Summer is waning. Being able to get on a river before 6:00AM in full light is gone. Those hot, sticky mornings have been replaced with cooler temperatures. River flows are still at summertime lows as northeast Ohio hasn’t had a big rain event in some time. In fact, we could use a good storm (please, not like Harvey) to flush the rivers, as sediment is accumulating. One can’t wade without kicking up a cloud of sediment. Even a few fallen leaves have found their way into the waters. The only thing that seems to be hanging on to summertime is the smallie bite. I’ve been surprised how well it has hung in there.
The topwater action continues to be strong. It doesn’t seem to matter what color is used, black, yellow, or green. They have all produced. This has been a fun summer, watching smallies attack the poppers. And when that action slows, I’ve been able to throw small woolly buggers into faster water and managed to move quite a few smallies.
This smallie attacked a popper and fought hard.
(Click on image for a larger view.)
But, late August and early September is transition time. I suspect the smallmouth bite will continue for the next few weeks. As the weather changes and brings with it cooler nights, and northeast Ohio gets a rain event, fishermen will keep an eye out for the first push of chrome entering the rivers. And from the chatter on social media there are a lot of fishermen waiting. Check any steelhead group on Facebook and you’ll see discussions about buying new gear, or when will the first run happen. Soon, the empty rivers will be flush with fishermen, and hopefully, steelhead. The clock is ticking.
Enjoy the photos from a recent outing.
The only sunfish I caught all year. Great color.
Thin, long, and likes yellow.
A path leading to the river. This field was part of a controlled burn last year
by the Cleveland Metroparks. Came back healthy and better than new.
Early morning fog always makes a great picture.
Go out and fool a fish!
