Let’s get excited spring is here! Many die hard trout guys get all poopy during run-off season but the truth is this is the time to hammer the warm and cool water fisheries. One of my personal favorite game fish and the topic of this article is the largemouth bass.  Largemouth bass are Americas number one freshwater game fish species and is responsible for the all-star status that conventional fisherman enjoy.  With all the money that can be made from largemouth bass it is no wonder why fly fisherman know very little about catching these amazing fish and conventional guys know everything about them.  Pure Fishing (Berkley Conglomerate) annually spends more money studying largemouth bass than our industry spends studying every game fish known to man. I have paid close attention to all the information and tactics coming out of the conventional industry as part of my research for a comprehensive fly fishing book about largemouth bass and wanted to share some tactics to help the Willy j fans catch more giant largemouth bass this spring.

The most important needs of largemouth bass are temperature, food, cover, oxygen and spawning.  The spring officially starts for me in the Rocky Mountains when the water temperatures start to hit 50 degrees in the shallow lakes (Mid April in the Rockies but may be as early as February in the South). This is known as the pre-spawn period.  Largemouth cannot digest food efficiently below 50 degrees but once the temp starts to hit 50 the bass will come out of the deeper water and first appear in shallow areas on the sunniest side of the lake with the best cover. This is were the Willy J infrared thermometer is indispensable but take care as it is not water proof and should be treated with care. I usually start scouting the smaller, shallower lakes first or the areas were the weather has been the most stable.  On the front range of Colorado, for example, many of the lakes along the mountains have completely different weather patterns than lakes on the plains and it changes every year. I keep a diary of lake temps throughout the eastern Slope of Colorado to help develop my tactics and to see variances annually. Also keep an eye on prevailing winds as they will cause lake temps to differ on different sides of the lake.   As the temperatures climb up into the upper 50s bass will become more veracious and their metabolism climbs sharply. There are still only a few bait fish around in the shallows this time of year so look for bass cruising the shallows.  When the temperature reaches 61-63 degrees, the bass will start spawning so always be mindful of temperature throughout the lake.

Largemouth bass are known as generalist because they will pretty much eat anything that moves that can fit in there mouth.  The most important forage for largemouth in the Rocky Mountains are crawdads, shad, other bass, sunfish, and various minnows. Out of the black bass family, largemouth’s have the highest concentration of fish diets. It should be especially noted from my experience that largemouth love to eat other smaller largemouth. Always keep an eye out for baitfish and crawdads to give you an idea of what to entice them with taking special attention to forage size and color.  I always carry markers with me so I can color my flies to match the baitfish as precisely as possible. Another great tip is rub your fly and your hands in the mud as soon as you arrive at the lake to neutralize any unnatural odors (like gas, deet and nicotine) as bass have great sense of smell but contrary to popular belief they cannot taste oil soluble matter (only water soluble). For example it is not the gas on your hands that is making the bass run away from your fly it is the detergent additives in the gas mix. Also, the retrieve is directly correlated to the water temps. So the colder the water the slower the retrieve.

Cover and structure are paramount to a largemouth’s happiness but there is a difference.  Structure is any change in elevation and cover is anything that offers shade.  In one study from Berkley/Pure Fishing a single bass was put in a tank and was super nervous and would not eat.  The scientist put a penny in the tank and the bass immediately settled down and started to eat. The lesson here is to target the biggest bass in the lake find an area in the shallows that has great cover (like a tree) that has close access to deeper water (structure). Last week, for example, I was fishing a small pond and there are about 8 largemouth that are over 4 pounds and one in the seven pound class (Note:  if you talk in inches bass fisherman will look at you funny so memorize this formula: length x length x girth/1200 = weight).  All these bass were hiding under one submerged tree and would not move more that 6 feet away from the cover because it was the best cover in the shallows. If you remember that bass are only living in 5 percent of the lake than it is pretty easy to find them if you know what they need.

