The Perfect Morning

Driving to the river early yesterday morning I witnessed a fantastic sunrise. The combination of high cloud cover and the rising sun turned the sky to various shades of pink and blue that stretched for miles. It was one of those times where a photo could never capture what the eye is seeing. Maybe this perfect sunrise would carry over to a perfect morning on the water. For a couple of hours, it did.

Early mornings in the summer is a favorite time of mine to hit the water. Add warm, humid conditions along with some cloud cover and I can’t wait to throw a popper. I seem to have my best days under these conditions. With all this going for me I walked into the river with confidence. The third cast of the day reinforced that confidence. A smallie hit the popper, and little did I know but this first fish would the smallest of the day.

I only fished about a 150 yard stretch of river. Fishing the main flow I couldn’t buy a bite. But just off the current in slower water the fish were aggressive. Each hookup produced a bigger smallie than the previous catch. I laughingly thought that if I caught 10 the last one would be a state record. But then I hooked one that made we wonder if I was on to something.

There is a section of the river that is about 30 yards wide. I can wade down the middle and hit both banks. One side has a fast flow, the other side is very slow. Starting out, I did pick up a smallie on the bank on the faster side. Moving downstream, I placed the popper right against the bank on the slow side. I could see the bottom of the river and it was maybe 6” deep. A couple of strips moved it away from the bank into slightly deeper water. I saw a flash and then it was like a toilet flushed. A smallie inhaled the popper and about a gallon of water. I set the hook and the fish wasted no time going airborne. To be brutally honest, when it did jump, I had a holy $&#t moment. It was a tank. This fish ended up being the hardest fighting smallie I had ever hooked, and had to be one my top three smallies in terms of size. After landing it, taking a quick photo, and then releasing it I took a minute to smile. Every fisherman that has had a similar experience knows that feeling just doesn’t get any better.

Hardest fighting smallmouth I've caught.

Unfortunately, the sun broke through the clouds, and just that fast, the bite was over. But it was a perfect morning.

Go out and fool a fish!

Stinko de Mayo

It certainly didn’t feel like May 5 this morning in northeast Ohio. The temperature at the river read 30°. It felt more like February. But, because of schedules and timing I was going to hit the river today for one last crack at some chrome before saying Adios for the year. In fact, I downsized my rig, putting the 8wt away, and knocking the cobwebs off the 6wt. My thinking was that I may come across a lake-run smallie, and the 6wt would be perfect. And, if I hook a dropback, the 6wt could handle the fight.

I wish I could have tested my thinking but that would have required fighting a fish. I had one strike while watching a juvenile eagle pick something off the bank downstream, and was late with the hookset. If I had a dollar for every strike I had while distracted I’d have more than a few bucks in my pocket.

Overkill? Maybe. Certainly felt cold this morning.

So, let’s hope for warmer temperatures and a margarita or two. If not, it’ll feel more like Stinko de Mayo.

Go out and fool a fish!

70 Long Days

A lot can happen in 70 days. For me, not so much. Rewind to May 17, my last day on the river until today. Fishing one of the local rivers I slipped, and in trying to stop from falling all my weight went on my right hand and wrist. Even though the hand was sore there was no bruising or swelling so I kept fishing. After I stopped is when the swelling showed up. A trip to the urgent care revealed a fracture in one of the small bones directly above the wrist. I was going to be on the shelf for a little bit…or so I thought.

Fast forward 10 weeks (a lot longer than I estimated) and I was cleared to begin using the hand without restrictions. Maybe age has something to do with it, as I graduated from the mid-60’s to the late 60’s in that time period. I guess if I was in my 20’s or 30’s healing would have been a lot quicker. Still, never imagined a small bone would take so long to heal.

The arrow points to the small break. 

Can't believe it took 10 weeks to heal.

(Click on image for a larger view.)

So, what did I miss? Probably the best time of the year to be on a river chasing smallies. Nothing beats throwing a topwater popper on a warm early morning. There’s still some time left for that, and today was my first day back in action. And, my outing was more to find out if my wrist and hand would hold up, as it was my casting hand. Catching a fish was secondary.

