07-16-2011, 12:25 AM
I have not been real happy since the water level of the river was raised 3' this week. I have caught fish, but haven't really figured them out. Today the river was still at 6.04 at the Murphy gauge, but it had dropped about 6" overnight. I launched at 6:30 and quit 5 hours later. I fished about 2 miles of river and landed 23 smallmouth and one channel cat. My final fish was landed directly across from the ramp and was this very nice 20" - 4.25 lb beauty.
![[Image: 2011-0715-20in-1w.jpg]](http://www.oldreels.com/2011-0715-20in-1w.jpg)
This was one of the hardest fighting smallies I have landed for several years and it took quite a while to bring it to the boat. After this photo it was released to pass on its genes. I also had a couple of 16"ers and the rest were 11-15". It was a good way to end the week.
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![[Image: 2011-0715-20in-1w.jpg]](http://www.oldreels.com/2011-0715-20in-1w.jpg)
This was one of the hardest fighting smallies I have landed for several years and it took quite a while to bring it to the boat. After this photo it was released to pass on its genes. I also had a couple of 16"ers and the rest were 11-15". It was a good way to end the week.
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