chub minnow Posted September 25, 2009 Posted September 25, 2009 I had to run to Bella Vista for some business yesterday evening, so I threw the rods in the back of the work truck hoping to get a few casts in after my obligatory stop at the state line Wal-Mart (wow tax is A LOT less in Missouri!). At any rate I did find myself at the creek in time to make maybe twenty casts before I had to leave. I picked my spot, a deep eddy with some brush on the bottom. It was the only good looking spot within walking distance, considering the higher water and my time constraints. Next I picked my two lures. The first was a simple white spinnerbait, the second a small wiggle wart. I got set up and made a couple of casts with the spinnerbait to no avail, so I went to the wart. I made a couple of casts being careful to not get hung in the debris. No luck, so I got bold and cast across stream and bounced the wiggle wart back across the bottom and sure enough my worst fears were confirmed, I was hung up..... or wait, whats that flash? My line is moving upstream, and at first I don't realize the size of the fish I've got. I didn't really figure on any big fish today, just getting a few casts in, so I'm using my old med/lite 6' rod with a tiny Shimano reel and 6# fluorocarbon line. I get a look at him real soon when he comes straight at me and dives into the brush pile. So eventually I end up in the middle of the creek pulling him back out of the pile. I can't believe I got him out of there. After a few minutes I finally end up dragging him up in the shallow water to land him as I couldn't gain much ground on the reel. He's definitely not the longest smallie I've caught in a small creek, but probably the heaviest and surely the best fight. Here he is:
creek wader Posted September 25, 2009 Posted September 25, 2009 I had to run to Bella Vista for some business yesterday evening, so I threw the rods in the back of the work truck hoping to get a few casts in after my obligatory stop at the state line Wal-Mart (wow tax is A LOT less in Missouri!). At any rate I did find myself at the creek in time to make maybe twenty casts before I had to leave. I picked my spot, a deep eddy with some brush on the bottom. It was the only good looking spot within walking distance, considering the higher water and my time constraints. Next I picked my two lures. The first was a simple white spinnerbait, the second a small wiggle wart. I got set up and made a couple of casts with the spinnerbait to no avail, so I went to the wart. I made a couple of casts being careful to not get hung in the debris. No luck, so I got bold and cast across stream and bounced the wiggle wart back across the bottom and sure enough my worst fears were confirmed, I was hung up..... or wait, whats that flash? My line is moving upstream, and at first I don't realize the size of the fish I've got. I didn't really figure on any big fish today, just getting a few casts in, so I'm using my old med/lite 6' rod with a tiny Shimano reel and 6# fluorocarbon line. I get a look at him real soon when he comes straight at me and dives into the brush pile. So eventually I end up in the middle of the creek pulling him back out of the pile. I can't believe I got him out of there. After a few minutes I finally end up dragging him up in the shallow water to land him as I couldn't gain much ground on the reel. He's definitely not the longest smallie I've caught in a small creek, but probably the heaviest and surely the best fight. Here he is: Nice catch. ... wader wader
KCRIVERRAT Posted September 25, 2009 Posted September 25, 2009 Pretty fish there minnow! HUMAN RELATIONS MANAGER @ OZARK FISHING EXPEDITIONS
eric1978 Posted September 25, 2009 Posted September 25, 2009 Nice fish! Definitely a challenge with 6# flouro. That stuff can make for a real heartbreaker. I know I'm done with it. Anyone know why some smallies have that white spot on the rear of their gill plate?
Buzz Posted September 26, 2009 Posted September 26, 2009 Very nice brownie. If fishing was easy it would be called catching.
Buzz Posted September 26, 2009 Posted September 26, 2009 Nice fish! Definitely a challenge with 6# flouro. That stuff can make for a real heartbreaker. I know I'm done with it. Anyone know why some smallies have that white spot on the rear of their gill plate? I'm not sure about that spot. I went back and looked at several pics I have of bigger brownies and most all of the more colorful fish seem to have it on the gill plate. Maybe it is just inherent in the species. I honestly never thought about it before. Do the brownies in your neck of the woods have the same white spot? If fishing was easy it would be called catching.
eric1978 Posted September 26, 2009 Posted September 26, 2009 I'm not sure about that spot. I went back and looked at several pics I have of bigger brownies and most all of the more colorful fish seem to have it on the gill plate. Maybe it is just inherent in the species. I honestly never thought about it before. Do the brownies in your neck of the woods have the same white spot? I started a thread called "Fishing High Water" under the forum category "Other Ozark Streams," and in it I posted a picture of a little chubby smallmouth I caught the other day. He has the same white spot on the gill plate, and it was really the first time I'd noticed it. He came out of a Meremec system stream.
Buzz Posted September 26, 2009 Posted September 26, 2009 I started a thread called "Fishing High Water" under the forum category "Other Ozark Streams," and in it I posted a picture of a little chubby smallmouth I caught the other day. He has the same white spot on the gill plate, and it was really the first time I'd noticed it. He came out of a Meremec system stream. Yeah, I forgot that pic. Looks like it is a normal part of the smallmouth. It must be a natural occurance in the species. I do have some pic's of smallmouth that don't have the spot, but they are more green in color. If fishing was easy it would be called catching.
Members Tadd Posted October 6, 2009 Members Posted October 6, 2009 I've had lots of good luck lately with wiggle warts especially during higher than average water. The vibration it gives off is a killer. It is a pain if it snags especially at $5 a pop but I've found the treble hooks rarely gets hung and it's typically the lip. If your patient and cast down stream and let line out when hung you can work it out.
creek wader Posted October 7, 2009 Posted October 7, 2009 I've never noticed the white spot on the gill plate till you guys pointed it out. I went through about 50 pics or better of smallies, that I took this summer. All had the white spot on the gill plate. Also, all the Kentucky's and goggle-eye had this. But, none of the largemouth had it. ...wader wader
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now