I did manage to hook into a fish. I say fish because I don’t know what it was as it never surfaced and then after a short time, threw the fly. It was heavy, putting a big bend in my 4wt rod. It didn’t fight like a smallie so I’m guessing either a carp or a catfish. Anyhow, the hand held up, and there doesn’t appear to be any lingering issues.

So, officially I’m back, and want to make up for lost time. If the rivers stay in good shape I’m going to be out there. Hopefully there’s a bunch of smallies waiting to be fooled.

This is what I am after. Another smallie fooled.

Go out and fool a fish!

Parking Lots Are Full In Steelhead Alley

And so are the rivers, filled with fishermen and steelhead. The spring run in northeast Ohio is peaking and fishermen are flocking from all over to get their share of chrome. In the last week there have been license plates from Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York occupying spaces in various parks. All in the pursuit of steelhead. And, they have been rewarded.

There’s chrome everywhere. Fast, shallow water right now holds a good share of steelhead, as the spawning urge has taken over. Dropbacks, those fish that have completed spawning and are making their way back to Lake Erie, can be found in the deeper, slower pools. Steelheaders, either by themselves or with the help of a guide, have been enjoying multiple fish days, many in double digits. Get them while you can. In about a month it will be over.

Teamwork at its best. Two guide-client teams work a section of the Grand River.

Minutes after this photo was taken two other fishermen filled in the water between them.

Space is at a premium this time of the year. 

This hen put up a good fight but the rigors of spawning took a lot out of her.

The scars prove it.

One of the nice things about April is that smallmouth bass start to show up in the rivers. Fish for steelhead in the first full month of Spring and there’s a good chance you will hook into a big, lake run smallie. If you catch one this time of year you are in for a treat, as a lake run smallmouth bass will fight just as hard as a feisty steelhead.

Hard fighting, lake run. smallmouth bass can be caught this time of the year.

Right now, there’s no better time to catch your personal best metal, whether it is chrome or bronze.

Go out and fool a fish!

So, You Want To Catch A World Record Fish

I’m not going out on a limb by saying all fishermen want to catch big fish. When someone is new to the sport he/she just wants to catch fish. Then, as they progress, they want to catch a lot of fish. Then they want to catch big fish. Over time the fishing community has set informal targets as to what constitutes a big fish. For some fishermen it could be a 20”+ brown trout, a 50”+ musky, or a 30”+ steelhead. Land one of those and the smile won’t leave your face for a long time. But a world record. That’s a different story, and it starts with the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).

Catch one fish and you want to catch more.

(Click on image for a larger view.)

 Catch a lot of fish and you want to catch bigger fish.

(Photo courtesy of Mike Durkalec.)

IGFA is an association that among other things established uniform regulations for the compilation of world game fish records. The regulations cover freshwater and saltwater fishing, as well as all-tackle and fly fishing. If someone wants to submit a catch as a possible world record they had better know these regulations. A few regs surprised me, as they were counter to what I believe the fishing community does in practice. The detailed regulations can be reviewed by the attached link at the end of the post.

The one regulation that stuck out was recording the length of the fish. I’ve seen countless videos and television shows where the fisherman measures the length by pinching the tail together to get the maximum reading. But, according to IGFA regulations, the fish is to be measured using an approved IGFA device from the snout to the rear center edge of the tail. So, you do not pinch the tail, it must be the center edge. Now, for a lot of fish that isn’t a big difference but for a potential world record every centimeter counts. To be declared a new world record based on length the catch must beat the existing record by two centimeters.

As for the world records, they are classified by fish length or weight, and by line class for conventional tackle and tippet class for fly fishing. The biggest fish within the line class and tippet class records is then considered the All-Tackle Record. As an example, there are 31 world records for the rainbow trout (which includes steelhead) for the various line and tippet classes. Within those records, the 48 lb. rainbow caught on 20 lb. line is the All-Tackle world record. This catch caused quite a stir in the fishing community as genetically engineered rainbows escaped from a fish farm into Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan, Canada.Just google world record rainbow trout for the complete story. IGFA makes no distinction between natural and genetically modified fish. Since those genetically engineered rainbows made their way into the lake there are now seven world records from Lake Diefenbaker.