The oxygen level in lakes is more important in the summer and fall because a lake is well oxygenated when temperatures are cool in spring.  In summer look for wind blown beaches and froth as well as vegetation because these areas will have higher oxygen concentrations but you can leave this “need” out of the equation when fishing in the spring in most areas.

As the shallow water temperatures reach about 60 degrees the males will start to build their spawning beds (nest) by fanning their tale in a circular motion.  The beds are usually 1-3 feet deep but in clearer water they can be deeper.  The circular beds stick out like a soar thumb once you know what to look for (do NOT walk on the beds). Most males will build their beds in cattails and on sunny sides of cover in areas where they cannot see any other male beds (usually about 30 feet apart unless obstruction blocks their vision then they can be closer).  When the males are ready they will go into the deeper water to find a large female and then they herd them toward their bed with extremely aggressive behavior.  If the female is unreceptive the male will attack her and can cause death in rare occasions.  If she is receptive the male will head butt her in the stomach to break open the egg sack and the spawning ritual will commence.  This is the only time that the female is off limits so leave them alone while they are doing their thing.  Once the ritual is done he will aggressively run her out of the area and from then until the fry are about 2 weeks old he will fiercely defend them. A large female will mate with many males during the spawn

The spawning period is one of the best times to catch giant female largemouth if you know what you are doing so I will let you in on a little secret; if you catch the male guarding the nest you will NEVER catch the female.  Instead, the secret is to use the male to find and bring the female in. As the mating ritual concludes and the bass are guarding the nest, the females will move into deeper water, usually in pairs, to recover from the spawn.  Because the females spawned with many males, they will check on each male throughout the day to make sure they are doing their job.  If she notices a male not guarding the bed she will come in to investigate but she knows (possibly stress pheromones) if the male bass is being molested by anglers and will not bite.  The males will act like a compass when the female comes into his area to check on him and the secrete is to use this behavior to target the female.  I wear complete camouflage and find a bass with great color (to be discussed momentarily) and just sit there and watch him.  He will just be sitting there agitated and all the sudden he will turn around towards open water and start tracking the female.  When I see this I will throw my fly out 20 feet off his nose with some lead and start a slow retrieve back toward the bed. I keep my eyes focused on where I think my fly is for any flash. You usually cannot see the female in the deeper water but when she inhales the fly you can see the white in her mouth and sometimes a golden yellow flash if she turns on it.  Another deadly tactic involves using two anglers.  One with a white fly with the hook snapped off (the teaser) and another with a crawdad or baitfish pattern.  Once the male turns into a compass the angler with the teaser can try and work the fly over the bed causing the male to turn and start chasing the teaser.  The female will notice the male is not on the bed and will come in to investigate. In that split instant her motherly instinct will tell her to guard the bed and you can catch her.  It will take some practice to really get good at this game but it is deadly. JUST DO NOT HOOK THE MALE OR GAME OVER!

As mentioned earlier, a male bass’s coloration will let you know what type of mood the fish is in.  I noticed this in nature first but I have to give credit to Kirk Deeter  (“Bass are like Mood Rigs.”) for writing an article on the subject. It is totally true and here is how it goes:

A. Watermelon green with checkered sides means the actively spawning fish is defensive yet preoccupied.

B. Grayish with a “haze” is a good guard-mode color.

C. Blackish, with a pronounced white belly, indicates anger and the fish is a biter.

D. Pale Green is a sign of a docile, spent fish.

E.  Brown fish are cruisers and eaters, though tougher to catch because they’re no longer glued to the bed.

So look for the fish that are the most aggressive and use them to bring in the female. I try to stay out of the water as much as possible because it spooks the females but sometimes you have to get into the water and walk along the thick Cattails or other vegetation to access the bass.  There are several important things to mention if you are in the water.  Bass have lateral lines along the length of their bodies as well as throughout their face so walk extremely slowly.  They also have amazing sight so no bright colors. Another important behavioral trait to consider is never block the escape rout (to deeper water) of the male bass or he will freak out and abandon the bed for a short period. I also strongly recommend using a casting basket to minimize snags.  Finally, NEVER walk on the beds. There are eggs that can be easily destroyed and many spawning beds are on the trails through the cattails leading to the water so pay attention.

