Fishing Forum

[center][#4a2e22][size 2]Small spider jigs are potent in flowing waters. They mimic live crawfish.[/size][/#4a2e22][/center][font "Arial"][size 2]Bump, bump, bump. The jig was swept up in the heavy current and tumbled down the gravel bar, occasionally tapping bottom. I kept a solid grip on the spinning outfit for I knew what might happen at any second.
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[font "Arial"][size 2]THUMP! Just as the jig reached the tip of the bar, I felt a solid strike. My hookset was met by a violent headshake. Then the bass took off for the main river channel.[/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2]I‘d already boated a dozen good smallmouths that morning, but this was the trophy fish I’d been hoping for. It smoked the drag for 20 seconds, then jumped completely out of the water. That’s when the jig pulled out of its mouth.[/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2]I immediately began reeling the jig back to make another cast. Just as it came within sight, a brown shape flashed and [font "Arial"][size 2]another [/size][/font] big smallmouth was on the end of my line! When I boated it, it weighed 5 pounds on handheld scales.[/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2]Imagine mile after mile of prime smallmouth bass habitat, much of it untouched by angling pressure. It’s no daydream. America’s best trophy-smallmouth bassin’ is available right now at a river within a day’s drive of your home.[/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2]In the Pacific Northwest, it might be the Colorado or the Snake. In the Southeast, the Tennessee. In the Midwest, the Ohio or Mississippi. Wherever you live, chances are there’s a major river or river-run reservoir not too far away that’s just crawling with big, bad smallmouths. If you’re like most smallmouth fishermen and have never fished for this great species in moving water, get ready for some major-league excitement! [/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2][font "Arial"][size 2]Quantity, Quality & Current[/size][/font][/size][/font] [center][#4a2e22][size 2][/size][/#4a2e22][/center] [center][#4a2e22][size 2]Pickwick Lake guide Steve Hacker knows current flow means a solid smallmouth bite. [/size][/#4a2e22][/center][font "Arial"][size 2]Quite a few smallmouth venues are known for producing large quantities of small- to keeper-sized fish. But for big numbers of big fish, rivers can’t be beat. If you get on the right spot with the right lure and presentation, you’ll catch more big smallies in an hour than you’ve probably caught in your entire fishing career.
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[font "Arial"][size 2]Rivers with a healthy current flow can be tremendous habitat for smallmouth bass. They have plenty of dissolved oxygen and a self-cleaning capability. They’re often brimming with forage, a veritable chowder of shad and other baitfish. They don’t get as hot as lakes in summer, nor as cold in winter; no wonder many rivers provide good smallmouth fishing nearly year-’round. [/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2]But current can create problems for the fisherman. The big rivers and river-run reservoirs where monster smallies lurk can get high and muddy quickly after hard rains. Where rivers are controlled by power dams, current may fluctuate several times in a single day, each time affecting the mood and location of the fish -- and if generation stops altogether, the bass may quit biting.[/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2]Still, those who take the time to understand how current affects the smallmouth population can reap a tremendous harvest.[/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2][font "Arial"][size 2]Structures to Look For[/size][/font][/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2]Forget casting your lures to the bank -- river smallmouth fishing is a game of hunting scattered pieces of structure, hotspots that may be miles apart and no bigger than your tow vehicle.[/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2]For maximum smallmouth opportunities, concentrate on gravel or mud bars, islands, eddies, bluffs, offshore humps and rockpiles, shell mounds, channel drop-offs, ditches and man-made structures such as wing dams. These places are usually thick with forage and will attract large numbers of smallmouths. Fish ‘em with your usual palette of bass lures, including jigs, crankbaits and spoons.[/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2][font "Arial"][size 2]Seasonal Tactics[/size][/font][/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2]Many smallmouth rivers show pronounced seasonal patterns. Here are some tips to keep you on fish all year long:[/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2][font "Arial"][size 2]Fall -- [/size][/font] Watch for schooling fish busting shad on the surface early and late in the day over points and ledges. In mid-day, use bottom-bumpers on rockpiles, or drift live bait.[/size][/font]

[center][#4a2e22][size 2]Tailspinners, blade baits and hair jigs -- great lures for river smallies.[/size][/#4a2e22][/center][font "Arial"][size 2][font "Arial"][size 2]Winter -- [/size][/font] An unusually good big-fish bite can take place in early winter when the surface temp starts falling into the low 50s. Target eddies and rockpiles in the upper end of the system. Smallmouth fishing usually comes to a halt when the river temp drops below 45 degrees.
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[font "Arial"][size 2][font "Arial"][size 2]Early spring -- [/size][/font] Pre-spawn is prime time for a mega-smallie, with water temperatures from 53 to 55 degrees usually triggering a major bite. Try the upper end of the river system, which may be high and murky from spring rains. Target islands, bars with scattered stumps and large eddies. And don’t fish too shallow -- 10 to 12 feet is often prime.[/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2][font "Arial"][size 2]Spring spawn -- [/size][/font] Water temps from 60 to 70 will find many smallmouths on their spawning beds. River smallies nest on gravel bars, rockpiles and shell mounds; fish ‘em all with bottom-bumping baits.[/size][/font]