This spring creek rainbow wasn't a record, but it was a lot of fun.

So, what about northeast Ohio? Any chance for a record? I believe there is, especially in the women’s division. The current world record for the conventional tackle 4 lb., 6 lb, and 8 lb, line classes are doable. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if someone’s wife or girlfriend caught a world record and didn’t know it. The 4 lb. line class record is 4lbs. 5 oz. I’m sure that record could fall. Just remember to follow the regulations.

As for me, I’ll just keep casting my popper against the far bank and hope to hook a 14” smallie or swing a streamer hoping for a 25” steelhead. I’m chasing fun, not records.

Go out and fool a fish!

International Game Fish Association

A Pelvis, A Tug, A Bump and A Bonus Bronze

Late last week, before the rain blew out the rivers, I was able to get on the water and hunt for some chrome. The rivers were low and in need of a fresh shot of rain, but very fishable. My usual routine is to swing some flies and hope for a couple of hookups. I got that, and a little more. What I experienced was outside a normal outing.

The Pelvis

Everyone who fishes rivers has seen animals, both dead and alive. That’s nature. Spend enough time on the water and you will run into a deer, mink, or beaver. Occasionally they will die there.

Walking along the bank to get to a pool I ran across a deer pelvis. In the past, I’ve seen fragments of one but not the entire structure. My first thought was I was being transported to an X-Files episode. The holes give the bone a ghoulish look, perfect for Halloween. I had to take a picture but decided not to disturb it fearing some bad ju-ju.

Pelvis, late October, Halloween. Not your everyday find.

(Click on image for larger view.).

The Tug

Like many fly fishermen, I have fun swinging a fly for chrome this time of the year. The fish are fresh, and willing to move for a baitfish imitation. That’s when you will get the tug, and there’s no doubt a fish is on.

I was working a pool that had been productive in the past. It’s deep, with good flow, and some structure. Not only have I caught steelhead in this pool but it is a great spot for smallies during the summer. I made a cast toward the opposite bank and let the flow swing the fly through the pool. Just as the swing was straightening I felt the tug. Immediately the fish came to the surface, splashed around, and made a move to the opposite bank. As if it hit a wall, the fish changed direction. Now, I’ve had steelhead move up and down the river but I’ve been able to control them with side pressure. This time I could only hold on. The line was coming off the reel faster than I’ve ever seen. In a timeframe that felt like two seconds, the fish was 30 yards downstream and not stopping. It was so fast I didn’t have time to get out of the water and chase after it. All I could do is hold the rod high. From past experience I knew I was in trouble. Too much fly line in the water will often lead to a long distance release. Sure enough, the fish kept moving downstream, and all of a sudden the line went slack.

Damn. I don’t know if it was the biggest steelhead I’ve hooked into, but it was definitely the hottest.


The Bump

Licking my wounds from the tug, I made my way upstream to another pool. Using the same woolly bugger, I made a cast and felt a bump. I instinctively set the hook and nothing. So, was it a rock or a short strike? Only one way to find out. I made another cast in the same area and sure enough, another bump. I set the hook, and nothing. I quickly made up my mind that I was either going to lose the fly to a snag, or I was going to catch a fish.

I took a break from casting for a minute or so. It forced me to look around and notice the fall colors. Sometimes we’re so focused on fishing we miss what’s in front of us.

 The fall colors are starting to pop. Sometimes you just have to look up.

So, after that short break I made a cast to the same spot and let it drift with the flow. Right on cue, there was another bump. I set the hook, the line went tight, and I felt the headshake. After a short fight I netted a fresh 18” steelhead. That chrome may be too young to realize you don’t play with your food, you eat it.

It took three tries to hook this one.

