2nd creek trip of the year, May 10

[Lloyd]

Did my second creek trip of the year, this time to one of the Mississippi tribs. IMO there are about 9 miles of good smallmouth water in this creek, and I decided to start with the middle section since there’s good access and it would be easy to switch gears if the fishing were bad. I arrived at 8:30 am and yet again I was surprised by the height of the water and how fast it was flowing. I guess that’s what happens when you only fish a creek in the summer and then one year you show up in early May.

The first two hours were disappointing. I didn’t see (let alone catch) a single bass of any kind. One pool that used to be awesome but wasn’t looking too hot last year was even worse now.  The corridor of rocks at the head of the pool was completely silted over, as was the previously deep run. Just sad. Still, it was toward the upper end that I caught my first fish of the day, a chunky spotted bass, on a Zoom Speed Craw. 

After that I had a one hour dry spell, but then I got to a pool that has been consistently good for the last five years, and most of it still looks good now. Toward the tail end there’s a mostly shallow section with a narrow, deeper run against one bank, and with the high water it looked very fishy. On my third cast I felt a solid thump and began fighting what turned out to be a gorgeous, tiger-striped 17 incher. All of a sudden I was feeling a lot better about the trip, and I figured I’d get at least one more smallie of similar size toward the upper end of the pool. But that was not to be. I did get another good hit, but I missed the fish.

The next pool upstream was entirely transformed compared to previous years. It used to be slow and deep, with a big tree running down its length. Now it was much shallower, and water was ripping over a rock ledge at the head of the pool. I made several casts into the fast water right below the ledge, and soon hooked a nice fish. It was a solid 16 incher with a nice gut, presumably a prespawn female.

The next section was very disappointing. Three pools in a row, all of which used to be great, seemed to be devoid of bass. I can only hope that some smallmouth filter into these pools over the summer. I decided it was time to try the upstream section, so I hoofed it down to my car and drove up to the next bridge. This section wasn’t great, but it was definitely the best of the trip. At one point I was walking up the bank, intending to cast to a root wad about 50 feet upstream, when I heard a splash immediately to my left. I looked over and saw three roving smallies in less than a foot of water just 20 feet from me. This was the first “wolf pack” that I’ve seen this year, and I was surprised that the fish seemed to be completely oblivious to my presence. I cast about 10 feet upstream of them, and they immediately accelerated towards the jig. I didn’t see or feel a bite, but after a few seconds I reeled up and the line came tight. It was another healthy fish, maybe 13 inches. I had ALMOST forgotten how much fun sight fishing for smallies can be. 

I had high hopes for the next pool. There I caught several small fish in the deep section toward the tail end, but the tapered section leading up to the head seemed barren. The upper section was the highlight. I had just checked the line above my jig and found some fraying, but I figured I could wait a while before retying. I quickly regretted that decision! On my second cast toward a fallen tree along the far bank I got a solid hit and found myself fighting a beastly fish. It jumped twice and made some hard runs in the current, and I had to take my time playing her for fear of breaking the 8 lb. line. But I finally landed her and she was gorgeous. I estimated 18 inches and that’s what she measured with my tape. She had a nice round belly, again suggesting that she hadn’t spawned yet. Two casts later, throwing to the exact same spot, I hooked another big fish. This one was 17 inches and had the same thick, round belly. There were absolutely more big fish in the pool - I could occasionally see them cruising up and down, but I didn’t catch any more.

After that the action slowed down. About an hour later I caught one more 17 at the end of a long, slow pool, and that was it. I made lots of casts into good looking spots, but no more bites. There were a few more good pools further upstream, but the sun was starting to set, and I wasn’t looking forward to wading back to my car in the dark. All in all a decent day, but hopefully it will be a lot better this summer.

 

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Good times.  I hope to be out there soon.   I built a canoe to fish in the creeks around here.