This short article makes many generalizations but I hope the Willy J fans have learned a little from this quick article on spring bass.  Keep an eye out for my book which I should have done this year but keep in mind it is a 500 page reference guide for everything about serious largemouth bass fishing so this article is just a short generalization to help the reader catch more BIG female bass. Thanks,

Jake McKittrick

So it is springtime, a lot of “sane” people think it is winter still and thus are out and about sliding down the various hills on various boards.

But there you sit, looking out longingly at the blue sky, trout on your mind, trying not to look directly at the very white ground outside your house and slowly an idea begins to form in the back of your head,…hell it isn’t really THAT cold out is it??,..I bet once I just get to the water…., what would happen if I tell the wife what I am thinking of doing with this Saturday morning??

And the next thing you know you are getting dressed and packed up and are heading to your favorite stream, not really as worried as you probably should be at the look the wife gives you as you head out the door.

When fishing in these conditions one must think layers, layers , layers,…and yes one must be a bit immune to what others, who might see you doing this, are probably thinking, in the end It all comes down to the right equipment, and that is exactly where William Joseph comes in.

The RT waders, just like the others in the lineup, with their articulated knees and feet, give you enough space to comfortably wear long-johns as well as heavy duty fleece pants over those, a must as you will get into the water eventually, and the new and improved neoprene feet in all the Willi J waders will give you enough stretch and freedom to double up on the socks, now add the fact that everything is breathable and you know you will be just fine once you get through this next “bugger” of a snow bank and finally to the water.

Yes, I actually do guide in these conditions, and do so gladly.

Consider that you have the water almost certainly to yourself and your client, that if the wind is not too bad or you know of a nice protected spot you will actually be nice and warm wearing the right stuff, and that any day on the water is a good good day beating a day in the office by a long shot and you do understand.

The success as well as the failure of your day all comes down to packing the right things for your day and as mentioned having the right equipment to do so is paramount.

For me this means doubling up on most everything, besides the normal things like 15 or so flyboxes, extra rod and reel, leaders, tippets, first aid, and the million other things we carry with us onto the water every day, plus of course lunch. So one for me one for the client, three extra layers of clothing, bottom and torso, for them just in case they forgot something at the car, gloves and lots of food for energy.

Thankfully I fish with the Willi J Tech series in those conditions, without doubt the most comfortable and best thought through and thought out packs on the market today, I guess that’s why the other guys keep on copying this stuff so religiously, albeit be it in pastels.

Room, Room, Room for everything you might ever want to bring to the river, including extras for the clients, along with design that not only eliminates the weight of everything you carry but gives you absolute comfort while doing so in most any conditions, whether you choose the EXODUS or the COASTAL for packing lots of stuff and making sure you have the room to actually store it, or if you pick any of the other packs in the line, the history and background Willi J has in designing backpacks and heavy duty gear for the hard core outdoorsman shows through in stellar colors. It is always a fun moment when the client asks if I am sure that they can’t carry something to help out, as most do, and I get the chance to hand them the whole of the pack, all 30 plus pounds of It, and their eyes widen while they clearly think “thank God I am not schlepping this weight around all day”. Then, with a smirk, I clip it together on them and the patented design makes the weight literally vanish from their shoulders right then and there and puts it on the hips as to where you are not going to be able to feel it at all, and again I smirk as I am able to say, no thank you, I am quite fine not to worry.

So all that is needed after insuring one has the right equipment and packing for the occasion is felt soles that do not attract the snow when wet ( to be invented), a very very understanding spouse (lucky you if you have been able to find one) and just a little bit of luck and you will be sure to have a great day and a new appreciation for your stuff and how it is making your life on the water easier no matter what the conditions might be, as well as for the joys of just being able to be out on the water when others are stuck indoors just wishing,…

Tight lines

Kai

It’s official… this Spring my family will be moving west to Northern California, so this is my last official GL tributary season.  I’m going to love fishing in the west (I’ve been dreaming of it since I started fly fishing), but I will greatly miss my close friends I have made here in Western NY, and of course the fishing.

