water didn't deter these fine young men at all, and if you ask me they kicked the rivers ***!!

6 Turkey sandwiches, 3 Cokes, 4 Red bulls, 6 beers, pack of smokes, and at least 3 tins of Copenhagen long cut were consumed on this cold yet fun day. Give it up for our boys in green!!

Looks like a friggin' awesome day! Congrats and thanks for all your service!

Super, what a great day on the water for them.  That trip should give them great fishing stories to tell when they get the time to relax from their daily duties. They are some nice fish you put them on! 8-)

all fine looking fish, something those boys won't forget. great job suskyguide!

Awesome job!

If you dont mind telling, what areas were you working over, as to cover and structure? I would think you would be working the outside (towards the middle of the river) of rocks, logs, etc. being that the water is falling.

                                                         Thanks,

                                                                Ian

Nice looking fish! Susky, just by a matter of chance is the guy in the second picture name John? I have a fraternity brother that looks exactly like him and he is a helicopter pilot for the national guard originally from Oregon.

Awesome job!

If you dont mind telling, what areas were you working over, as to cover and structure? I would think you would be working the outside (towards the middle of the river) of rocks, logs, etc. being that the water is falling.

                                                      Thanks,

                                                            Ian

To tell you the truth, we were fishing whatever slow water we could find. Even though the river was falling it was still high and fast which limits productive areas. What happens in this situation is when you have rising water it pushes the fish to the bank and in turn makes them easier to catch, but when it starts to fall the bite falls off, and this particular day it was falling very fast which in turn kills the bite as fast as it was falling. Add to this the mud and cold front and your success  rate will drop that much more.  If you're asking me where to fish this time of year you should be fishing low current areas, the fishes metabolism is low so they don't need or want to work so hard to feed. Hope this helps.

Nice looking fish! Susky, just by a matter of chance is the guy in the second picture name John? I have a fraternity brother that looks exactly like him and he is a helicopter pilot for the national guard originally from Oregon.

No his name was Sgt. Garon Shaver