6/1/06 fishing report

[Brian Sloss]

After some less than great fishing reports over Memorial Day weekend and a poor showing myself at the 19 bridge, I decided a float through the blue ribbon area was in order. With a kayak and a fly rod in hand, I hit the river ready to fish hard. The end result was a 15+ trout day and one nice smallmouth. The backside of island 3 and the shoal above Mary Decker produced the best. All but about 2 or so shoals produced at least a fish and best fish came about 1/2 below island 4. The best trout measured about 17-18 inches as crudely figured by measuring against my arm. Black stones heavily weighted and fished deep produced most of the fish with the crawdad dropper getting the others including the smallie. If your not hooking the bottom every now an then, you are not deep enough and your catch rate will be much lower.

[flyfisherman]

Great Fish there Brian, I will see you on the 29th.

John Kern

[BrianK]

Hey Brian,

My first post on the forum.

Great reports and pics, keep em coming.

Thinking about coming down this wknd and was wondering if anyone has any info on the smallies further downstream say up or down from Riverton....

I saw that they had been good this spring from Thomasville to Greer but just wondering if anyone has any info on the lower river. I've not been below Riverton.

Just got a little river jonboat and was thinking about testing her out.

thanks,

Brian Knopf

Sunrise Beach

[2sheds]

Can't comment on this year yet, but I've always had a good time with smallmouth from White Creek (upstream from Riverton) past Morgan Springs (142 bridge downstream from Riverton).

Spinners

the 142 good c

[Brian Sloss]

John,

Look forward to seeing in a couple of weeks.

Brian K,

My business partner caught an 18 inch smallie recently wading around Thomasville. As for the lower river, there is a lot of good smallie fishing to be had. The river is a bigger down there and there are good fish down there. Knock'm dead. By the way, make sure your hp is no more than 25 horses (that is the reg). Have fun and let us know how it goes.

[BrianK]

Thanks-

it's only 20 hp with no jetprop (which make me cringe when you hear one coming up the river from 5 miles away). i may just use the boat/oars/trolling motor as a poor man's drift boat.

will let you know if make it down there.

b

[JosephCurry]

I've been seeing quite a few streambred (under 6") rainbows in the Greer to Turner the past few years and would love to see more. I had been seeing the big female below Mary Decker until last fall. Looks like from the previous picture that she's been ripped out. The #10 Prince is always the top fly for me. Watch for my eggplant colored Mad River Explorer out there next weekend and I'll give you one! Anyone know if the last high water changed the gravel bars in the Greer to Turner stretch? I'd insert some great pics from there if I knew how.

Joe

[Brian Sloss]

Nice pics. None of the previously pictured trout came from Mary Decker and all were returned to the river in good shape. That is a huge belly on that one trout you posted. The gravel bars have not changed in any signifigant way, though some of the holes have changed a little, but not a lot. hope to see you out there sometime.