Also official… I am currently filming a winter based fly fishing short movie.  I’ve been working with a very talented filmmaker and musician named Adam Kryder.  Check out our new website www.rawwaterproductions.com for more info!

This winter has been season number two with my William Joseph WST waders, Squall Jacket, and Current chest pack.  This setup remains bomb proof, efficient, and comfortable, even after a two-year beating.  We have had a mild winter this season so far, but the coldest days were still no match for Willy J.

Finally, I had the pleasure of fishing with Matt Smythe a few times this winter.  He put up a nice review of the Exodus pack a while back, and it was great photographing him and the pack on one of the craziest winter days we had all season.

This newest addition to the line of Willy J jackets is made to trek into the wildest weather while staying comfy and dry. I put this jacket to the test on the first day. With temps in the low 20’s and blizzard like conditions I pulled up the hood, tighten the cuffs, and, zipped up for a long day on the water.

I was a little skeptical about the waterproofing of this shell with it really dumping. Almost a half day into it I was completely amazed I was still dry and warm. The wind was not cutting through and, the water was rolling off the material nicely. The fleece lined pockets did a good job at warming the hands after tying on flies, and releasing several fish. A full day and I was impressed so far, so good. I fished this jacket for the next several weeks enduring all sorts of late fall weather. The rain, snow, wind, and the occasional warmer day all felt nice, leaving little to be desired. As a whole the jacket seemed to stand up to some good abuse. The large pocket on the inside made it easy to store a box of nymphs and some tippet, making a quick jaunt to the water easy. I did how ever find that when the wind died down and the sun peaked from the clouds the hood was a little in the way. A little Velcro strap was easily secured to tie it down, not sure if it was intended for that purpose but it worked.

This jacket at $140 is by far the best way to keep the snow and wind off your neck this season. It seems I’m always putting my self into the wild weather of the West and feel comfortable that this jacket will do what is needed to keep me dry and warm. The colors are pretty nice and it fits well leaving enough room for a layer of warmth underneath. I did find that if the temps really dropped it was a little chilly without a good under layer.

At $140 though it’s hard to beat this well designed shell. I give it a thumb’s up for the Willy J crew.  You will not find a better priced jacket for your hard earned dollar. So if you’re headed for the water this winter I would recommend you do it in the Squall. You won’t be disappointed and, you will still have enough cash to buy some flies and beer.

I was born and raised on the western slope of Colorado and I always considered the Black Canyon section of the Gunnison River my home water.  The rugged terrain of the Black Canyon made the place somewhat intimidating to me as a child.  When I was very young my uncle and grandparents would usually take me to Pleasure Park at the confluence with the North Fork but I was not allowed to cross the river to get to the Gold Metal Water section without being supervised.  As I got older I was allowed to cross the North Fork and explore the lower section of the Gold Metal  Water  by myself. The sheer vertical walls of the canyon, solitude and giant rainbow trout made the place truly magical and I tried to spend every weekend I could seeing new sections of the river. By the time I got my drivers license I finally had the ability to explore the many sections of the river that require demanding hikes into the depths of the Black Canyon. My childhood started low in the more accessible sections of the Canyon and slowly as I got older I explored deeper up the drainage, much like the canyons famous stone fly hatch.

By the time I graduated from Telluride High School I had fished most of the river.  My first year of College at Montana State University was the year that Whirling disease started devastating rainbow trout populations throughout the Western USA and the news that the Gunnison River was particularly hit hard was discomforting to say the least.  Every successive year my friends were reporting less and less of the monster rainbow trout in the Gunnison.

