rps

I think, maybe, I recognize that rod. Am I right?

Always listen to Al Agnew! Others may disagree with me, but the best way to learn to fish smallmouth with fly would be to learn to catch them on spin or baitcast. Once you learn where and how to fish them, you can apply that learning to fly fishing tactics. Bass respond to two instincts, hunger and strike response. To cater to both, certain lures excel in stream/river fishing. Poppers, walk the dog, or buzzers (Whopper Ploppers, Heddon Torpedos, or small buzz baits) would be on my list. Spinner baits like the mepps or rooster tail, or small twin spin would work for both. A small jig head with a hellgrammite (https://tackle-max.com/collections/hellgrammites) falls in the hungry category. A Rebel craw hard bait as well. I would use a light bait caster rig with 6 or 8# line because I hate spinning rigs, but I know good fishermen that use spinning gear. Go find the slow current with logs and lay downs, the river channel changes that create seams, the shoals that back up pools, create moving water, and end in eddies. (10% of the water holds 90% of the fish) When you find success doing that and have confidence in your eye, go to the fly rod if you wish. Once you catch a 15 to 20 inch smallmouth, you will never fish rainbows again. I respect big browns, but I wish smallmouth grew to 40 pounds.

You are welcome.

Squirrels just took my blush. Time to put the netting and bells up.

In order Bush early girls, summer girl, bush early girl, bush early girls, bush spacemaster with sweet 100 behind,early girl, krim front mortgage lifter rear, brandywine Lots of green ones, one strong blush, one or two more will blush in the next couple of days.

I have never written about it, but uncommon techniques may help. Let out less than enough line for the usual speed and up your speed. The harness will be above bottom. An alternative is to stay at regular speed, but periodically raise your arm and rod to the vertical then let it drop back. The drop looks like a killed spinnerbait. The lift changes the speed and puts 4 or 5 feet above bottom. Just as in crank fishing, change in speed can and will trigger strikes. Note, speed is relative to the type and size of blade on your harness.

I always used a smaller than traditional bottom bounce. It meant I had a little more line out, but my feel was more sensitive, and I hung up less. Bill, good harnesses!

Excellent rigs and advice Bill! Lighter weights are great. The only difference is a longer line from the bait to the rod. With braid, the makes zero difference.

We all want that kind of day!

The recent guide trip was my introduction to a new trolling motor, the Power Pole Move. Just because I am curious, tell me what you know.

I've harvested 5 or six cherry tomatoes (Sweet 100 and Veranda) but my other plants are still green, even my Early Girls. Not even a blush. I am hopeful the extra rain will help the squirrel problem because they won't be as thirsty and their other forage will be lush. I've always been optimistic.

I will wait for Bill to give his answer. Ed Calloway, Lmt-out, a walleye guide on Stockton, Has posted his thoughts in the Stockton thread.

Owl Creek to Cedar 1 At the mouth of Owl Creek, on the upstream side, the corner is a bluff very popular with the big boat crowd. When the boats are not there, that point is an excellent vertical spoon place for walleye and bass. The center of the creek is covered with submerged tree in which both bass and walleye suspend. Early morning top waters in the middle of the creek may sound odd, but I have caught them that way more than once. Good springtime wart area. 2 Along this bank you will find a series of small sandy humps that are almost points. Most have brush upon them. Early morning top water area for all three bass species. During the day, the bass tend to suspend out on the roll off into the channel. 3 At the entrance to Rock Creek, you will find the Devil’s Backbone. Fools will speed across it near the visible point. Do not do it! The very long point runs nearly to the other side and bends to the southeast. On the lake side some trees are submerged. Once the point begins to bend the point is mostly sand and gravel. Both bass and walleye will be on this point every day. Nightcrawler harness and trolled cranks will cover territory and be effective despite hang ups. Vertical jig spoons at the drop off where the point begins. On the Rock Creek side drop shot the submerged trees. The first 100 yards down the steep bank headed to Big M will also hold fish at times. 4 This area does not look like much, but I always check it. At different times, I have found small schools of bass susceptible to swim baits and shaky heads. 5 Big M has a camp area above the cove with the ramp. At 925 and above, I have had success with the picnic table pattern. 6 Viney Creek holds fish year-round. I found almost every technique could be effective here contingent on seasonal patterns. 7. Emerald Beach has a long and broad flat that slowly deepens until it hits the channel. I stroll a jig and craw here until I locate the depth. Then I focus on that depth across the flat. 8. Cedar and Carter creeks are bass spawning areas. While I have fished other downstream areas of the lake, I had to do so carefully to avoid Babler’s wrath.