The Bonus Bronze

I was looking for quality river smallies all summer. The key must be to wait until October to catch them, as they feed heavily for the winter. The last two outings have produced my biggest smallies of the year. Landed with the steelhead net, they look smaller than they are. Both were pushing 14”. Not bad for resident smallies.

Quality smallmouth in October. A good bonus.

Go out and fool a fish!

Smallies Have To Eat Too

It is mid-October and steelhead has become the target species for many fishermen in northeast Ohio. One big rain event in September brought some chrome up the rivers, and fishermen have had early success. But now the rivers are low, and we could use another big rain to freshen the run.

I’ve had a nice start to the season with two 25” chromers landed and one long distance release after a good fight. Sometimes I get tunnel vision and forget that smallmouth bass are on the move to their winter lies and need to eat as much as possible. So, it was a little surprise when a smallie hit my woolly bugger as it swung through a pool. It turned out to be a nice size resident. And it was my only fish of the day. Saved a skunking!

This smallie hit the olive woolly bugger as it swung through a deep pool. 

Trying to pack on some weight for the winter.

(Click on image for larger view.)

I never get tired of catching smallies, even in October.

Go out and fool a fish!

A Little Bit Of Everything

It is time for a brain dump.

I hate knots that fail. That means I failed. After tying a knot I always give it a pull and a tug. I tied a clinch knot on a popper and the knot passed the pull/tug test. After casting the popper for about 20 minutes I finally had a smallie hit it. I set the hook and there was no tension on the line. I looked at the leader and the tippet had the unmistakable curl at the end. I am going to just use a loop knot for all my tippet to fly connections. I’ve never had that knot fail. As for the smallie, it jumped a couple of times trying to get the popper out of its mouth. Somewhere in the Chagrin River is a smallie with a popper attached. If anyone catches it send me the popper. It was my favorite.
 
When fishing for smallies in the Chagrin and Grand Rivers I know that most of them are going to be on the small side. I know there are some larger resident smallies but they aren’t easy to find. What was worrying me this summer was a lack of young of the year smallies. Those 4”-5” bass just weren’t around. They are a nuisance because they will eat anything but they are a sign of reproduction which should bold well for the future. I finally caught a couple so maybe it’s time to stop worrying.

 A lot of small fish hopefully bodes well for the future. 

With time and a little luck this smallie could exceed 10".

(Click on image for a larger view.)

I looked back at posts from the last two summers and was surprised at how many larger smallmouth I caught. To me, a large resident smallie is 10”+. This year was not as productive in terms of size. They are out there, I just didn’t find them.

 Here's one of those 10"+ smallies that you can fool.

I missed more fish than I caught this summer. I can’t explain why. Playing a fish for 10 seconds and having the line go slack is frustrating. I think my hookset is good but then again I also think I’m still young.

 This one didn't get away. I'm always amazed at the size of the tail in relation to the overall size of the fish.

Walking the river the other day I noticed a few leaves in the water, and some of the trees actually had some leaves changing color. It won’t be long until the rivers start giving up chrome. Time to get the cold weather gear ready.

 Some early color on the trees is already starting to show up.

The rivers in northeast Ohio are low and mostly clear. I say mostly because the Grand River downstream from Vrooman Road has been cloudy all summer. I fished upstream from the bridge and the water was clear. With all this said, we need a big rain to flush the sediment. You can’t help but kick up clouds of sediment when wading.

I fished one morning after a localized storm muddied  Big Creek. 

Here is what it looked like entering the Grand River.

Yes, I did catch a smallie right on the edge where the muddy water met the clear flow. 

The daily limit on steelhead in Ohio changes on September 1 to a limit of 2 per day. Know your regulations.

Remember, beginning September 1, you can only keep two steelhead.

I haven’t had my license checked by a ranger in four years. I wonder where they are. During steelhead season they can walk up and down a river and check a hundred or more in a day.

I didn’t know until recently that breathable waders don’t breathe unless you are in the water. I wore them the other day when it was really hot and sure enough, it felt cooler in the water.


Go out and fool a fish!

