Floated From Hazelgreen To 133

[Flysmallie]

Floated and fished with some great friends this weekend. We put in Saturday at Hazelgreen access and took out Sunday at 133 bridge. The smallmouth fishing was not what it was last year when we floated this same area, but we expected that with all of the flooding. What was really suprising was the number of largemouth and spots. We didn't see that many last year. This year they out numbered the smallmouth. Most of the fish were caught on soft plastics but I also did well on a old standard issue #3 Mepps spinner.

Saturday afternoon we made camp in a bend in the river that was completely shaded at 4:30 in the afternoon. It was a great spot because it was really really hot. There was some backwater across the river from us that was just begging me to fish it. So I waited until it was good and shaded and jumped in my new canoe with 3wt in hand. I tied on a little foam bodied popper and started catching 8" to 10" goggle eye all over the place. That was a lot of fun on that little rod. Then I noticed a good looking spot. Right where the fastwater seam met the backwater there was a stump with weeds on one side. I got as close as I dared while trying to stay out of the fastwater. My fly landed right next to the stump with about as much stealth as a goose that's been shot out of the sky. That's when this bass, had to be at least 18", comes leaping out of the water and lands directly on my fly, mouth first. Well all that really needs to be said is that I lost that one!!! Too big a fish for that little of a rod with a 6X tippet and a complete retard hanging onto it. I thought if I could get him out in the open water that I might have a chance but I couldn't get him away from that tree, so I let him have my fly and I went to camp to start my aluminum can recycling program. It wasn't a long fight, but it's one I will never forget. What a blast.

[bclift65706]

that is a good stretch of river I have never went from hazelgreen to the 133 I put in at the 133 and go up a few miles and fish my way back down I cought alot of smallmouth earley this year and have olny cought maby 5 in the last 6 weeks not very good. but lots that of big goggleeye in the river this year. the one thing I do wish people would do is take their limb lines out of the water when not in use that one hole of water with the rock bluff about 2 miles above the 133 is full of limb lines and alot of the hooks are 2 and 3 feet out of the water so I know they are not using them I run lines myself and always run the max number of hooks and and when I leave so do my lines all of them.

[Flysmallie]

I agree on the limb lines. We saw a lot of those throughout that whole section.

[Wormser]

Thanks for the report, as for the Gasconade all I have done is by Vienna. A few of us are planning on doin the upper stretches by where you were. Sounds like some real nice Goggle Eye.