When you get above 8, you are talking serious fish. Beaver and BS have a higher percentage of natural reproduction. Something about water flow, distance, and the gods I guess. In waters where natural reproduction carries the weight, release of the ones that are real spawners is the way to go. TR is considered a put and take lake. The Kings River is the only place where walleye have a chance of reproducing. Only as a side note, once the females go above ten, they are at the point where they do not produce as effectively. The arguments on Walleye Central are epic.

More summer.

They make a medicine for that.

61? I am nearly 76. Virgil Ward was a kid.

Joe Krieger, a Tulsa local with a fishing show in the 60's, won a fundraising fishing tournament with challenged children participants one year with a rope bait spinner for gar (70? 71?). My assigned young man and I won a few years later (76? 77?) with strawberry pop and cornflakes doughballs.

Officially summer.

From about now until about September, try a War Eagle jigging spoon or a Bomber Slab Spoon at the junction of the thermocline with a contour break. Also, go to flooded timber and find the largest tree. Jig right next to that tree. BTW, try all sides: it makes a difference.

Needs more acid, salt, and crunch like cucumber.

Tried a new dish today from the NYT. I will add a picture after service. Ingredients Yield:About 9 cups 1½cups dried lentils (preferably French green lentils) 5thyme sprigs, plus 2 teaspoons thyme leaves 5small rosemary sprigs 2fresh bay leaves ¼cup red wine vinegar 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to taste 1tablespoon Dijon mustard 2teaspoons honey 1large lemon, zested and juiced Salt and freshly cracked black pepper 2medium shallots, trimmed, halved and sliced lengthwise (about 6 ounces) 2 to 3small garlic cloves, minced 3medium carrots, thinly sliced (about 8 ounces) 1small head radicchio, halved, cored and thinly sliced (about 6 ounces) 1large bunch parsley leaves and stems, finely chopped (about 4 ounces) 1tablespoon roughly chopped dill 2teaspoons chopped tarragon leaves Method Step 1 Sort through lentils, removing any small pebbles or stones, then rinse lentils well. Using kitchen twine, tie the thyme sprigs, rosemary sprigs and bay leaves together in a small bundle to form a bouquet garni. (While not essential, this will make it easier to discard the herbs after cooking.) · Step 2 Add lentils and bouquet garni to a large pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil on high then reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender, 12 to 20 minutes, depending on the type of your lentils. Discard the bouquet garni. Drain the lentils and rinse with cold water. Line a sheet pan with a towel and pour lentils out evenly onto the pan to dry and cool. · Step 3 While the lentils cook, prepare the vinaigrette: In a large bowl, combine vinegar, olive oil, mustard, honey, thyme leaves, half the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper; whisk well. Add the shallots and garlic and mix well to combine. · Step 4 Stir in the carrots and radicchio to coat, then add the cooled lentils and toss again. Stir in the parsley, dill, tarragon and half the lemon zest. · Step 5 Taste and adjust the seasonings for salt and pepper. Finish with a generous drizzle of olive oil, lemon juice to taste and a few more pinches of lemon zest. This salad can keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, but it likely won’t last that long. The flavor will improve the longer it sits before consumption. Note: I added the feta because I wanted to.

Stir fry.

Beautiful fish from any water!