[font "Arial"][size 2][font "Arial"][size 2]Post-spawn/summer -- [/size][/font] No thermocline in a river system, so smallies won’t move too deep and should remain active all summer long. Isolated rockpiles will draw plenty of fish. Work lures down to 18 feet or so in the daytime, but try shallow main-river stump bars at night. [/size][/font]
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I,VE CAUGHT SOME GOOOD SMALLMOUTHS BEFORE BUT THAT ONE IS SOMETHIN! HE,D BE FUN!! ON MY BROOK POLE! YESSA WHAT A BLAST! WE,D BE PALYAIN HIM FER AWHILE. THATS WHAT MAKES IT FUN! HAHA GOOD ONE!
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Hey there daymere,

Some lakes around here have them but we here in So Cal don't have the riverine and stream habitat guys in the east have thus...... if we do it's kept pretty quiet. Now the Kern claims a good fishery and I suspect that the Owens has some too. Any solid info on that buddy ol' buddy, friend for life, pal, neighbor, like a brother, you may have I first born buddy.

I saw a show where smallies were being caught on the fly in a wide (50 yards), shallow (1-3 feet) somewhere in the Blue Ridge mountians. Man...... I would have rather caught 'them ol' brown fish' than trout in that stream!honest!

JapanRon
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i have caught them on fly rod and man what a fight.
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[size 1][font "verdana,arial,helvetica"][size 4][size 2]KERN RIVER: Trout fishing starting to improve as water starts to clear. Fishing on the lower river is fair to good on smallmouth and largemouth to 4-0. Flows are down so that's its very fishable. For more information, contact the James' Store at (760) 376-2424.[/size]
Tulloch[/size][/font] [font "verdana,arial,helvetica"][size 1][/size][/font][font "verdana,arial,helvetica"][size 1]Water Teamp: 67 - 71[/size][/font] [font "verdana,arial,helvetica"][size 1]Water Clarity: 3[/size][/font] [font "verdana,arial,helvetica"][size 1]Report: Launched about 8a fished till about 2p caught more than 30 fish mostly smalleys most fish were 14 to 16 inches a few over 3lbs best bait of the day was a Keeper 082 in the Fat Mini style. water is very clear and you can see the fish on the beds have fun. Was told by the guy in the office that takes your money for launching of a new lake record was caught last week a Large mouth over 15lbs...[/size][/font] [font "verdana,arial,helvetica"][size 1]
Tips: Keep casting you can see the fish and they will bite just keep throwing it at them.[/size][/font][/size] [#000000]Ruth Lake[/#000000][#000000]Ruth Lake in southern Trinity County was formed by an impoundment on the Mad River. It's a beautiful lake, about five miles long, with campgrounds, a marine and lodging on or near the edge of the lake.

Rainbow trout is probably the most popular fish in the lake, and provides year-round recreation for locals and visitors alike. The best fishing generally occurs in the late winter or early spring when the waters of the lake turn over, bringing an abundance of food to the surface. During this period, fishing can be incredible for trollers and bait anglers fishing the surface and near the surface of the lake.

The lake also has a population of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Bass anglers use bait or conventional artificial lures such as plastaic worms, spinner baits and topwater lures for spring, summer and fall action.

Although not as numerous, the lake also supports crappie, bluegill and catfish.[/#000000]
[#000000][/url]Trinity Lake[/#000000]

[#000000]Trinity Lake is well-known for bass and trout fishing, and is best known for the California record smallmouth bass, which was caught by Weaverville resident Tim Brady in 1976.

The lake has good populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. The dredger piles at the head of the lake, as well as other structures found in the coves and points throughout the lake provide excellent bass fishing for most of the year. Spring always provides the hottest action, however, as both species move into the shoreline to spawn. March through June are the favorite months for experienced bass anglers.

Rainbow trout are found throughout the lake all-year-long. During the spring, they can be found most anywhere as they cruise the lake surface to feed on aquatic insects. As the lake waters are warmed by the summer sun, these fish school up at the mouths of the major tributaries, such as the Stuarts Fork, Swift Creek, and at the Main Stem and East Fork of the Trinity River. Boat and shoreline anglers seldom go without action using the usual baits, and even fly anglers report good fishing on occasion.

The lake also has a population of catfish and kokanee salmon.[/#000000]
[/url]Lake Cuyamaca

Directions:
Located about 51 miles northeast of San Diego, take I-8 east then north on Hwy. 79.