Smallmouth Fishing Is A Job This Summer

For whatever reason fishing for smallies in the northeast Ohio rivers feels like a job this summer. There’s a lot of hard work going into catching just a few resident smallies. I don’t know if it is the weather pattern this year or something else but the fish haven’t been as active as they’ve been in the last few years. I’ve even caught a lot less creek chubs, and they eat just about anything. The fishing just hasn’t been “on fire”.

Today I made a trip to the South Chagrin Reservation. There are several spots where I can honestly say always produce. Two pools in particular just scream “there’s fish in here”. I threw everything I could at them and nothing, not even a bump.

A short drive to another location that had been good to me in the past finally produced some fish. For resident smallies, they were decent size. Catching them on a topwater slider was a bonus. I just love when the water swirls and the smallie attacks the slider. I guess hard work does have its rewards.

 For a resident smallie, this is a nice size. Hard fighter with thick shoulders.

(Click on image for a larger view.)

This smallie couldn't get enough of the topwater slider. Notice the deep red in the eye.

For a retired guy, I can't wait to go to work again.

Go out and fool a fish!

What Was I Thinking

Back in February, after a quick warm up, I wrote that spring came early. What was I thinking? Fast forward to mid-April and we are still waiting for spring to arrive. Snow and cold continue to harass much of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region. The only people happy about the weather are steelhead fishermen, as the season may extend into early May. River temperatures are only in the mid-40’s. Compare this to last year when the water was already hitting the mid-50’s. And, after a big rain event last weekend the rivers probably got the last big push of fresh chrome, almost assuring good catch rates for the next two weeks. I may take one more shot at some chrome, but I can’t wait to shed some layers and go after my favorite species….smallmouth bass.

 Eager to take a topwater popper and a hard fighter make smallies my favorite species to target.

(Click on image for larger view.)

Last year at this time I was already getting into some smallies, and while there are random catches they really haven’t turned on yet. The lake run has begun to trickle in, but a nice bump in temperatures, along with a warm rain, would help get the smallies up the river. I can’t get the thought of wet wading and throwing poppers out of my head. I keep telling myself that those warm mornings are right around the corner. I just wish Mother Nature would hurry up!

Go out and fool a fish!

A Real Treat

I was able to spend a few hours on the Chagrin River this morning and was rewarded with a special catch. Special, because resident smallmouth bass over 12” in length are not an everyday occurrence. In fact, I haven’t caught a resident this big in a couple of years. This smallie hit a yellow popper, and came to the net only after a great fight. Glad I was using my 6 wt. Based on the size of the net, the smallie came in just short of 14”.

It is a real treat to catch a smallie this size. Based on growth rates, this smallie could be 8 or 9 years old.

It knows how to survive.

Go out and fool a fish!

Transition Season

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!

Nice August Morning

After the wet trip to Virginia I wanted to get out and hit one of the local rivers. It was a nice, cool August morning. The kind of morning that makes you realize mother nature will soon be making her change to Fall.

Cool and damp August morning brought out the ground fog.

(Click on image for a larger view.)

The walk to the river took me through a field of wild flowers and grasses loaded with dew.

The fishing didn’t disappoint as the smallies were still active, going after baitfish patterns and poppers.

This smallie choked on a yellow popper.

The cigar hanging out of this smallie mouth was a peach color woolly bugger.

Go out and fool a fish!

The Hotter The Better

Almost 80° at 6:00AM, cloudy skies, and over 2’ visibility on the water. I knew the topwater bite was going to be on. It has been my experience that the hotter the temperature, the more willing the bass are to attack a topwater popper. And attack it they did.

My go-to popper has been a black, Boogle Popper, with a size 10 hook. For the rivers in northeast Ohio I don’t think you need anything larger. Once the smallmouth lake run is over, and the residents settle into their territory, a downsized topwater offering does the job.

The black, Boogle Popper, laying by the tail, has been my go-to popper.

 

My goal is to cast the popper within a foot of a bank, wood structure, or a rock. It seems the closer the better. One thing I do is change up the retrieve. Sometimes I immediately pop it. Other times I’ll let it sit and drift before popping it. I’d have to say that both methods work equally well. At least they both produced yesterday.

