08-13-2011, 06:09 PM
Cliffnotes Version: Went to some water, caught some fish, then the bugs ate me.
Reel Story: Stopped along the VV hwy for a gander at some water near the dump - Loads of minnows - getting bigger. I didn’t count them, but lots. Didn’t find any predators hunting them, as I’d expected (ok, hoped). Ah well.
Hit a spot along the bear river - near a bridge, somewhere in the Benson area. Didn’t bring the camera down with me- so don’t have a “photo essay”, sorry. Had caught my first crappie and hooked up some carp a few weeks back. THIS time I went targeting Crappie, and caught a carp as well - reverse story. Got to my ‘spot’ where an ‘arm’ of black backwater joins the river. Lots of eddies to play. Ironic that the black tea-stained water of the ‘arm’ is clearer than the muddy water of the churned up river (keep hearing the song in my head ‘Catfish are jumping, that paddle wheel pumping, blackwater …’ though I always tell myself it’s just carp jumping). Again LOADS of minnows - varying sizes. I think the minnows in the arm draw in biggers at the mouth. My assumption proved itself.
Started off under bobber with a tincy jig tipped with worm. Got some bobber bounces, and managed to time the hit, and - lo and behold - a decent crappie came to play. Kept working the eddies and hooked up some more takers. But missed plenty of bobs, and burned through worms in the process. Finally decided to ditch the bobber, and just jig it. GOOD plan. Got hit after hit. Couple snags too, even had a snag that started moving sideways - and then started running line. Had the drag set low (lefty loosie) for the lil’ crappie, and had a fight on my hands. Once I tightened down, and reached for the net - guess what?! Wrong - it wasn’t a carp - it was my first Bear River Smallmouth Bass! Wohoo. Not a monster, but not a baby either - and the fight vs. the crappie/panfish was distinct. Soon followed another smallie, but smaller - but again a fun tug. So - two species, one day. Schwing!
Next pleasant surprise was not a beast, but a bluegill. Went back to grow up a bit. Followed by another surprise - a green sunfish. Another bitty bite, but distinct - longer length, horizontal stripes, no vertical - no photo to prove it, but pretty sure - it was what it was. 4 species, 1 hour. Bingo!
Next up to bat was another big tug - ooh, another bass - but this sucker is taking SERIOUS runs, it’s determined. Ran and ran and ran. Ok - big scales, carp on. Good to have the mud-boots on so I could step into the river and net it up. Catfish bait! Not a monster by carp standards, but on a small jig and light tackle, fun tugs all the same.
My second rod had been soaking a worm, and I’m sure if I’d given it attention could have hooked up something, the end of my worm kept getting chewed, but I was pretty focused on the jiggin’.
As the moon came up, the bite dropped off. (ok, NOW I’m sorry I didn’t bring the camera down - that was a COOL view!) I realized I had slowed my presentation, and that worked for the little guys. But I was getting tired of the dozens of bitty bites that still kept me entertained (can‘t keep count). So I aimed out of the arm to deeper water, and picked up the pace. Light bulb! These guys don’t want dine it, they want fast food takeout! Quicker retrieve, bumps and jumps - and the big bite was back. Bigger fish, faster action. Goes back to why I needed to ditch the bobber in the first place. These guys wanna CHASE! My stinger kept getting heavier, and as the light faded, and the bugs decided it was time for the big bite - figured I’d best call it a night.
Spent a few hours by the river, and filled a mixed bag (5 species, three new for the Bear for me). Got home and spend some time filleting. Fish Tacos for lunch today!
Of note: Sometimes you have to throw the whole tackle box to find what they’ll bite - this time I used one little jig, and it produced and produced. I had hits even when the crawler tipping was chewed off. A bit of glow helped after dark too. A tungsten jeweled jig - very very small. It’s an ice-fishing jig, but who has to wait for the snows to fly? Had plenty of others to choose from - but if it ain’t broke… well, by the end if the night - it may have been badly bent.
