We launched Saturday afternoon. We were re-doing the same route of last trip, except that this time we were going to see it in the daylight. The boat traffic was heavier than usual but we think that was due to the fact that it was Labor Day weekend coupled with the fact that the river was untouchable for so many weeks this summer and the weather this weekend was fantastic.
The trip started out with me hitting on a jig design that incorporates a rattle. I'll have a step-by-step up in a day or so. As soon as it hit the water and I closed the bail I was on. The only problem is I have to redseign the rattle mount cause the bass knocked it off. Here's the jig...
This was my first cast and I was launched a few minutes before Dan (Eddy Rider). When he caught up we went started towards the first night's island. On the way Dan hit the first mid-sized smallie.
This fish took a topwater in a 3'-4' column, and we were just above our first night's island head, so we popped out of the yaks. I took the rapids of the main flow and had a few hits with nothing major. Dan stayed on the smooth flow bending behind the island.
Next thing I now he yells out "Good Fish!!"...
So I started back to his position, when he yelled "GOOD fish, it's BIG!!!"...
The fish hit a spook type lure, taped to18", and weighed an easy 4#'s on the boga. GOOD TIMES!!!
I threw the fly rod after that in the glide and turned a few on craft foam popper/sliders, but only a few small takes. So we hit the camp site, did dinner, and crashed.
The morning, which was Sunday, saw heavier boat traffic than we've ever seen, however the fish became active in a weedbed dropping into eddying water right next to the camp site. So Dan was making pancakes and coffe, so when the fish broke I grabbed the spook, and got after it. I saw the glassy standing water in the center of the eddy. I cast just up river into the main current and happhazzardly walked the spook into the glassy eddy water, and paused the retrieve. WHAM, the fish rolled and I was on. I got it landed and it was a solid 16+"'s, but football fat.
At that point breakfast was on, we ate, broke camp, and got on the paddle.
The rest of the day was speculating on new water, and trying to find water away from the boats. We had solid action on smallies to 14" on a variety of tackle.
Then we hit the island we were to do lunch on, and our friendly neighborhood amphibious ultra-light air plane landed...
And he then taxied to take off through the rapids.
The next thing I know he's crossing through the air and I saw a split second chance...
Right place right time... he he he
We ate and got back on the paddle. We found some awesome new water. The fish were active on the small side, but the amount of boat traffic probably had the biggs hiding. It was late at this point and while trolling to the take out Dan hit this keeper walleye, which became today's lunch.
So we spec'd out some killer water to add into, or lengthen trips, and the big fish are starting to move. Hopefully the recent status quo of weather holds, because if it does, there's some big fish to be caught!!!
Tightlines and safe paddling!!!
Fish Tank