Huzzah 8/7/19

[goosetalk]

After a busy summer I finally found time for a float and decided I was going to try the Harpers back to Huzzah Valley trip.  The rain Tuesday evening had me a little worried as I went to bed, but I kept a positive thought think maybe there would just be a slight rise on the creek.  Woke up Wednesday morning to see the gauge at HV had went from 130cfs to 280cfs and a rise a little under a foot, and it was already falling .  Never the less, at least my wife and I wouldn't have to drag.  Water color was more reminiscent of the Meramec. 

Weather forecast was for morning fog, maybe some overcast in the morning but should end up being partly sunny and in the upper 80's.  Well, it didn't turn out like that at all. We were on the water from 9:30-4:45 and never saw the sun.  We got brushed by the storm complex that went by to the SW and had either a light steady rain or drizzle for several hours.  For me, it was not what I hoped for but still manageable , but the condition kept my wife chilled for most of the trip. 

I tied on a plopper, a walker and a HD craw.  I've been wanted to try to focus on topwater this trip to get a better handle on it.  HD craw because I figured there would be fish tight to cover.  I gave my wife a 3" grub figuring she could surely pick up a few fish swimming or bouncing it along current seams and wood, which she did. I kept the topwaters on the whole trip and did not manage to bring a fish to the boat.  I had quite a few blow ups on the plopper, some explosive and never managed to get a good hook set.  All the blow ups were along current seams and tailings of the riffles.  Nothing along wood or chunk rock banks. Most seemed to be short strikes and just swiping at it.  Had a few follow and swipe at the walker (still working on the cadence with these baits.) I caught a few on the HD craw throwing up against root wads and trees in some of the slower current. With the conditions I switched the wife to a spinnerbait and she caught a few, but nothing consistent.  In the last 2 miles or so, I switched the HD Craw to a wacky rig worm, and finally found somewhat of a consistent pattern.  Wood with current running along side of it with several feet of depth started producing some bass. Tried to get my wife in on the fish but she had quite enough for the day. What made the whole trip worth it was the last fish of the day.  We had not been along the HV campground for very long when I made a cast to a spot with a some wood and overhanging limbs.  Couple twitches and then heavy weight.  Fish just kept digging and digging and after a good battle I boated the fish.  Using my hand and forearm, I guessing it was right around that 18" mark and heavy.  Beautiful dark banded small mouth.  Only discouraging thing about the fish was on each side in the area between the eye and the dorsal fin was a wound.  I'll let you think of what may have caused that. 

Overall, probably only boated 15 fish.  Judging by the big one I caught, I lost another good one before that.  Only one true dink with most being 12-14" and they all fought hard.  A couple looked like they had full bellies.  Caught on a variety of lures but no consistency except for the wacky rig.  Fish seemed to be scattered and no real pattern to where they would except I did not find any in less than say 2.5ft of water. Only casualty of the trip was one lost rod when my wife ended up sideways on a root wad and particular S curve.  I was right there and swiped at it twice as it sunk but came up empty while neck deep and keeping her from flipping over. I do wish I would have tied on the wacky earlier and I believe I could have picked up several more fish.  Sorry no pictures.

[moguy1973]

I haven't had much luck using a Whopper Plopper on rivers.  I usually have much better results on top water using a walk the dog.  Seems like all the big fish I've ever seen caught on the Huzzah come from that last long stretch along the campground there at HV.  I've caught an 18"er and my buddy has caught a 19"er that I know of.  Right there along side all the people swimming.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Thanks for the report.   I want to get out there.  

[goosetalk]

With where the bass were blowing up on the plopper, I wish I would have had my wiggle warts as they were in relatively deep water and I think I might have been able to dig down to them and maybe caught a few.  Maybe some heavier big bladed spinner baits as well.  Didn't have any in the bag as I planned on fishing clear water.   I bounced the HD craw through the same spots and never picked up a bass. The others I saw fishing were all dragging plastics and weren't having much luck. 

[Seth]

I get plenty of bites on the smaller sized ploppers, but I have such a hard time hooking up with smallies on that bait that I have stopped using it. That's been my luck with pretty well any treble hooked topwater though on the river. They'll knock it clear out of the water and never get stuck more often than not it seems. I've had luck using the 130 sized plopper in the fall on green bass too.

[Gavin]

Brown & down seems to rule on the Huzzah. Walking baits in the shade lines at times. That creeks get allot of pressure, and the fish can see everything. Long casts are required.