Reel Story: Stopped along the VV hwy for a gander at some water near the dump - Loads of minnows - getting bigger. I didn’t count them, but lots. Didn’t find any predators hunting them, as I’d expected (ok, hoped). Ah well.
Hit a spot along the bear river - near a bridge, somewhere in the Benson area. Didn’t bring the camera down with me- so don’t have a “photo essay”, sorry. Had caught my first crappie and hooked up some carp a few weeks back. THIS time I went targeting Crappie, and caught a carp as well - reverse story. Got to my ‘spot’ where an ‘arm’ of black backwater joins the river. Lots of eddies to play. Ironic that the black tea-stained water of the ‘arm’ is clearer than the muddy water of the churned up river (keep hearing the song in my head ‘Catfish are jumping, that paddle wheel pumping, blackwater …’ though I always tell myself it’s just carp jumping). Again LOADS of minnows - varying sizes. I think the minnows in the arm draw in biggers at the mouth. My assumption proved itself.
Started off under bobber with a tincy jig tipped with worm. Got some bobber bounces, and managed to time the hit, and - lo and behold - a decent crappie came to play. Kept working the eddies and hooked up some more takers. But missed plenty of bobs, and burned through worms in the process. Finally decided to ditch the bobber, and just jig it. GOOD plan. Got hit after hit. Couple snags too, even had a snag that started moving sideways - and then started running line. Had the drag set low (lefty loosie) for the lil’ crappie, and had a fight on my hands. Once I tightened down, and reached for the net - guess what?! Wrong - it wasn’t a carp - it was my first Bear River Smallmouth Bass! Wohoo. Not a monster, but not a baby either - and the fight vs. the crappie/panfish was distinct. Soon followed another smallie, but smaller - but again a fun tug. So - two species, one day. Schwing!
Next pleasant surprise was not a beast, but a bluegill. Went back to grow up a bit. Followed by another surprise - a green sunfish. Another bitty bite, but distinct - longer length, horizontal stripes, no vertical - no photo to prove it, but pretty sure - it was what it was. 4 species, 1 hour. Bingo!
Next up to bat was another big tug - ooh, another bass - but this sucker is taking SERIOUS runs, it’s determined. Ran and ran and ran. Ok - big scales, carp on. Good to have the mud-boots on so I could step into the river and net it up. Catfish bait! Not a monster by carp standards, but on a small jig and light tackle, fun tugs all the same.
My second rod had been soaking a worm, and I’m sure if I’d given it attention could have hooked up something, the end of my worm kept getting chewed, but I was pretty focused on the jiggin’.
As the moon came up, the bite dropped off. (ok, NOW I’m sorry I didn’t bring the camera down - that was a COOL view!) I realized I had slowed my presentation, and that worked for the little guys. But I was getting tired of the dozens of bitty bites that still kept me entertained (can‘t keep count). So I aimed out of the arm to deeper water, and picked up the pace. Light bulb! These guys don’t want dine it, they want fast food takeout! Quicker retrieve, bumps and jumps - and the big bite was back. Bigger fish, faster action. Goes back to why I needed to ditch the bobber in the first place. These guys wanna CHASE! My stinger kept getting heavier, and as the light faded, and the bugs decided it was time for the big bite - figured I’d best call it a night.
Spent a few hours by the river, and filled a mixed bag (5 species, three new for the Bear for me). Got home and spend some time filleting. Fish Tacos for lunch today!
Of note: Sometimes you have to throw the whole tackle box to find what they’ll bite - this time I used one little jig, and it produced and produced. I had hits even when the crawler tipping was chewed off. A bit of glow helped after dark too. A tungsten jeweled jig - very very small. It’s an ice-fishing jig, but who has to wait for the snows to fly? Had plenty of others to choose from - but if it ain’t broke… well, by the end if the night - it may have been badly bent.
]The real slabs sleep @ Pineview up here in these Northern parts & Willards got some toads too!!! Did u or did you happen to see any one catch any Eyes up there???
]