Float/fish Report 5/22-5/23

[darbwa]

Four of us hit the river on Wednesday morning at Baker Ford. We were trying to avoid the muddy, high water that the previous day's rains brought to many rivers in the region. The water was on the rise as the heavy rains from upstream made their way down to us. When we got on the river the water was flowing at about 425 cfs on the St. Joe gage. We began our traditional wager of first, biggest, most once all were geared up and floating. Andy, in boat 2, got on the board first with a little guy but it did not take long for boat 1 to overtake the inferior fisherman in boat 2.

On day 1 we floated to Gilbert and set up camp. The totals on the smallies was as follows:

Boat 1

Ryan - 5 fish

Bobby - 9 fish (big fish - 15")

Boat 2

Andy - 5 fish (first fish)

Dan - 2 fish

Most were in the 10 - 12 inch range with a couple over 12" like the 15 incher in the photo.

On day 2 we shoved off from Gilbert not long after the river crested on the St. Joe gage at 1700 cfs!! We floated and fished down to Maumee with about the same luck - a handful of small ones with a couple nice ones mixed in. I had one of 14" and Bobby caught one that was 16".

Day 2 totals:

Boat 1

Ryan - 11 fish (first fish)

Andy - 1 fish

Boat 2

Bobby - 14 fish (big fish - 16")

Dan - 2 fish

We decided the fishing just wasn't good enough to keep us on the river for the third day so we hit the road and headed to Grand Lake to catch some largemouth and whites over there...which we did.

[mic]

Thanks for the report. Nice smallie.