Not quite dreaming a big one into existence...

[Al Agnew]

Yesterday, I was thinking about floating the river today.  The weather forecast looked good, except for the wind--10-15 mph.  Since I would be in the solo canoe and I knew the river was going to be high, adding the wind factor meant fishing would be difficult.  And I had stuff I really needed to get done this week.  So I ended up talking myself out of it just before I went to bed.

But I woke up in the middle of the night, thinking about fishing.  I thought of one of my favorite float stretches, and then of a certain spot on that stretch, where a tributary comes in.  It was a spot that SHOULD hold some good fish this time of year under these conditions.  And suddenly, lying there in bed, I thought, "I bet there is a big one RIGHT THERE."  

When I woke up this morning, I immediately remembered that thought.  And I told Mary that I'd changed my mind...I wanted to float that stretch.

The river was as high as I expected.  The wind was a little worse than I thought it would be.  And fishing was difficult.  I was hoping that the fish would be chasing spinnerbaits, and it's easy to fish spinnerbaits from the canoe under adverse conditions.  But by the time I came to that spot, 2 miles into the float, I'd caught on a couple smallmouth, okay fish, 13-14 inches, but not what I'd been hoping for.  As I approached THE spot, though, I caught a 14 incher on a swimbait.  So I carefully positioned the canoe out of the current and tossed the swimbait into the spot.  Strike.  Another 14 incher.  Toss it in again, a bit downstream.  Strike.  Heavy fish!  When I saw it, I knew it was over 20 inches.  Got it in, measured it carefully...21 1/4th inches.  It's been at least 10 years since I've caught one that big.  I should always follow my hunches!

The fishing remained slow and difficult the rest of the trip, but that fish made my day, and my year so far.

[MoCarp]

What a dandy🍾

[FishnDave]

Jumbo!  Way to be tuned in! 👍

[trythisonemv]

What a great fish! Hunches can get in there and drive a guy to the water. The situation you described sounds perfect for prespawn smallies. 

[DADAKOTA]

Great fish and story as well.