TR: Frank and the Smallies

Frank showed up at my place Friday afternoon. The weather forcast for
Saturday was poor and when we got up Saturday we decided that it was not
the best day for it. Instead we went shopping for sneaky pete's as Frank
had an accident which cost him his supply.

Sunday was supposed to be better. On rising Sunday the forcast was
acceptable, rain early with sun later and low wind speeds. River level on
the gage looked good, actually about normal for this time of year.

Headed up to the river, Frank chose the easy take out, one that's a bit
furthur downstream from the bridge. Staged his truck and went to the put
in.

The water looked high to me, more like early June. No matter we launched
and started out.

Coming around the first island I took a 19" smallie on a sneaky pete,
Frank had inadvertanly gone the wrong way around the island and I met up
with him downstream.

Fishing was very slow IMHO, but Frank enjoyed the fish he caught.

Not long after we got on the water, as the sun broke through the clouds
the wind came up, howling and gusty, thankfully it was a downstream wind.
The wind made casting a challenge and it was blowing us downstream at one
hell of a pace. So much so that we ate lunch on the last island rather
than the ledges a couple miles upstream where we usually stop. Coming off
the tip of the island I managed another real nice fish just to make Frank
jealous. :-)

We picked up the odd fish along the banks headed to the bridge. I crossed
to the other side and started working along that bank, Frank came over
and just took it easy.

Twice we saw fish chasing bait right up onto the banks, just a sudden
explosion of bait getting out the way. I managed to pick up one of those
fish as I went by.

After the bridge I worked the left bank, hitting the occasional fish here
and there and even one little dink of a bass, unusual to catch one so
small.

The take out was indeed easier than the bank climbing at the bridge.

It took us about 7 hours to run the 7+ miles, record time.

When I got home I checked the river gages. After we left in the morning
the dam opened up and the river flow went from 2600 CFM to over 5000, and
the gage height went up a good foot. Explains why it was so high and a
rising river isn't the best fishing river until the level settles so it
explains why I thought the fishing was slow.

I'd say that I boated perhaps a dozen fish, most of them in the 17-19"
range, Frank may have done better as he was leading us down the bank most
of the day. I had a stretch where I didn't see a rise for almost 2 miles,
almost unheard of on this water.

We came back to the house and were treated to a clambake, 8lbs of
steamers and 2 1.5lb lobsters each. SWMBO can be quite a sport at times.

Fly