Joachim Creek, Desoto

[Al Agnew]

Weight-forward simply means the line is heavier and thicker toward the front end (the end you tie the leader onto). Most floating fly lines these days are weight forward, anyway. Since with a fly rod you're casting the weight of the line and it's simply pulling the fly along for the ride (you should be able to cast perfectly with just the line alone, no fly), the more weight of line you have near the end the easier it is to cast.

You have about another two or three weeks of opportunities to more easily catch your first smallmouth. Once the autumn gets a little farther along, the fishing in the smaller creeks you are wading gets a lot tougher. You might want to try small panfish size poppers in the next month or so if you get a fly rod. They'll catch bass as well as sunfish. If continuing to use spincast tackle, find some small Beetle Spins or Roadrunners. You just cast them out and reel them in steadily, and they'll catch about any game fish that swims in those small creeks. One other tip...I'm familiar with Joachim around De Soto, and it's clear and shallow. In such waters, you need to be able to make long casts. If you can see the fish, the fish can see you. Your casts need to be long enough that you can't see the bottom where your lure lands. Don't worry much about accuracy; as long as you land the cast within ten feet of where a smallmouth is, the fish is likely to charge it.

[Jack Hollister]

Thanks for the advice. Now I am on the hunt for a rod. Interesting idea, junkman, about the thumb cast. That might be a great way to get my son into fly fishing. Meanwhile, I will be found casting flies around in my backyard trying not to hook my neighbours dogs. Hmmm... bet they would put up a nice fight, though...

Would anyone recommend a fly shop here in St. Louis? I need to start learning about flies, presentation, tying, etc. Truthfully, the line between want and need has been a bit blurred lately.

Stop by and see Tom....http://www.thargrove.com/....located on Manchester. He is a great guy with a huge amount of knowledge. He will be helpful with any questions you may have.

[Dirtworm]

Thanks again gentleman. You being so generous with information is a big help, and I am humbled. You are all good for the sport.

[Al Agnew]

Just to elaborate a bit since I'd like to see you catch your first smallie...on that creek, the pools are short and shallow for the most part. If you wade into the pool where you're fishing, you'll probably spook most of the fish unless it's one of the longer ones, and even then you'll spook everything within 30 feet of you. So as you're wading, stop in the riffle or just on the other side of the riffle and make your first few casts. In other words, if wading upstream, stop in the riffle below the pool where you want to fish and cast up into the middle of the pool from there. If wading downstream, stop at the top of the riffle or even in the pool above, and make your first casts to the water at the bottom of the riffle. The riffle masks the sounds of your footsteps to an extent, and keeps you far enough back that the fish in the broken water at the bottom of the riffle won't detect you easily. Be sneaky, walk quietly, stay low (don't climb up on the bank and look down into the water before fishing a spot), wear light but dull colored shirts and hats, and make long casts. You're stalking these fish like you're hunting them. Smallmouth are aggressive fish, especially in these small streams. So if they don't know you're there they are probably going to take your lures with wild abandon. If they DO know you're there they revert to being very shy and skittish.

[FishinCricket]

Just to elaborate a bit since I'd like to see you catch your first smallie...on that creek, the pools are short and shallow for the most part. If you wade into the pool where you're fishing, you'll probably spook most of the fish unless it's one of the longer ones, and even then you'll spook everything within 30 feet of you. So as you're wading, stop in the riffle or just on the other side of the riffle and make your first few casts. In other words, if wading upstream, stop in the riffle below the pool where you want to fish and cast up into the middle of the pool from there. If wading downstream, stop at the top of the riffle or even in the pool above, and make your first casts to the water at the bottom of the riffle. The riffle masks the sounds of your footsteps to an extent, and keeps you far enough back that the fish in the broken water at the bottom of the riffle won't detect you easily. Be sneaky, walk quietly, stay low (don't climb up on the bank and look down into the water before fishing a spot), wear light but dull colored shirts and hats, and make long casts. You're stalking these fish like you're hunting them. Smallmouth are aggressive fish, especially in these small streams. So if they don't know you're there they are probably going to take your lures with wild abandon. If they DO know you're there they revert to being very shy and skittish.

I'll agree completely and add this:

On small streams, lure selection doesn't mean as much as stealth, but I'd suggest two lures..

1. Teeny Craw (color matched to the crawdads in the stream)

1. Soft plastic grubs of some type

Get good at working these two lures in different circumstances and you'll have no need to switch lures, so you can concentrate solely on lure action.

[Dirtworm]

So I guess my bright yellow jacket, my sight fishing from the top of the bank for the first hour of daylight, and my sloshing through the deep pools until I had to either swim or head back to the bank weren't helping me catch fish? I will dedicate my first small mouth to Fishincricket, al agnew, stlfisher, junkman, jackhollister and outsidebend.

I will have to pick up a few teeny craws and soft plastics. It is nice to know that lure selection doesn't mean as much, and I can tame the wardrobe easily enough. Hoping to post that first smallie picture soon!

[FishinCricket]

Heck yeah, you've already got the main ingredient, bro! (Confidence)

Oh, my other advice take heed of any and all of Al Agnews advice, but don't give him any credit... He may try and charge you royalties!!

[Dirtworm]

Heck yeah, you've already got the main ingredient, bro! (Confidence)

Oh, my other advice take heed of any and all of Al Agnews advice, but don't give him any credit... He may try and charge you royalties!!

By the way, Amen to Discgolf

[FishinCricket]

By the way, Amen to Discgolf

Yeah, it's a sleeper sport.. I kinda gave it up recently, but only cause I FISH so much!! lol

[joeD]

It's a "sleeper" sport because of the amount of weed that gets smoked before, during, and, after it. After a good session in the woods and a bowl of Cap'N Crunch, you're ready for some "sleep" in your vomitorium.