I went on to live on the Eastern slope of Colorado for 16 years, visiting the Gunnison River occasionally but spending most of my energy chasing warm water species in the Colorado plains.  This summer I took a guiding job in Telluride and returned to my old stomping grounds and am now working for Scott Fly Company in Montrose.  After many years away from the Black Canyon, I have been amazed once again by this magical place. The fishery is different than I remember, with more brown trout and people, but the canyon is exactly as I remember it.  As I revisiting many of my old haunts this year, I use many different Willy J packs to optimize my fishing experience in the different sections of the Gunnison. When I float the Gunnison below Pleasure Park, I use the conduit boat bag supplemented with the Current bag to walk wade. When I hike down into the canyon on an overnight trip, I like to travel light with my Exodus fishing pack. For most of my day trips and every day fishing needs, I prefer the Surge mag bag.

As winter sets in on the Black Canyon many of the best parts of the fishery shut down so I will spend the season on the lower reaches of the Gunnison with my dog until the spring sun reawakens the desolate canyon.  It is nice to be home again trout fishing this wonderful River, although I will  truly miss catching Carp all winter in Denver.

A video by Paul Swint

The Great Lake Tributary season has begun here in Western NY, and I’m about as ready as one can get.  There’s a good chance my family will be relocating in the upcoming summer so I will be taking full advantage of the huge migratory fish population this area has to offer.  With the move approaching I have also decided to visit some other tributaries that I haven’t made time for in the past.  The diversity of the rivers in the Great Lakes region, particularly here in Western NY is nothing less then amazing.

So far we have been sticking to the swing this fall, and landing kings with an occasional trout.  Sort of a slow start I guess, but the scenery has been beautiful and the best fishing is yet to come so morale remains positive.  Willy J continues to join the adventures, and this season I have had the pleasure of adding the Storm Series Surf bag to my arsenal of packs.  This is primarily a waterproof bombproof boat bag, but I have utilized it on the banks of the river.  Having a big waterproof bag like this has allowed me to bring (with confidence) more of my camera gear out in the typically rainy fall conditions.  So far the pack has worked flawlessly, and it’s simple design makes it easy and enjoyable to use.  The only issue has been getting my buddies to stop loading it up with their stuff!

The Great Lake Tributary season has begun here in Western NY, and I’m about as ready as one can get.  There’s a good chance my family will be relocating in the upcoming summer so I will be taking full advantage of the huge migratory fish population this area has to offer.  With the move approaching I have also decided to visit some other tributaries that I haven’t made time for in the past.  The diversity of the rivers in the Great Lakes region, particularly here in Western NY is nothing less then amazing.  

So far we have been sticking to the swing this fall, and landing kings with an occasional trout.  Sort of a slow start I guess, but the scenery has been beautiful and the best fishing is yet to come so morale remains positive.  Willy J continues to join the adventures, and this season I have had the pleasure of adding the Storm Series Surf bag to my arsenal of packs.  This is primarily a waterproof bombproof boat bag, but I have utilized it on the banks of the river.  Having a big waterproof bag like this has allowed me to bring (with confidence) more of my camera gear out in the typically rainy fall conditions.  So far the pack has worked flawlessly, and it’s simple design makes it easy and enjoyable to use.  The only issue has been getting my buddies to stop loading it up with their stuff! 

With the current state of snowpack in the Rocky Mountain west, raging ditches force anglers to find alternate sources of entertainment. Lakes are being drained to make room for what is still to come, leaving tail waters that offer no reprieve. So we packed up the family and headed south to escape the Seattlesque weather. In search of warmth, sunshine, and a chance to fish some land locked flats far enough south to forgo the onslaught of rushing water.

