Maries River

[creek wader]

Went to a section on the Maries that I haven't fished since spring. The river had been quite low but it rose about a foot the past few days due to local rains. It was surprisingly clear.

I started out fishing the pool, under the hwy bridge, throwing the 4" BPS Slim Dog but, nothing was interested. Tried the Spinnerbait and no takers there, either.

Started downstream and switched to a Tiny Torpedo. Caught several 6" to 8" smallies and several sunnies and bluegill. Switched to a Pop-R and caught quite an array of fish off it but, no size. when I got to a run I started throwing a senko and caught several bass, goggle-eye and sunnies. Still no size. After passing a riffle, there was a shallow run and picked up a few more small smallies and some more sunnies off of a 3" Yum Dinger.

I finally got to a long pool with good structure of chunk rock and logs, along with a decent current. I caught several 10" smallies on the dinger then switched back to the 4" BPS Slim Dog. The 2nd cast the water exploded several times, but I missed him. The next cast I caught a 11' smallie, that put on a little show for me. On the next 4 or 5 cast, it was a splash fest. The water was clear enough I could see the fish. There were 5 or 6 smallies and a couple of largemouth, all in the same 12" range. The were banging the heck out of the topwater lure, but not getting hooked. It was quite a spectacle. looked like a swarm of bluegill chasing a grasshopper. Finally I caught a 12" smallie. then the bite stopped cold. So, I went back to the spinnerbait but, no luck. It's the first time in 5 trips that the spinnerbait failed to produce. Also, tried a black buzzbait with no success, either.

Switched to a texas rigged soft craw and caught about 10, 8" to 10" smallies and numerous sunfish. Including two Redear. I've been catching quite a few of these, lately. I never knew they were in the local streams. They hit pretty hard. On the way back to the truck I caught many sunfish and a few more smallies. At the mouth of the Little Maries, I caught a nice 12" and a 11" smallie.

All together I caught over 30 smallies and a few largemouth. several goggle-eye, and a plethora of sunfish , including the two Redear.

I didn't catch any big fish but, I had fun with the little ones. Also, I had some fun topwater action.

The weather was nice, the water was clear the fish were active .......... I'm going to hate winter...... wader

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[smallmouthjoe]

Nice fish, I love catching multiple species in the same day. Don't let winter stop you, some of the best fish I catch are caught in the dead of winter. I love fishing in the snow, very tranquil.

[creek wader]

Nice fish, I love catching multiple species in the same day. Don't let winter stop you, some of the best fish I catch are caught in the dead of winter. I love fishing in the snow, very tranquil.

Your right, Joe. I'll be fishing till the ice forms and there's no open water left. ... Still, I like being in swim trunks and no shirt. Glad the fish don't care what I look like. ... lol

[smallmouthjoe]

Your right, Joe. I'll be fishing till the ice forms and there's no open water left. ... Still, I like being in swim trunks and no shirt. Glad the fish don't care what I look like. ... lol

I'd take catching fish over catching women any day. This river freezes over? Wow, I'm glad I don't have to deal with that. I've always felt sorry for those people up north, stuck inside most of the year. I couldn't handle it.