It didn’t take long for the fun to begin. The first pool with some wood structure produced a couple of nice sized smallies. One hit the popper immediately after it landed. I must have put the popper right on the smallie’s head.

This smallie hit the popper immediately after it landed on the water. Had to have hit him on the head.

(Click on image for larger view.)

The largest fish of the day was taken from this pool. The smallie swallowed the popper, and gave a great fight. The bloodied warrior came to the net, was revived, and swam away strongly.

This bloodied warrior gave a great fight before coming to the net. He swam away strongly when released.

I like the spot pattern on this smallie. Click on the image for a larger view.

The rest of the day was spent catching, and occasionally missing a lot of fish. Let’s hope the hot weather continues.

Go out and fool a fish!

Fast Water Was The Winner

It is the end of June and the lake run smallie season is over, so the chance to catch a really big one in the rivers is limited. But the resident smallies have been very cooperative, and with the right equipment they can be a blast. And every once in awhile you can be surprised with an above average size smallie that puts up a great fight.

This 11" smallie put up a good fight on my 4 wt fly rod. It inhaled a woolly bugger.

Each time out this summer the fishing has gotten better and better. This has been my best smallmouth season since I got back into fishing seven years ago. There aren't a lot of big fish but the numbers are higher than previous summers. What has stood out is how different the rivers fish from one outing to the next. The last time out I found success with a popper working slow pools. It seemed the slower the better. A few days later after a cool front the action totally changed. It was fast water from start to finish. As much as I tried to get a smallie to hit a popper, in the end it was a woolly bugger day.

Take an ultralight outfit or a 4 wt fly rod and give it a try. There's plenty of room on the rivers. You just might have some fun.

Go out and fool a fish!

Best. Smallmouth. Day. Ever.

The weather everyone in northeast Ohio has been waiting for has finally arrived. A string of hot days was missing until this weekend. A lot of people ran for the beaches and parks. I ran for one of the rivers because the hot weather brings warming water temperatures, which makes the smallmouth bass more active. What I didn’t expect was almost non-stop action on the water.

Wanting to hit the river early before the sun starts to bake everything, I set the alarm for 4:30 AM. After downing a quick breakfast I made the half hour drive to one of the prettiest stretches of the Chagrin River. Early arrival guaranteed access to any pool I wanted. Settling in, I carefully waded to a spot that has always been productive. At this point I slipped on a rock, and thrashed around trying to keep my balance. While I didn’t get soaked I did think the pool was toast, but decided to try it anyhow. That was the first correct decision I made on the water. Fortunately, it wasn’t the last.

Nice smallie fooled by the Root Beer Golden Retriever. The fish couldn't resist it today.

The second correct decision was on fly selection. During the summer I rig up two rods. One rod is for a streamer, and a second rod for a topwater popper. For the streamer, I tied on a Root Beer Golden Retriever. This is a streamer I have only found in one fly shop in Virginia, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. Tied with a No. 10 hook, it is basically a brown color with some crystal flash. Today it was deadly. Within the first 15 minutes I hooked into five smallies. Maybe I’ll thrash around the water more often.

Only 1-1/2" in length but it's an ideal baitfish imitation.

Moving down the pool I switched to the topwater popper. It’s actually a Sneaky Pete, which has rounded head. It displaces the water by sliding instead of popping, and creates enough disturbance on the water to attract fish. It was like a magnet today. I made a cast to the opposite bank and gave it a strip. On the pause a smallie came to the surface and sucked it in. A nice fight took place but in the end the bass found the net. Topwater strikes are the best part of fishing for smallies. I found they don’t sip in the popper, they attack it.

The rest of the day I alternated between the streamer and the Sneaky Pete as I made my way through the park. When my day ended I was into double digits in smallies. But the highlight was catching a creek chub on the Sneaky Pete. I always thought chubs were bottom feeders but one of them couldn’t resist attacking the Sneaky Pete.

