7/2/24 - Swimbait / Grub rules the day

[goosetalk]

Took the family on a float today around Steelville which ended up being a great trip. Only saw one jet boat and not another floater the entire 5-6 miles. Younger kids caught plenty of crawdads and minnows and me and the oldest caught plenty of bass. 

We put in around 10:30 and I decided to use a spook to start while my oldest son threw a 3” green pumpkin grub. He quickly landed 3 smallmouth, but nothing of any size. I then had a nice blow up, and hooked up on the third one as he kept coming back after it. Nice chunky 15” fish. 
 

Oldest kept catching fish while I was not having anymore luck. I maybe get out once or twice a year on a float and I always try to throw top water to start, and usually catch a couple but can never stick with it all day if something else is catching. I usually have another rod with some sort of finesse tied on. I was throwing a wacky worm too and had a few bites but still not what the grub was catching.  
 

I decided to tie on a 1/16 oz jig head and added a 3” swim bait of some random brand I found at Walmart. It was mostly translucent with a bit of purple back. It worked, and it worked well. Mostly a simple cast and mid speed retrieve with a little twitch here and there and they were all over it. Maybe a count down of 3 in the deeper sections before retrieving. Was catching them in the riffles and tailings one after another. Nothing huge, a few real dinks mixed in but plenty nice healthy fish up to 14”. Just a lot of fun with keeping it simple. 
 

Had this young beaver swim up to us too which was cool for the kids to see up close. A few broods of wood ducks as well.