Species of Fish
Due to the colder climate of Cuyamaca, the lake is ideal for year-around trout fishing with 42,400 lbs. of trout stocked all year long. On the average, trout tend to be small (3/4 - 1 lb avg) but are often caught over 10 lbs. Cuyamaca is also the only lake in the county which fly fishing is widely practiced. Besides trout Cuyamaca has a descent population of largemouth bass with quite a few pushing 10 lbs and more, catfish, crappie and bluegill. Cuyamaca is also home to two species of fish rare to San Diego County; Sturgeon and Smallmouth Bass. Sturgeon and Smallmouth were first introduced in 1995-96 by the Dept. of Fish and Game.

Largemouth Bass (limit of 5)
Smallmouth Bass (catch and release only)
Sturgeon (min. size 46", unsure of limit at this time)
Rainbow Trout (limit of 5)
Channel Catfish (limit of 5)
Crappie (limit of 25)
Bluegill (limit of 25)
* Due to an ongoing program to improve the quality of fishing at Cuyamaca (i.e. curb overpopulation), the lake requires all fish to be kept with the exception of Sturgeon and Smallmouth which are regulated under Dept. of Fish and Game regulations. As of this time, all Smallmouth Bass must be released so the population can establish itself. Sturgeon must be at least 46-inches.

