Summer Smallies

[toddro]

The Smallies have been EN FUEGO! 

I have been out a half-dozen times in last 3 weeks an on every outing I have caught some really nice bass.  Last night was no exception with a beautiful 18" bass to the net.  I caught this one on my 4wt. using a popping bug and it was a blast to bring in!  The feed was ON ahead ahead of the rain we got, but now all the creeks and rivers around me have 4 to 8 FEET of new water in them, so it will be a while before the water draws back down.  I hope these big bass are still around as things clear back up! 

Tight lines,

[jladdsmith]

Thanks for the report Todd!  Glad to hear you've been having success.  I got out early last week, wading wherever I could on the Greenway in Bellevue and didn't do well at all.  Didn't really expect to as it was the middle of the day with near bluebird skies.  The 5-6 sherpa looking dudes with castnets following me around didn't help.  I finally walked over to them as they came up on me on a shoal and looked in their bucket.  Full of sunfish, a few small catfish a couple of little smallies and about 10 buffalo (I think).  No idea where they were from but they didn't speak English, were brown and the elderly guy toting the bucket had a silk patterned pointy hat on with draping silk clothes.  After looking in the bucket I wasn't AS disgusted as I thought I'd be.  The youngest guy was all happy with the latest Buffalo and was proud to show it off saying "Bass!?, Bass!?"  Swear to God I put my pointer fingers up on top of my head, shook with disagreement and said "Tetonka", then waded back across with a good hearty chuckle. 

The hydrograph prediction shows the water dropping from 7' to the normal ~1.6ft by tomorrow night. (Bellevue).  Does that sound right to y'all?  I didn't realize it would drop out that fast. 

[Steve H]

Yeah, it should drop out that fast. We didn't get that much and it has been dry as hell.

Need to fish some bass really soon.

[toddro]

I am seeing more and more guys as you describe hitting various creeks and rivers with nets like that…

No way it drops out that fast.  We've only gone from 10.14 to 9.27 today, and it appears to be leveling off flat as if it is taking in some new water - at least the gage closest to me…  It is really high and chocolate milk'd. Usually at this level it will take a week to 10 days to drop back into a nice fishable condition.  I have a nice float in mind that needs to be run at about the 4-foot level, but I didn't think I'd get my chance this summer - looks like I'll have it pretty soon...

[icthus]

LOL-Tatonka

[grumpy]

We didn't get nowhere that much rain here.

[TWiles]

  Swear to God I put my pointer fingers up on top of my head, shook with disagreement and said "Tetonka"

You shoulda carved out Tetonka's liver on the spot and ate it ceremoniously!

Way to get out bassin' Todd. Smallie Pics would be  nice 

[dbradyh]

Good report! Caught a few smallmouth myself over the past few weeks, but no pictures.
Saw some good old white Americans with a stringer of about 30 smallmouth in all sizes one evening at a take out last month.
The following week, I found a stringer tied to the bank of a local creek with 10 dead spotted bass and small mouth stuck on it.
Lots of idiots out there.

[toddro]

I only took one pic while I've been out recently, but this is what happens when you let your buddy take that left side of the bank near that dry creek bed mouth that always holds the big bass for you - he gets it instead…

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[dbradyh]

You are a good friend!

[Bfish]

nice job

[jgray]

Lots of idiots out there.

Idiocy knows no color or creed.

[toddro]

Ran a nice float early today and just got back.  Should've waited at least 1 more day, and probably 2 more days.  Water is still high & cloudy.  I did manage 2 really nice smallies and then 4 juvenile bass and 2 bluegill.  At least the water moved us along at a pretty nice pace...