Late July Trip

[PowerLizard]

I have a trip planned for next week - the heat of July.  We are staying at the Spider Creek Resort and will be doing morning canoe trips from the Beaver Dam to their resort 4 miles down river.  They said the dam has been generating from 10:am to 10 pm.  What can we expect to catch? Smallmouth Bass?  Trout?  Any tips?

[PowerLizard]

I did a little more research but could still use some help.  We will be fishing medium light spinning rods with Wordens Roostertails, D2 Jigs and Short Rapala style stickbaits for trout.  Our planned Smallmouth baits are the ZMan TRD Ned rig, TRD finesse Crawz  and Storm Swim Shads.  Will Smallmouth Bass be in the first 4 miles of the river in July or should I plan a morning canoe trip on the river for trout and an afternoon trip to the lake for Smallmouth?  

[Devan S.]

If you float from the dam to spider creek it will be 99.99% trout. There has been some nice smallies caught up closer to the dam but they are spill overs from open flood gates this spring and have most likely moved down or been removed. I wouldn't waste my time even trying for them specifically. If your looking for smallies I would go up to Beaver lake above and fish any long gravel run out point in the dam area. Dam site and Indian Creek both have areas easily accessible.

For trout any option you have listed will work just fine. Be cognizant of the special regulation area you will float through. Once the water is on that float will go pretty quickly. The area around Parker bottoms and the big pool right at the Spider Creek will hold lots of trout. 

[PowerLizard]

1 hour ago, Devan S. said:

If you float from the dam to spider creek it will be 99.99% trout. There has been some nice smallies caught up closer to the dam but they are spill overs from open flood gates this spring and have most likely moved down or been removed. I wouldn't waste my time even trying for them specifically. If your looking for smallies I would go up to Beaver lake above and fish any long gravel run out point in the dam area. Dam site and Indian Creek both have areas easily accessible.

For trout any option you have listed will work just fine. Be cognizant of the special regulation area you will float through. Once the water is on that float will go pretty quickly. The area around Parker bottoms and the big pool right at the Spider Creek will hold lots of trout. 

Thanks, that really helps.  I found the special regulation and we will pinch down some barbs for that zone.

[rps]

Trout+, with a rare walleye this time of year. 3" jerk baits, barbs compressed, and in line spinners, also barb compressed. Live  and processed bait. Check out Busch Mountain Fishing Guide Service for your first day.

[Devan S.]

Also keep your attention up when your doing things like fishing/landing fish/re-tying/ect. There is a handful of rocks/stumps scattered about that hitting with a boat under generation will quickly put you into cold, swift water. I wouldn't say its dangerous as they are all easy to get around and very obvious but when your in swift water and focused on other things they come up fast. 

[PowerLizard]

11 hours ago, Devan S. said:

Also keep your attention up when your doing things like fishing/landing fish/re-tying/ect. There is a handful of rocks/stumps scattered about that hitting with a boat under generation will quickly put you into cold, swift water. I wouldn't say its dangerous as they are all easy to get around and very obvious but when your in swift water and focused on other things they come up fast. 

Thanks for the heads up.  I am used to kayak fishing lakes and there are not a lot of dangers since there is no current.

[PowerLizard]

We rented a canoe from Spider Creek Resort and fished from the Dam back to their resort on Thursday 7/21/22, Friday and Saturday.  Thursday turned into more of learning trip as we only caught 2 trout on the Worden's Roostertails.  We had a lot of trout following the lure back to the canoe and lost several near the canoe.  My son also had a lot of line twist from the inline spinners.  That night I tied on 4 lb Seaguar fluorocarbon leaders and added swivels to cut down on the line twist.  We also decided to store the landing net on the canoe thwarts instead of the floor.  On Friday we caught 3 trout on the Roostertails in the special zone and then 8 trout drifting a Berkley Trout Worm from Parkers to Spider Creek.  On Saturday the river was packed with fisherman lining the campground shoreline, fly fisherman wading and lots of canoes and kayaks.  We caught 1 trout above the special zone on a Roostertail and 4 trout below Parkers drifting trout worms.  I think the additional river activity cut down our fish numbers.  We had a good time and appreciate all info we received from this forum.