Still a bit crisp in the wee hours of the morning, the sun not yet high in the sky, picking out lurking largemouths was rough. Waste deep in the cool water, I moseyed through ribbons of warmth. As my feet moved over finely textured sand, I felt like I was much farther from home. Taking in the scenic overtones I watched as an aerobatics pilot a few thousand feet above me, performed Lazy Eights and some negative-g Lamcovak’s. Soaking in the morning as the sun started its gentle arc overhead, polarization revealed targets in the clear water and the fun commenced. There were 10 half pounders to every 1 that was over two, so marking the targeted fish and those around him was important. After spooking a few fish I would love to have photos of, I finally placed my cast. The olive and yellow Hooker variation swam convincingly past the occupied bush and we had a taker! Standing in the water and watching a 4 pound bass mouth agape, tail walking toward me, brought out my inner Jethro. I hooted loudly so my uncle Cletus would know I had on a dandy, only I was alone, all alone…. I fished to some bass well over seven pounds but unfortunately someone had already shown them all three of the tricks I know. Another day I guess. Around noon the wake boarders showed up with the chop and the water clarity faded along with the action.

I sat down on the beach, sipped a yellow can and watched the boats roll by. On my way to the car I avoided a pop top so as to not blow out my flip flop.

Unless I’m purposely packing light to fish out of my kayak, I always wear a backpack along with a chest pack when I’m wading or fishing out of a boat. Between a thermos of coffee, a couple water bottles, jerky, maybe a sandwich, camera, extra fly boxes and wet/cold weather gear, the chest pack alone doesn’t cut it and I’d rather hump a pack than leave it in the truck and waste time making trips back for short breaks. I do the same thing when I’m out deer or goose hunting. Being self-contained keeps you in the game…after all, that’s where the fur, feathers and fins are. The one down-side is that within a couple hours my lower back is killing me and it won’t loosen up regardless of taking breaks or stretching. I’ve found Bourbon to be the closest solution to-date, but it makes wading difficult pretty quickly.

A few days before we flew for Idaho, a package came in the mail from Paul Swint over at William Joseph. He and I had talked about the trip at the IFTD show in New Orleans a week or so earlier and he thought it worthwhile to send me one of their new packs to try out. What showed up at my door was the Exodus II pack/vest combo in sage (it’s available in blue as well). I’d been fishing a small chest pack of theirs for the last 10 years and had planned to pack my extra gear in my backpack the same way I always do. I was looking forward to changing up that routine and hopefully turning the corner on the sore back thing. Damn, I sound freaking old.

The detachable vest pockets were an immediate plus. Our flight west had two layovers, so I planned on using the back pack as a carry-on in order to keep my reels, flies, accessories, camera, some clothes and flight essentials (food/water) with me. I was able to organize all of my fly boxes and accessories in the vest, unbuckle the two components from the pack and fit them in the main compartment with everything else, essentially river-ready.

On the water, the Exodus (retail price of $169) fit me well with the wide, adjustable shoulder straps and chest buckle. I thought the size would make it heavier out of the package, but it was surprisingly light-weight. Plus, the vented back and shoulder straps allowed for plenty of air circulation, which kept me comfortable even with a few 8 – 10 hour days on the water and consistent temps in the 90′s. The contents I packed in the main compartment were not inordinately heavy, but I was able to fit a sweatshirt, shell and a pair of wading sandals along with the other items I mentioned, and the compression straps on the sides, bottom and back kept the pack low-profile and also kept the weight close to my center of gravity, which completely alleviated my back strain.

The material and stitching was durable enough not to snag, rip or pop when hiking a game trail through woods and thick brush, being dropped on the ground or gravel bar, or thrown in the back of a truck or boat at numerous points during the trip. Speaking of boats, during our two days on the South Fork, it was flawless and stowed easily out from under foot when not being pillaged for flies, tippet or jerky. Plus the rugged handle at the top was a solid, easy grab when reaching for the pack or tossing it back.

The one sticking point for me was the dangling straps at the bottom of back-pack. When wading in waist-deep water, where the line you strip bellies around behind you in the current, the line invariably gets snagged on one or more of the straps when paying out line to cast. I tried tying them up to shorten them, but still had some snags. Rolling/folding them up in rubber bands or elastic might’ve worked, I’ve seen that on other packs, but I didn’t test that hypothesis.

