Another Great Weekend

[24KGold]

This past Sunday and Monday, a friend and I floated Trigger Gap to the bridge. The water was a little low but you never get to float the Kings in late August, so to have to get out and drag a few times was worth it.

We stopped counting after 100 fish or so. Most of them were in the Eight to Ten inch size. Several in the Twelve in size with the largest being a Sixteen and a half incher. Also caught a few in the Forteen and Fifteen inch size. All in all, it was a lot of fun with ultralight rods and Six lb line. We had the river to ourselves on Sunday, and only saw a few other people on Monday. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable float. We were using copper colored tube jigs. Started out using green but when we changed to copper, it made all the difference in the world. I also used "Gulp Alive" minnows. They worked ok, but the sunfish and larger minnows wouldn't leave it alone. I had the best luck using it in the fast water and letting it float down while I twitched it. Tube jigs were the "Go to" bait, as usual and it was great fishing. Hopefully this rain will make for some nice fall floating.

By the way, my buddies and I have started mashing the barbs on our hooks. If you've never tried that, you will be amazed at how little it injures the fish to remove the hook, especially if they swallow it deep. Just comes right out with no bleeding. You really don't lose that many fish and it also helps if you get a hook in your hand. Try it. You will probably like it and it is good for the Smallmouth, or any fish for that matter.

Terry

*Practice catch and release*

[blue]

glad to see you caught some fish would love to fish the kings more but live in river vally

[rps]

After the number of hooks I have put in my fingers the last three years, I am ready to mash all my hooks.

[24KGold]

After the number of hooks I have put in my fingers the last three years, I am ready to mash all my hooks.

I've never put a hook in my hand before, so I am very fortunate in that respect, however I have talked to several who have and it saved one guy from having to go to the Hospital. It went in deep, but without the barb, it pulled right out.

I have fished in the Quetico wilderness of Ontario just over the border from Minnesota for several years now. This year they put new fishing regulations into place. No live bait and barbless hooks. It really frustrated me because I could imagine losing more fish than I boated.

I was pleasantly suprised when I didn't lose very many, and then were able to un-hook them for a better release. Since I use tube jigs quite a lot, the fish tend to swallow them pretty deep. Without the barb, the hook comes out of their throat rather easily. That made me feel really good not to see a deep-hooked fish floating around my canoe minutes later.

All summer long whenever I fish here, I have been mashing the barbs and have decided that it is a great thing to do, when you are practicing catch and release. If everyone did that in the small rivers around here and in the Buffalo, it would certainly help the fishing.

Let me know what you think. I would be interested in hearing what fishermen in this area have to say about this. I know some fishermen already do this with trout, but for Smallmouth? What a radical idea.

Terry

[Flysmallie]

I've been been using barbless flies for smallmouth for a couple of years. I don't feel that I'm loosing anymore fish than I did already. As long as you can keep tension on the line you should be okay.