Maries River

[creek wader]

Managed to make it out for a few hours, before the rain ran me off. Went down on the Maries, near Freeburg. The river was at it's lowest since March. So, I planned on wade fishing upstream several miles. I accessed the river at a popular local spot below a hwy bridge. I usually make a few casts under the bridge, then head on. This spot gets a lot of local fishing pressure. I started throwing a 4" BPS Slim Dog. On the 3rd cast, I caught a 11" smallie. It was the 1st smallie that I actually "landed "on a WTD top water lure. That's been my goal for the last month or so. I made another 20 or so casts and had 4 blow ups but nothing hooked. I tried the pause, wait, and twitch method, after the misses. But, each fish must of lost interest.

I was spending too long in one spot so, I headed on upstream . It was very shallow the next 1/4 mile, a mixture of gravel bars and shallow pools. So, I used a grass hopper lure and caught quite a few sunnies. The next pool was the deepest water for a 1/2 mile in both directions and I've done well in the past, there. But, because of the low water, it was only about 3 or 4 ft. deep. I put back on the Slim Dog. After a couple of casts, the water erupted, and I hooked a very nice smallie. He tail danced once and was trying to again. So, I kept the rod tip down and cranked pretty hard on him. I got him up to the gravel bar in a foot or so of water, where I got a good look at him. He was every bit of 18". then like the idiot that I am. Instead of going in after him I thought I could drag him out. I pulled the lure out of his mouth and he swam off. Live and learn, I guess. I threw the Slim Dog several more time, but knew he was done for the day. I put on my new "go to bait", a chartreuse and black spinnerbait and threw it for a while but no takers. I blew my one chance, for that day, anyway.

I headed on upstream past the riffles and into the next pool. It was very shallow, also. I threw the spinnerbait for a while with no takers there, either. Put on a beetle spin and caught a quite an array of sunnies and Goggle-eye. I had been hearing thunder for a while, and it was getting closer. So, I shortened my trip and turned back.

I got back at the pool where I lost the big one. The sprinkles started. I threw a 3" Yum Dinger with no success. I only had one 5" senko on me, and it was pretty chewed up. So, I rigged it wacky style and on the first cast, I caught a nice 13" smallie. He destroyed the senko. So, I put on the only soft craw that I had and caught two 11" smallies. By then, it was a steady shower, so I headed back.

All in all it was a decent day. I didn't get very many smallies. But, I did land one on the Slim Dog and had a real nice one on. Also, I had a mink within a few feet of me. He held fast for a while and so did I. After a minute he determined that I wasn't a threat so, he went about his way, nonchalantly. That's 4 or 5 mink that I've had close to me this year. ... wader

[RSBreth]

Very cool.

Good report.

[creek wader]

Very cool.

Good report.

Thanks, .. The goggle-eye bite has been hot lately. They have been hitting everything I throw at em' ... wader