In my area of the world near Brainerd, MN, the cool summer has delayed the white mayfly hatch a bit. But the ephoron leukons are now showing up in good numbers at dusk. The smallmouth are relatively cavalier about this annual occurence but, after repeated nights of availability, they should start to eat them with gusto. Use a large Light Cahill or other big white hackle fly.If the Whites are out and the smallmouth are ignoring them - try something else, don’t force feed them - you very well may get blanked if you do. If you’re wondering what to use: Check Here.
Flash: A saw my first Flying Ants on Saturday! Over next week or two, there should be a few choice days (warm and calm) where the river is covered with flying ants. Keep an eye on your local waters. This is something you have to do if you’re a smallmouth river nut!
This is the best top water fly fishing you may ever experience for smallmouth! If you’re lucky enough to be on the water during this hatch - you’ll know what I mean. You have to look close to see them as most are quite small and you may get also see several different species of ants on the water at the same time - different sizes and colors.
You needn’t match the hatch. The fish are looking up big time and will hit poppers and just about anything else you show them.
As you go after this delectable smorgasbord this late summer, you’ll hit a number of smaller fish, including different species, all enjoying this continuum of easy pickings. Don’t be fooled into thinking big fish will not join the fray - they will. Do not down-size your equipment! I hear fly fisherman saying: “I think I’ll get out the 5 Weight for the White hatch”. Why? It’s no different that any other type of smallmouth fly fishing, stay with your 7 or 8 weight!
You’ll need it when you hit a fish like this one - I hit Saturday night, I thought it was a steelhead for awhile! This bruiser was taking a few whites and, after about 20 passes, finally rolled on my white double hackle fly (size #10 - 6 pound Maxima tippet).
Recently we’ve been experimenting with something the guides have been doing for years. Throwing flies into the mid-river areas instead of pounding the banks incessantly.
While bank fishing is the most natural and exciting way to fish fly fish for smallmouth on a float trip, those fish do get hammered as the season wears on. The banks make for an easily identifiable target, throwing at visible objects – rocks, wood, etc.
The mid-river region rarely see a high level of fishing activity. Yet, if you can find the right conditions - you can score better than off the bank. Look for relatively shallow water (2 – 5 feet) containing larger rocks and other fish attracting structure. Simply throw out into these areas with both top water and sub surface flies. Learn which flies to use HERE.
Here you will occasionally encounter schools of hungry fish unfettered and ready to go! When you hook-up watch closely for fish following the hooked fish. Throwing flies at the followers can bring sure strikes and multiple hook ups.
Late summer can have the bank-areas nearly devoid of enough depth to hold fish. Don’t cut yourself short by pounding dead water. Instead fish in the middle of no where and see what happens!
I’ve got a couple of cool ideas for storing your rods safely if you like to jump around. Have you ever broken a rod, taking it in or out of a vehicle. Here’s a way to avoid that and keep those long rods strung up and ready to hit the water.
We floated on the Mississippi yesterday, fully expecting this largely disappointing season to continue. I have never talked to so many fisherman frustrated with the unusual weather and lousy fishing this 2009 season has brought. Wade and float fishing has been tough for smallies as well. Many of my chronies have bemoaned the lack of good solid action this season.
So it was as we launched yesterday. But once on the water, something very unexpected happened: the fish were going!
My boat mate Dennis Erickson of St. Cloud, MN had arrived early and bank spotted some fish not far from the launch. I was the first one up casting and he told me exactly where a fish was holding down stream about 30 yards. My brother and his ten year old son were in a canoe behind us, so I told them about the fish and suggested the boy try his luck.
Whoops! It turned out to be a 20 1/2 inch brute!
Karma The karma we got from that little gift paid off handsomely as Dennis and I wended our way down river hitting top water smallies everywhere. We tallied at least 40 fish over four hours and it was far and away the best trip of the season - all on poppers.
The only factor I could contribute to the good fishing was a full moon. The water temperature was good: 75 degrees on a bright and sunny day with a coolish summer air temp in the low 70’s.
Why the fish were hitting with reckless abandon from the git-go: 1:30 pm to 6:00pm, is still a clue to me.
I’ll tell you this much, I’ll be out there every full moon (and no moon) to test the theory of lunar lunkers. This of course is nothing new in fishing theory, but I encourage you who read this today - to get out there over the next couple of days and try smallies on a full moon.
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