Ultralight Smallmouth Tactics

[Chief Grey Bear]

I think it goes without saying that any experienced anglers "recommendations" are going to be tilted towards their own "style".

What's wrong with that?

If I was to feed this inquiry then you're ALL doing it wrong for not leaving the "gear" at home and using a flyrod.

And there is nothing wrong with recommending a fly rod. It is very useful on small streams. In fact they are a freaking blast. I would be right there with you even though it is not my top choice. It is my #2 choice. The only problem is he wasn't asking about a flyrod. He asked about a UL rod.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Why don't you join in wrench?

Bring your fly rod.

[Al Agnew]

Sorry, Chief, if I implied you were doing it wrong...I meant to give the reasons why I wouldn't do it the way you do. There ain't any wrong way to do it, but I like to point out as many of the things to consider as possible when somebody is choosing something, based upon my experience. And heck, it wouldn't be any fun if we didn't disagree on some things, anyway.

As for the little longears and 6 inch bass, if you're fishing a wading size stream, I don't know how you avoid them. they're all over the place, from the best looking water to the places you cast to just because you're there and haven't reached better water yet...which is sometimes the places where very good fish surprise you.

We do have to get together and fish one of these days.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Dang it Al, you've gone and ruined another good battle!

There is truth in what you are saying. We must remember though, the reason you may be catching a ton of those dinks is because that is about all that is in there. Your larger, breeding size if you will, fish will be fewer and farther between just because of the smaller size stream. It is just the nature of the beast. And what good is a casting rod going to do on smallwater like that?

I'll tell you one time Corndawg and I was wading a very small stream that never gets more than about 20 feet wide or more than about 4' in the deepest hole. The whole fishable portion of the stream is not more than about 2 miles in length. So we parked at this one bridge and made our way up stream. Didn't get much but had some fun. We worked our way back and there is one section about 40 yrds long that was only just above my ankles and had some rocks just a little bigger than basketballs here and there in it. I just walked on through it. Corndawg was about 10 yrds behind me and hollers that he has one. I look back and he is fighting a good one. He gets it landed and it is all of 2 - 2 1/4 pound smallmouth!! Where the heck did that come from!! It was absolutely unbelievable the water it came from!

We'll get in a trip or two some day when you ain't jet setting all over the place fishing!!

[fishinwrench]

Why don't you join in wrench?

Bring your fly rod.

I'm game. Don't you and CD usually do a Lil'Ni camping trip in the Fall ?

[Chief Grey Bear]

Yeah we have been there a couple of times. Not one of my favs for fishing. Maybe I have just caught it on bad days. Which I truely believe can and does happen. I have days on water that I fish regulary and it just plain sucked!! But a few days later, its on like Donkey Kong!

I have some floats on its big brother that I have been looking at doing. Looks like some over nighters. Maybe we can do that??

[Seth]

Why is it that anyone that doesn't do it like you, is doing it wrong?

Whether it is fishing or canoeing or what canoe they may own, what rod they use, what line they use, what bait they use, what presentation they use, whatever it is, if it is not how you do it, it seems it is wrong and won't work.

I can count on one hand the number of fish I have lost on 4lb test. And if you are catching nothing but 4 inch perch and 6 in smallmouth, you are fishing the wrong water. I know you are better fisherman than that and I know you know how to read water. You don't have to go the the very extrem to make a point.

I'll put my fishing style against yours in a friendly manner on any stream any time. I'm not saying I am going to smoke your butt by any means, but I think I can hold my own.

Lets do one on your side, one in the middle and one over here. I'll let you pick all three.

I must not be reading the same post you are because I didn't see anything that says you can't fish any other way? He just gave his opinion on what he likes. Do you see the hypocrisy in your post? You call him out for talking about his preferred fishing style, but then turn around and say that you would out fish him with yours? I guess we are supposed to take that as your fishing style is superior to all others?

[Chief Grey Bear]

I must not be reading the same post you are because I didn't see anything that says you can't fish any other way? He just gave his opinion on what he likes. Do you see the irony in your post? You call him out for talking about his preferred fishing style, but then turn around and say that you would out fish him with yours? I guess we are supposed to take that as your fishing style is superior to all others?

I guess you aren't. Because you can't read mine either.

[Seth]

I guess you aren't. Because you can't read mine either.

My bad for not reading the entire thread. Somehow, I completely missed the link to the second page of posts. I see you changed your tune after you realized you misinterpreted Al's post.

[Al Agnew]

Aw Seth, me and Chief are always disagreeing about something or other. We keep each other on our toes.

My favorite close to home wading stream has pools that at best are 2-3 feet deep, and lots of pools that are no more than 18 inches deep at the deepest. And before a few meat hogs found out about it, it routinely produced 18-19 inch smallies. Still gives up a few 17 inchers. It's kinda like the one you described...about three miles of really fishable water, a few isolated pools holding fish above there, flows into another creek only slightly larger, and below the confluence there's only about another mile or so of decent habitat before it gets too slow and silty. Its smallmouth population is almost isolated. It's simply amazing how big fish can live in such small water, and find places to hide.