Mid Morning Crighton Trip

[Mofloatjunkie]

Since we didn't put the boat in until 10 a.m. I figured we wouldn't catch much, it was already hot. But on the first cast before I even got in the boat in my ''secret hole'' I caught a fat goggle eye. We paddled up past the water intake station as far as we could. Then I figured out where the fish were. They were in heavy thick structure. And you had to fish in it not around it. I was pulling the boat right over the top of brush, logs, limbs, etc. and just jigging in the middle of it. Once I threw that jig in the water it was game on!! I caught 4 goggle eye, three smallmouth in the 12 to 14 in range and some impressive sized perch. The fish are deep and in heavy cover. Fishing can be tough and frustrating in this heat but with a little patience and effort you can catch them. I caught all my fish on dark purple and red/chart.tube jigs on a 16th oz jig head hook. Also I need some advice. I love fishing with a 5 ft 6 in ultra light rod but I have broke three of them this year. Thank The Lord for Bass Pro warranties! Anybody have one that is durable? If so what brand? Thanks.

Mofloatjunkie

[jbooth24]

Nice report. My buddie usues a lews brand open face that works really well he got it at there discount store on Bennett off of glenstone

[MOsmallies]

Nice Report!

Ultralights are not ideal for smallmouth fishing. I would suggest moving up to a 6'0" or 6'6" medium action rod. Should be more durable, and better suited for working smallmouth lures and fighting smallmouth. If you're dead set on the ultralight maybe get an ugly stick. Looks like they have a 5'6" Light action rod in their Ugly Stik Lite Rod series (SP11562L).... $40.... Ugly Stik prides themselves on making unbreakable rods.

[Mofloatjunkie]

Thanks for the advice guys. I really like a shorter pole on the river because it's easier to put away on the boat and I do a lot of casting in heavy cover and the shorter rod requires less space to cast. I have never broke a rod fighting a smallie, I usually break them trying to pull out of a snag. I have been avoiding getting an ugly stik as that's what my arch enemy uses. Lol! But mo smallies I think I will take your advice. Thanks for all the help guys. I plan on going again this evening, I will let you guys know how I do.

Much love,

Mofloatjunkie

[jbooth24]

I would have to agree I do like using ultralights for tight places and crappie fishing but I use a medium action for smallmouth and I love it.

[moguy1973]

My Berkley Amp 6'6" medium spinning rod has plenty of play to it and makes catching smallmouth a lot of fun. Makes even the small fish seem a lot bigger. Has very good feel to it also.

[Mofloatjunkie]

I went fishing again in the same stretch of river after the rain yesterday evening. I saw a lot of huge bass crusing the banks but couldn't get them to hit. Which was really frustrating because they were in predator mode and feeding. After giving up on the big bass I went back to my jigging technique. I picked a huge stump with a bunch of logs jammed up behind it, dropped my jig in the water and started bouncing it off the bottom straight down along the wood. My brother and I caught so many goggle eye out of that hole my arm was sore. Between that hole and another one just down stream I bet we caught between 30 and 40 goggle eye in less than three hours. That's not counting the fat perch we were catching as well. The only reason we stopped fishing was because it got dark and I didn't bring my lights. As always we released all fish unharmed. I would be going again today after work but I promised mrs. Mofloatjunkie I would watch the chiefs game with her tonight. On a second note my frustration over breaking rods this year has led me to one conclusion. My brothers cheap Shakespeare rod has lasted year after year with heavy use. And I'm poor so I went and bought a 5 ft ultralight from the bass pro outlet store for 10 bucks. I put my browning spinning reel on it and it fishes great. This will have to do until I get some money saved up to buy an ugly stik. I'm very curious to see how this cheap rod holds up.

[mic]

Man... I would kill for a day like that.

[jbooth24]

Same here

[yaknar]

Mofloatjunkie, I fish with 3 Shakespeare Ugly Stiks, 5 ft, with light action. The reason for length is so it does not stick out past the end of my kayak, for when I crash into any thing, and I like using light action for the fun of it. I have never had one break yet and I dont know of any fish I lost fishing with a light action rod. I have to buy them at Bass Pro as a combo and pitch the reel, it's junk.