Fishing Report 29 and 30 May

[Brian Sloss]

Although this is posted under Brian's login it is written by Ryan Griffin.

I had the oppurtunity to guide a nice couple from the KC area the last couple days and we turned in two productive days of fishing. On Tuesady, Kevin and I drove up to Thomasville in the early AM to wade around and pursue some smallies and google-eyes. We arrived at the ramp and took the trail south to fish the first hole from the downstream side. (By the way, there is still enough water up there to float as long as you don't bring the kitchen sink - we saw a couple of gentlemen on a day float cruising through with no problems.) We hoped to get some top-water action in the foggy morning but the fish weren't living up to their end of the deal. I switched Kevin over to a beetle-spin and a skirted green grub on a 1/8 oz jig and the action picked up. We waded down about a mile (just below the wing dykes) and picked up some google-eyes and a 3-4 smallies. The google-eyes were of good size (at least two above the 8in minimum) and were attacking the purple beetle-spin with gusto. As we worked our way back up Kevin primarily used the green grub and was able to pull three straight smallmouth on consecutive casts from a rootwad/stump. The current is strong enough that he was just casting it in and tight-lining it - letting the current bounce it along the bottom while jigging it from time to time. All told we got into 7-9 google-eyes and 8-10 smallmouths in about 4 hours. We saw evidence of a couple of spawning beds and spent about 10 minutes watching a very protective 15-16in fish chase away anything that came near. It wasn't insane numbers but some good action for the time and amount of water we covered.

On Wednesday we took the drift boat from Whitten to Riverton and were joined by Kevin's wife Nikki. She started us out just down from the ramp by hooking a northern hog sucker that suprisingly tried to take a Rebel crawdad. This lure turned out to be the hot item of the day (saving my reputation with Kevin as I had told him the day before that it was a great lure for this river and it had only produced one google-eye and one over-aggressive chub) and we fished it with good success along the transition waters below shoals. A few shoals down from Whitten Kevin hooked and landed a small rainbow on a little grub/jig in some "bassy" water and then followed it up with two good sized (14.5 & 16in) trout on a Rebel crawdad out of the next shoal. This was the start not just Kevin hooking trout but also the trout hooking Kevin. We were intending to target some smallies and google-eye as well as the trout but after fighting some healthy rainbows in good current our intentions were altered. Off with the jigs and bass lures, it was time for the Rebel to do its job. We concentrated on fishing the shoals for trout the rest of the day and there were very few shoals that didn't yield up at least one fish. The size of the fish landed were impressive (aside from the very first fish - 11in - everything else was at least 14in with the average being 15-16 in). The thrill of the day came in some slower water just below Hall's Bay Shoal. Sore from cranking the Rebel and fighting fish all day Kevin was content to troll the lure about 20 feet off the back of the boat as we rowed our way to the ramp. All of a sudden he gets a jerk and the drag began to scream. About 5 seconds later we witnessed a 2ft plus beautifully colored rainbow leap over 1ft into the air. Kevin fought the fish well but with an ultra-light rod and 4lb test the fish was clearly in control. He let us check him out one more time on a magnificent jump then ran straight at the boat. Kevin kept the line tight and nudged him over to the right side of the boat. I was ready with the net but the pig held just to low in the water for a good net attempt. Apparently tired of the game, the big guy dove under the boat and took off on another run. The line dragging across the bottom of the boat got scuffed and as I tried to move it around and clear it from the boat it broke. It was of course disappointing to lose such a fish and Kevin and I second guessed ourselves but we took heart in Nikki's wisdom as to how he got away: he's a fighter, "that's why he's still in the river." All in all it was a good day. Kevin landed around 10-11 good-sized trout and had another 4-5 (including the great beast) that were hooked and and not landed. As I said above, I think another hook was also set yesterday as a bass fisherman got hooked on another species.

Ryan Griffin

[snap]

Great report Ryan! We spent Tuesday through Saturday AM on the river,most of it spent at the campsite below whitten wading the hole at the back and the shoals from the site to the top where the logs catch all the canoes. Caught many fish, 15-16 inches, many 13 inches, and some at the lower end that measured 11 inches. Maribou jigs and egg patterns seemed to work the best. Saw the drift boat go by and my camping partner, in awe, said what was that??? I had to laugh, knowing it was the drift boat from pictures seen on this forum before. Floated Turner to Whitten on Thursday and the highlight, besides having my 16 year old son fall in love with a particular hole, was helping a 12 year old girl, the daughter of a friend from Memphis, catch her first trout...she ended up catching more...The weather was great and looking forward to the next trip to the 11 point.

[Rapalafella]

Thanks for the report as we will be canoeing/kayaking/fishing/losing fish in July. My Nephews are local and I am out of state from the West (although grew up in Mo), and they are calling me city boy, so I was hoping some of you old timers could pass along some casting tips. I believe I need a refresher course in catching a fish dinner as I have promised this to my five Nephews..

Thanks in advance..

[snap]

I need to add that a canoe from the boy scouts from Dallas tipped at the shoals and helped them gather their stuff. As we were talking to one of the leaders, he mentioned that they had caught a "pike" earlier in the trip. He said it was about 18 inches long. I asked if he had eaten it and he said "yea. but it was real bony". I knew that was coming!!! Got a good laugh out of that one.

[Brian Sloss]

Snap,

First of all, thanks for helping the Texas boys out. They mentioned it when they came back in and I heard about the bony pickerel meal as well. They are fun fish to catch and some guys around here fish exclusively for them and swear they can prepare them well. I just like catching them - man they are aggresive and explode out of the weedbeds.

Ryan

Rapalafella,

IF you are looking to provide a trout dinner then I would float from Turner or Whitten down as the regs allow you to keep 4 trout of any size in that water. A rebel crawdad cast about 30* upstream from where a shoal transitions into a pool and cranked hard to get it down on the rocks is a good start. Best of luck.

Ryan

[snap]

I have never caught a grass pickerel before or have I ever seen one. Definitely would not try to eat one! I would like to fish for them some trip on the river, could you tell me what would be a good bait/lure to use??? I understand that the best place to fish for them is the growth that lines parts of the river. Thanks! and your welcome on the boy scout incident!

[Brian Sloss]

Snap,

The pickerel we have here on the 11pt. are chain pickerel. They look like small cousin of the northern pike - hence the locals all call them 'pike'. They like dead water with plenty of grass and weed coverage. I like to cast topwater plugs or mid-diving plugs right to the edge of the grass line in still water. Let it sit for a couple of seconds then bring it in on a pretty quick retrieve. The pickerel will dart out of the weeds and tackle the lure. They will come out fast and I have even had some that choose not to strike but still darted right up to the edge of the boat. In-line spinners (roostertails, panther martins) are also good fished about the same way. These guys are toothy are they will break the line a number of times but do put up a good fight when you can hook them right. Best of luck.

Ryan

[Rapalafella]

Thanks guys...

[BrianK]

this little fella gave me a good tussle on topwater last fall. my first.

was down in the lower river below Riverton.

Hey Brian, anyone ever mention finding a fanny pack in the past couple wks up on the Thomasville to Cane stretch. My 10 yo left it on a gravel bar....could still be there.

Let me know if anyone runs across it (or admits to it)

thanks alot and thanks again for the shuttle help

B

[Brian Sloss]

No mentions of it that I have heard of yet. Is it in the 1st couple miles? If so I look out for it next time I or Ryan goes wading around up there. Nice fish.