Finley River Fishing Report 7/31/12

[Big Bay Outdoors]

I took the canoe this afternoon about 4pm and put in under the Jackson street bridge below the dam.

I'm pretty sure your not suppose to drive all the way down to the water under that bridge but I did anyway. There was no way I was dragging that canoe and all my gear for 100 yards to the water.

I did park in the appropriate place after launching though. I headed back toward the dam where there are quite a few sunken trees and nice rock ledges. I rigged an 1/8 ounce jig head with a brown watermelon seed "BPS, MR. Finess 4 inch". I cut it in half and made a tube effect with the bottom. (picture below) My second cast I caught a nice 14 inch smallmouth. Got several more hits but I believe they were just small perch. I left there and headed back toward the bridge fish both banks finding little to no bite at all there.

Not a football field away from where I put in was my first walk. The water is very low and in total I walked 5 times in about a 3 to 400 yard float. On the other hand the fish were grouped together in small pools of deeper water. I found several smallmouth and largemouth in groups of 3 or more trapped (so to speak) in small pools. They were active and willing to eat. I also used a wacky rig of the same color Mr. Finess worm. They were not very aggressive but if you throw, bump it and let it sit they are right there to pick it up. The topwater bite was obsolete for lures but I broke out the fly rod at dark and caught some very nice perch and even smallmouth. Using a topwater chartreuse and red popper. Other than those few baits I used a good old bobber and hook with GULP minnows in the can. Caught several, several perch and even one or two smallmouth.

I have been quite discouraged over the past few weeks due to this ungodly heat, but fish are just like us. They want food and a cool place to hang out. If you can find the color for the day you can do some decent catching.

Good Luck!!

Well sorry no photos right now, it won't let me upload.....will post when available.

[jbtiwns30]

awsome.... at least someone has luck fishing in this weather. from where you put in straight across the river i caught alot of smallies and every time i go fish down in that area theres a huge carp that swims around close to the top of the water. i love fishig right below the dam because you normally catch some big smallies, ive caught a few large mouth too. oh well looks like i need to head there tomorrow when i have time before it gets dark.

[Bassmaster25]

Going to Finley tomorrow and suggestions and where have u been catching them?

[jbtiwns30]

walk down the trail below the dam...... bass are every where and ive seen a school or nice size crappies hanging towards the top of the water in between trees. thats where im headed tomorrow morning.