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[size 2]SAN ANTONIO: Smallmouth and largemouth bass are hitting on the banks and coves on plastic worms. Some catfish are showing around the north end of the lake. this is all i could find for now but will keep you updated when i get more.[/size][/url]
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i bet that would be fun. i bought jack a nice flyrod. he ahd a good reel so he just put that on. he,s gitti the knack of it. haha i,d have it in the trees the bushes, whatever ahhahaha so i dont bother with the fly fishin. hhaha i love just anglein thats a ball to em. but i do have some techniques where i use a fly rod method of fishin with my anglin too. which gits em to hit top good. you ever try slapin it ont the top wate?? i dont like usin sinkers anyways. so i dont unless i really have ta. we dont have the broze ones like your talki here but we sure do got some good reg. small mouths. do you got them?? they are marked alot like our largemouths. the light green and darker. i believe its what their eatin or feedin on?? where they are growed up too?? as fer as mine i,m talkin.well we did some fancy walkin in the woods today i,ll tell ya. first NICE DAY!! 60! HAHA AND I DIDNT HAVE TO WEAR 3 LAYERS LIKE LAST WEEKEND. HAHA thats cool! i think spring is finally here. thank god! BOY IS MY BROOK LOOKIN GOOD! THE BROWNS WILL BE RUNNIN! SHORTLY! YEAH! AHAH then turkey huntin!! yeah!! I LOVE SPRING! HAHA boy i,m feelin it tonite. haha jacks gone to bed and louie the hound dog too. haha felt too good gittin out and took advantage of it. ahha body tellin me! ough! haha well have fun catchin em. i,m gonna be soon! my browns anyways. some of the ponds are open, but tradition first day. my brook! later, you gonna go turkey huntin right>> later[][]
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its almost time here for skinny dipping but fishing is starting to pick up so everyone has to be carefull where they go
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ahahha well you lucky duck! hahaha i,m ticked! 25 -30 this mornin ad callin fer 12 inches of SNOW! TICKED AINT THE WORD FER IT! I went and got all my summer stuff out. the geese are flockin in the 1000,s and i,m freezin this mornin!I WANT SPRING! SO DO THE DUCKS GEESE AND EVERYBODY ELSE! HAHA seen alot of turkeys over the weekend. went out shootin and walkin sat. sun. i got to change the old line on my fishin poles, today tomoorer. then i,ll be set. jack,s got his all set, got up early this mornin and he did it. haha guess he figures its a race to see who git all set first each year now. hahaha well dub, you do the skinny dippin thing ya want to, i aint freezin my --- off fer nobody. hahaha you can count me out on that one! haha have fun anyways. hahaha hey you gittin all that water down thru from floodins like some are. hope not and hope all our guys are safe. later mare[][] boy i need coffee this mornin. got some cold last nite. this mornin. later[]louie the hounds stayin in bed to keep warm. haha
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no flooding as of yet but we will before end of month.been sick most this week fishing is picking up and the lakes are calling my name.seen some good fish taken at a nearby lake and they were good and hefty,got to go to doc will update soon as i am back.
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Good information Daymere, thanks! I have not caught a bronzeback yet, maybe this year.
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well i,m surprized with this stupid weather up here everybody ain,t got one too. i,m always a good one fer pheunmonia. luckily not this year. yet. this is a good time to git one, then it would last just bout all summer too. yuck! you git feelin better, i do hear them fish callin ya! ahha clearn up here. haha we,ve had some flood calls here, but it,s not as bad as it is i,ve seen on tv. here,this river next to me scats me sometimes! it,s been right up there, and haven,t had floodins like ma used to see, when she was a kid. thank god. lotta houses near this ol river and wouldnt take much fer it to flow over and send the houses down river. i hate this river.think jack and i are gonna put a place out to the house wherewere on higher ground hahaha only the brook to deal with then. haha so i take it your fishin already opened huh, our this comin. can,t wait! ya i see your future! haha i see you catchin a big en right tight ready when your about ready to fall aslepp./ and he,ll scare ya. ahha he,ll be so BIG! HAHA RECORD!YESSA. GIT FEELIN BETTER FIRST! LATER
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THAT,S A GOOD ARTICLE, wish i ould go fishin there. i,d like to see one of them sturgeon. they say we still hve em i the river here. but aint hrd of nobody catchin any since my uncle nd grmp caught em when they was kids. andthere gone now. so i dont know. they say there,s fish down there that,d scare uya. especially donw near springfield bridge in vt, and borders the nh. side to . divers come up sayin theyd never og down gain. but i herd bout them stergeon, but not much. just see clips on em on tv once in a while. hey deymer maybe you can put a clippin on them things sometime bout em. huh?? would be cool. you or dave. whoever. ahha well catch ya later. gonna go see some more fishin stuff up to walmart today. do some figurin. on other stuff to git. later
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hey patchs i have 2 on here somewhere one on freshwater,and the other on tips and rigs give me a idea about what your river or lake is like and i might be able to put you on some .
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hey there bud, how ya feelin?? what,d the doctor say, hope to find ya better today. anyways. the ponds i love to go to where jake, misty jane, laddie john, butchie, dutchie spud and everybody else use to go is up on top of a mountain. they,re called knapps ponds. one goes into the other with a damn and a brook runnin down into the other. 1st 2nd pond. it is beautiful. peaceful. and how the hounds use to love to run rabbits andsquirells there. ahha we,d go from mornin till dark,would of camped up thru but the game warden wouldnt let us. there,s brown rainbow and true brookies that are in the pond as well as in the brooks that run off the mountain. it,s out in reading vt. there,s only houses, camps on the way up in and none on the pond or near it. it,s cool. generally the snow and ice aint off till after april, so ya got to break the ice off to be able to fish the first week of openin. good clean water, and clear. when it gits col, it gits COLD AHHA comes right cross that pond alright. better have your long johns ahha. later. oh lotta little horn pit too. good eatin, jacks likes em. ahha bout 10 12 inches long. white belleys on em. and gold. real pretty fer a horn pout. they dont taste that muddy either like some i,ve had. that are big. or in the river. catch ya later.[]thanks,
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just had the crud and still not over it will be better in a few days sounds like i need to move up there and get in some of that great fishing.
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well i guess so bud!hey did ya take that survey on fishin lonehunter had??? i idid and it talks bout fishin near plants, then big factory buildins that take and send stuff out thru the pipes, oh yeah, would want to fish there wouldnt you?? NOT ME. and where theres lots of cars noise, air stinks, I DONT THINK SO GEORGE! guess i,m feelin pretty lucky to be where i,m at as fer as those who have to fish i that just cause they love fishin. TOOO BAD! THAT STINKS TO THINK THAT THERE,S PLACES LIKE THAT. WHERE THERE AT. I WOULD BE MAKIN SOME CHANGES WITH MY FAMILY RIGHT OFF. IS THAT SUPPOSE TO BE CALLED PROGRESS, WELL IF IT IS, THEN WE DONT WANT NONE. AND THEY BEST BE STAYIN WAY FROM HERE! that,s somethin! i think ya better be gittin that new little one comin out from down there and wife sooooon! come on up. i think total different huntin too, fer ya. i think you guys would like the northeast kingdom as i do. but as fer as work, it,s either your a farmer, got your own 18 wheeler, or own you own busiess or restraunt, cause that,s the only way you,ll earn a half way descent livin. the money y earn aint much times hard, and a slower way of life. but we like it. and i wouldnt trade it fer nothin. jack and i want ot move up thru when he retires. but the best part, haha ya git an apple tree in the backyard and ya can git a deer off your porch. ahha dont even have to go trudgin. thats what we need hahaha. just wait fer them to come out. ahha cool huh?? []i need coffee! haha good fishin up there too. handicapped accessible now.too. gittin better at it here. buildin stuff where anuyone can go. that,s good. well ya take care, hope ya feel better soon. i keep feelin like i,m on the verge of a cold. been good all winter , now, i hope not. haha maybe cause it,s so dry in here. well come hep me with some of these fish. ahha have a hard time pullin em in. hahahaha later mare[][]i,d do ya good.
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hows the rent that way i am on ssi ? would like it i think holler later good fishing
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