This is an above average size creek chub. It couldn't resist the Sneaky Pete.

Now for the downside of the day. You may wonder how could there be a downside when the action was constant. Well, I missed another six strikes, mostly by not paying attention. And, the biggest smallie got off at the net. I stretched to get the net under him but missed. I must have put some slack in the line as the smallie spit the fly and quickly swam off. Oh well, I guess you can’t have everything.

Go out and fool a fish!

Efishent Fishing

Let’s start with a definition.

E-fish-ent: Performing a fishing task in the very best possible manner with the least waste of time or effort.

After last week my picture is next to this definition in the dictionary. I managed to catch two fish, on one cast, with one fly. It doesn’t get more efishent than that.

I visited one of my favorite spots and started to strip a woolly bugger through a pool. After about five minutes I felt a tug. The smallie put up a little fight but in the end found the bottom of the net. Holding the fish in the net I removed the bugger. Then, after admiring the markings on the smallie, I released it. Standing up, I grabbed my fly rod to get ready to make another cast. I was surprised when I felt another tug. A creek chub inhaled the bugger only about 5’ downstream from me. I laughed so hard I had to look around and make sure no one was around.

This is the smallie that started a chain reaction.

This creek chub couldn't resist the woolly bugger dangling at my feet.

Now my goal is to catch three fish on one cast, with one fly.

Go out and fool a fish!

Rock Bass Get No Respect

The poor rock bass gets no respect. Fish for smallmouth and often a rock bass will hit your fly or lure. You won’t get a jolt that a smallie can put on a line but a slight bump. Dare I use that word “nibble”? I’ve always thought of them as a warm water fish, so when they start biting the waters are warming, which should improve the fishing for smallmouth. So catching them is a good sign.

Rock bass like clear water with rocky structure. Don't be surprised to catch one when fishing for smallies.

One of the most active five minutes I’ve had on a river involved rock bass. I was fishing a stretch of the Chagrin River with my 4 wt. and came up on a small boulder near a bank. It looked like a “fishy” spot. Casting a small, chartreuse woolly bugger, I let it swing through the downstream side of the boulder. First drift and I feel that slight bump. Sure enough, a rock bass comes to hand. Second drift, same thing. I ended up pulling seven rock bass and one small largemouth from behind that boulder in the next five minutes. Sure, they weren’t smallies but I won’t pass up a chance to catch a fish. A fisherman cannot control what hits their fly or lure. Enjoy the activity. And, with ultra light gear, have some fun.

Go out and fool a fish!

May Has Given Us The Cold Shoulder, Until Now

A cold morning brought out the river fog. Trees are filled in and catching the early morning sun.

Up to now May has been unseasonably cool in northeast Ohio. Temperatures have averaged about 6° below normal. That seemed to have slowed down the lake-run smallmouth bite. There have been some reports of catches, but the river temps haven’t been able to rise to a level that would make them extremely active. If you’re an early morning fisherman it’s even tougher. I know that first hand.

The other day I hit the water after a two week layoff. The morning temperatures were forecasted to be around 50°. Boy, did that local meteorologist get it wrong. I was greeted to temps in the upper 30’s. Not going to get many, if any, smallmouth to chase a woolly bugger at those temps. The good news is the temperatures are going to spike into the upper 80’s for a few days. That should help to increase the smallies metabolism, if the forecast is right.

The last couple of times out I’ve noticed a drop off in the number of fishermen hitting the rivers. The end of steelhead season will do that. I hit a popular spot, looked upstream and downstream, and did not see another fisherman. I had the entire stretch to myself all morning.

What I also noticed was the greening and growth of the trees and bushes. Almost all the trees are full of leaves. This is the time of year when the trails along the rivers start to narrow due to the growth. Paths that only a month ago looked like a two lane highway are starting to shrink. In another month you'll need your elbows to push aside the growth.

Ground cover is starting to fill in, making the paths narrower.

Hats off to Cleveland Metroparks. This path at the North Chagrin Reservation was widened in the fall.

You gotta love summer!

Go out and fool a fish!