10/5/09

[Zack Hoyt]

Fall feeding for smallies is beginning to heat up. Water levels have been decent and the summer canoe traffic is slowing. Fish will tend to hold at the beginnings or ending of shaols/riffles. A threadfin shad hard bait will bring some solid strikes. Watermelon or speckled olive tubes bounced along the bottom are a good bet as well. Fish structure and changes in river bottom. Mornings and evenings will bring fish to the top to feed, so dont forget about those buzz baits and top water rids. For the fly fisherman, dry flies will produce well. Mouse patterns fished along weed banks or a Todd's Wiggle Minnow just below the surface will get those fall feeding smallies. Also the staples such as crayfish and clousers.Don't discount a larger stonefly pattern under an indicator. Remember there are many warm water insects in our waters, so take a few minutes to observe whats out there and get close. Leaves are changing and animals are stocking up for dinner. Don't forget to take time to look at your surroundings for those unique aspects of nature.