The vest components are very well designed with six generous pockets that hold a lot of gear: 4 fly boxes, 5 containers for my sex-dungeon collection, extra leaders, floatant, strike indicators, split-shot case, my pipe and tobacco and Kodak Play Sport video camera. The two components zip together to hold the pair securely front and center, and when unzipped, swing out of the way if you need less in front of you to, say, untangle major knots.

And they’ve paid attention to detail: the water-tight Zip-No magnetic pocket closure system makes it easy to get at fly boxes and other accessories without the one-handed zipper wrestling match; the two zippered cargo pockets it does have are armed with rubberized tabs for easy gripping; rounded, tube-covered pull tabs give you something substantial – but non line-snagging – to pull open the magnetic pockets; additional webbing straps are included for lashing your tippet dispenser or hemos; a retractable clipper clasp is built into one of the pockets; and the AirTrack suspension allows you the flexibility adjust the fit of the whole rig to wear over more layers or fewer.

Aside from the fish we caught, the pack made a huge difference in the overall trip experience – from flight to fishing. Off the water it was comfortable, spacious and convenient enough to travel with. On the water, I had everything I needed (and then some) and without the nagging lower back, I actually forgot that I had anything more than the chest pack on. I look forward to putting it through further abuse/use back up here in NY chasing salmon and steelhead and hopefully some pike and late season bass. Hell maybe the back pack will see hunting season as well.

PROS:
• More than enough pockets and room in the backpack and vest
• Water-tight Magnetic Zip-No pocket closure system
• Lightweight, well-balanced and compresses well
• Detachable vest components
• Fully adjustable for good fit in cold or warm weather
• The price is right for the over-all versatility and quality

CONS:
• Need to find a way to corral straps and avoid line snags

You can learn more about the Exodus II pack/vest combo and other William Joseph products at www.williamjoseph.net

Reviews on this site are my unpaid and unbiased opinion of gear, music, guides, books and other outdoor-related items. In some instances I may be allowed to keep what is sent to me for review, but as of right now I’m not affiliated with any company, manufacturer, publisher, or producer in any other way. I suppose there’s still hope though.

Review by - www.fishingpoet.com

With snowpack holding on and still measuring deep in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains, rivers are destined to be bound to their banks for weeks to come. Uber flows rising with the coinciding air temps ensure there is to be no reprieve in the immediate future. Even though consistent high flows have created lower reservoir temps causing a delay in the annual cycles, fish are still hungry.

Targeting new fish in new water has opened my eyes to an unfamiliar species that I have little experience with, and one in particular that is rapidly becoming a favorite. Smallies offer a high octane target in a rugged durable package.

Built for wrecking baitfish and vaporizing graphite, the little red eyed bad asses crush flies with intensity like none other. Pound for pound I have felt nothing as powerful swimming in freshwater. A one and a half pound smallie can taco most 5wt. rods leaving the angler baffled on the receiving end of the hook up. Recently I picked up a 4 pounder on foot performing what I call a “shore troll”, I was certain I had tied into a 10 pound musky until there was no aerial assault. Smallies come to hand with difficulty, eyes full of boiling blood, faces painted for war, and bodies of bronze revealing their intent.

Rip rap lurkers waiting in ambush, they guard their turf with ferocity. From top water all the way to deeply dredged flies, smallies will tear into them all. Years ago I worked at a local

gym with a kid named Willie Wardle. Willie was 5 foot-not so much, and a buck sixty soppin wet. He was ripped to the core and had a wreck your whole day attitude. His nose looked like it had been moved around a few times and I wouldn’t mess with him for all the tea in China. Smallies remind me of Willie. Having access to these type of fish in abundance that are willing to eat my fly when presented in a variety of ways, and at a variety of depths, all in the same day is, for lack of a better word, fun.

In short, targeting muskies and picking up smallies has quickly turned into targeting smallies and picking up muskies. Any fish measuring less than twenty inches that is a hand full on a 10wt. gets my vote. I hope you enjoy the imagery.