Trophy Fishing TN Forum - Caney Fork Trout Fly Fishing - Caney Fork Trout Guide

Warm Water Fishing Reports => East TN Lakes and Rivers => Topic started by: Racer X on April 02, 2008, 09:53:51 PM

Title: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Racer X on April 02, 2008, 09:53:51 PM

Bass season is upon us, gentlemen.  Tight lines to all!  ;D

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/878937/DBL.jpg)

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/878937/GLP.jpg)

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/878937/GLP1.jpg)

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/878937/JLP2.jpg)

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/878937/JLP1.jpg)

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/878937/JLP.jpg)

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/878937/SLLP.jpg)

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/878937/SLLP2.jpg)

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/878937/SLWM.jpg)

(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/878937/Smallie-5lb.jpg)

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: jarrod white on April 02, 2008, 10:28:35 PM

 ;DAwesome, i will see you soon. ;)

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: BronzeBack OUT. on April 02, 2008, 10:41:05 PM

(http://i30.tinypic.com/155jcwj.jpg) heres some of my pics lake smallies though

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Mike Hill on April 03, 2008, 07:16:59 AM

man, there is some nice bass in them pictures!

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: MikeA on April 03, 2008, 07:41:38 AM

You're killin me Rusty! I'm off to GA this weekend but as soon as I get back I'm going to be in warm water mode. Striper and Hybrid and Bass season will be hot! I noticed a few fire tigers wiggle minnows in the mouths of those fish. I ordered 18 of the med size ones from Manaic and I intend to destroy every one of them on fish this spring! I'd recommend to others to get a few early before he gets overwhelmed with orders.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Steve H on April 03, 2008, 08:46:43 AM

Very nice!!! Some of those guys are nice and thick.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Kylemc on April 03, 2008, 10:08:40 AM

nice Rusty..I see you let Maniac sit in front of the boat..That was awful nice of you ;)

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Racer X on April 03, 2008, 11:50:02 AM

Quote from: Kylemc on April 03, 2008, 10:08:40 AM

nice Rusty..I see you let Maniac sit in front of the boat..That was awful nice of you ;)

He didn't have to pay me too much, Kyle.  ;)

Mike, you're gonna love all the ways you can fish a wiggle minnow!  I honestly believe it's one of the top 10 flies of all time!

btw, Todd, when are we going fishing bro?  It's been too long.   Shake the dust off your gear and lets do a float somewhere.  We need to finish the float that you, me, and Scott started a few years back.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: GT on April 04, 2008, 06:11:57 AM

They're still on. These warm rains are really helping the water temps and the fish are moving up.

(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/gltroutman/Smallies08012-1.jpg)

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: TimM on April 04, 2008, 11:18:53 AM

Quote from: GT on April 04, 2008, 06:11:57 AM

(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/gltroutman/Smallies08012-1.jpg)

What a pretty fish. 

Gotta love the SMB's attitude!

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Kylemc on April 05, 2008, 11:30:12 AM

very nice man!!

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: TWiles on April 07, 2008, 06:08:52 AM

My brother and I were just starting to get into a few before all the rising muddy water stirred things up.  Even got Maniac into a big'un.  A couple of great afternoons, but I personally have still come up short on the bigger fish :(...Atleast someone is catching them.  Once the water drops....I'll be back ;).

Travis
(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r22/traviswiles/IMGP1141.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r22/traviswiles/IMGP1140.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r22/traviswiles/IMGP1142.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r22/traviswiles/IMGP1143.jpg)

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Kylemc on April 07, 2008, 07:02:07 AM

nice Travis...

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: dbradyh on April 07, 2008, 08:44:27 AM

Excellent work! You all are raising the bar for us.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: MikeA on April 08, 2008, 08:03:34 AM

The rain is needed but it sure is messing up the spring fishing. Glad to see someone is getting into them.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Steve H on April 08, 2008, 09:37:25 AM

Excellent! Nice work, indeed.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Racer X on April 08, 2008, 11:08:25 PM

Very nice, fellars!

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: TWiles on April 09, 2008, 05:09:49 AM

!!!!!! ;D BRONZEBACK REDEMPTION ;D!!!!!

Had the perfect afternoon fishing with Crystal.  The weather was just right, the water was slightly off color and high, and after a float in the canoe, we found some biting smallies.  I even managed to get rid of the bad juju that has been keeping me skunked on my last few trips----I paid my dues, and now I'm at peace with the Smallmouth Gods.
Absolute heaven.

Travis

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r22/traviswiles/IMGP1152.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r22/traviswiles/IMGP1165.jpg)

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r22/traviswiles/IMGP1158.jpg)

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: MikeA on April 09, 2008, 08:06:08 AM

Way to go Travis! Crystal you better take it easy on Travis. If you keep schooling him like that he's gonna quit taking you. Beautiful fish BTW!

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: John M on April 09, 2008, 09:30:17 PM

Nice T Wiles.  Looks like you have been slaying em!  I think Crystals fish may be bigger than yours though.  We have got to get together in the next couple of weeks.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: RonS on April 10, 2008, 12:06:20 AM

Very nice TW.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: jarrod white on April 10, 2008, 07:47:17 AM

I love all smallie pics. , but man you ET folks are killing me. I am jealous. ;)    Awesome fish!!!!!!!!!!


                                                            Jarrod

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Kylemc on April 10, 2008, 11:01:00 AM

very nice Travis..

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Steve H on April 11, 2008, 07:51:03 AM

Very, very nice!! I am so needing to fish.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: jkilday4 on April 14, 2008, 09:09:33 AM

Nice guys.  I was just thinking about ol'wiggle minnow last night - still wondering about the sink rate (for instance on Holston) - I've got one of those add-ons but not a true sinking line...any suggestions on rigging for this time of year is appreciated.  (I'm assuming those were not caught on floating line...yet...)

Here are a few caught on spinning gear recently:

Holston:
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h292/jkilday4/Fishing/Jeff3lber.jpg)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h292/jkilday4/Fishing/Smallie2lberHolston0408.jpg)

Nolichucky near South Central:
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h292/jkilday4/Fishing/NastyScotsmallie.jpg)

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: dbradyh on April 14, 2008, 10:16:08 AM

Add-ons don't seem to work well.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Kylemc on April 14, 2008, 10:36:30 AM

J4,I run 350 grain streamer express. I think the sink belly is 27'. Works like a charm.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Racer X on April 14, 2008, 10:39:59 AM

Kilday,
For smallies,  If you want to go with a sinker, I recommend a 150 grain sink-tip with a 30ft head.  Sometimes you'll wish you had a shorter one but you'll be able to cover more with the 30 footer.   Intermediate sink and floating lines work good for Wiggle Minnows, too.  The fly will dive when retrieved.   Try the fly with many different presentations.  ;)

btw, here's the way a personally fish sink-tips.  Or, how I match them.  Don't pay attention to the manufacturers suggestion.

150 - 4 and 5wts
250 - 6 and 7wts
350 - 8wt
400 - 500 - 9 and 10wts.

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: jkilday4 on April 16, 2008, 08:33:19 PM

The noob thanks for the replies fellas.  Thinking about Racer X comment, why would I wish I had a shorter sink tip section at times?  Dragging the bottom in certain water depths / retrieve speeds? 

Title: Re: Smallies!!!!
Post by: Racer X on April 21, 2008, 11:49:36 AM

A shorter section doesn't sink as aggressively so you can fish a fly slower.  It all depends on what you are trying to achieve.  Sometimes the fish want something a little more lively, sometimes they want a slow presentation.  Different water depths pose a challenge as well.  Trout key in on certain stages of insects.  Smallies key in on different presentations.