Float 5/12 - 5/15

[cdog222]

Just got back Sunday night from a 3 and a half day float on the JF. It's my 10th time going, every time from Buck Hollow to Alley. We put in last Thursday about 2 p.m. under mostly sunny skies. Unfortunately, it rained a bit Thursday night and Friday night - the river jumped up a foot and a half or so, but it certainly didn't affect the fishing.

This is the second year that my fishing buddies and I set up a little point system and kept track of all the fish we caught. This year, I caught a total of 53 smallies - mostly around a foot long or so, but also including a fat 16.5 incher, and 3 others over 15. I'll catch foot long smallies all day long with a smile on my face - especially on such a beautiful river. We used Gulp minnows and crayfish, and some other assorted soft plastics.

Quick question - we floated last October (middle of the month) for the first time, and the same group of guys (3 of us) caught a grand total of 2 fish. Granted it was a bit chilly and the water was as clear as glass. My question is this - what is a good time for a fall float with productive fishing? I've got a pretty good handle on the spring situation, but I'm not sure when things tail off in the fall.

Regardless, our spring trip is always my 4 favorite days of the year bar none! Can't wait to get back out there.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Good report Cdog. Been wanting to get down there myself. Mid-Oct is probably about the time the smallmouth start going moving to their winterholes. A cold snap will put them down,and that sounds like what happened to you last fall -- but then again, warm weather can keep them biting like it was summertime all the way to mid-November. That time of year its a water temperature thing, and how cold the nights consistently stay to bring the water temps down. My 2-bit theory anyway.