Smallmouth (and more) on the fly!

SimmsFlyGuy · 06-01-12, 10:55 PM

Headed up to Erie last weekend for my annual Memorial Day smallmouth trip. The overall numbers and HUGE average size per fish keeps me coming back. Had a great time tossing heavy crawfish patterns in the tribs and in Presque Isle bay. I leave every year not wanting to see another smallmouth because so many are caught! This year was no exception!

Spent my first evening at the mouth of an east side trib. We caught around 25 Smallmouth with the average being 2.5lb and biggest around 4.5lbs.

The mouth of this trib had changed significantly since last year. The pool I'm standing in was mid-thigh deep and about 250 yards long with a small shoal separating it from the mouth/Lake Erie. I would conservatively guess that there were 200 fish in it.

I found this guy hanging out in the shoal feeding like a trout. I crept up behind him, dead drifted my streamer and...bam! 25 minutes later, here's the result:

Somewhere in between the strike and the release. He had me over every inch of the trib!

Took the boat out on the bay the next day. Fished the flats in 3-5ft of water. Boated 65 fish for the day. Most looked like this:

First time for this: Dave boats a fish, and while I was taking his picture, his rod goes flying across the deck. His line fell back into the water and another fish grabbed it. First catch and release double I've ever witnessed by one person!

5 pound football!

Double!

Another Double! Yes, there were a couple LM's in the mix.

And another! Taking pictures kinda got old after this one.

If you're looking for some of the best smallmouth fishing anywhere. Check out Lake Erie in the spring!

jgraham140 · 06-01-12, 11:00 PM

Wow!!! Thanks for posting that. I sure do miss smallmouth bass.

John

Kelboski · 06-02-12, 09:18 AM

Incredible report, Patrick!

Wow

Kelbo

Trouty Mouth · 06-02-12, 10:22 AM

Nice post & pictures! I went to school and lived in Michigan for some time and I try to get up to Port Austin (on the Thumb) each year for some Smallmouth fishing - nothing like them on the fly. I've never managed to get there in late April early May, but they say the fisihing is insane (kind of like the day you apparently had!) then. Interested that you got a Carp - that has really caught on up there too!

Windknot · 06-02-12, 02:04 PM

Outstanding report & pix! Many thanks for sharing.

SimmsFlyGuy · 06-02-12, 04:52 PM

Thanks guys!

HoochBuster · 06-02-12, 08:26 PM

Bummer I couldn't go with you

Awesome report Patrick!
HoochBuster

lewdogg · 06-02-12, 11:28 PM

Great report, those are some awesome fish!

derricko1 · 06-02-12, 11:57 PM

That looks like an awesome way to spend the 3-Day... That Carp is insane!

And despite the comments on your last post... I, for one, think the clear frames are kickin'.

schick09 · 06-03-12, 10:51 AM

Thanks for sharing. Adding a smallmouth trip to my list.

06-01-12, 10:55 PM	#1
SimmsFlyGuy Native Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dallas, GA Posts: 400	Smallmouth (and more) on the fly! Headed up to Erie last weekend for my annual Memorial Day smallmouth trip. The overall numbers and HUGE average size per fish keeps me coming back. Had a great time tossing heavy crawfish patterns in the tribs and in Presque Isle bay. I leave every year not wanting to see another smallmouth because so many are caught! This year was no exception! Spent my first evening at the mouth of an east side trib. We caught around 25 Smallmouth with the average being 2.5lb and biggest around 4.5lbs. The mouth of this trib had changed significantly since last year. The pool I'm standing in was mid-thigh deep and about 250 yards long with a small shoal separating it from the mouth/Lake Erie. I would conservatively guess that there were 200 fish in it. I found this guy hanging out in the shoal feeding like a trout. I crept up behind him, dead drifted my streamer and...bam! 25 minutes later, here's the result: Somewhere in between the strike and the release. He had me over every inch of the trib! DSCF2013.mp4 video by euphoboy - Photobucket Took the boat out on the bay the next day. Fished the flats in 3-5ft of water. Boated 65 fish for the day. Most looked like this: First time for this: Dave boats a fish, and while I was taking his picture, his rod goes flying across the deck. His line fell back into the water and another fish grabbed it. First catch and release double I've ever witnessed by one person! 5 pound football! Double! Another Double! Yes, there were a couple LM's in the mix. And another! Taking pictures kinda got old after this one. If you're looking for some of the best smallmouth fishing anywhere. Check out Lake Erie in the spring! __________________ "Fishing is the pursuit of that which is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." http://www.teamdeaddrift.com/

06-02-12, 09:18 AM	#3
Kelboski Native Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Athens, Ga. Posts: 871	Incredible report, Patrick! Wow Kelbo __________________ Take it fish, TAKE IT!

06-02-12, 04:52 PM	#6
SimmsFlyGuy Native Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dallas, GA Posts: 400	Thanks guys! __________________ "Fishing is the pursuit of that which is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." http://www.teamdeaddrift.com/

06-02-12, 08:26 PM	#7
HoochBuster Native Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Johns Creek, Ga Posts: 643	Bummer I couldn't go with you Awesome report Patrick! HoochBuster __________________ You guys hear about Roscoe and that chocolate monkey???

06-03-12, 10:51 AM	#10
schick09 Native Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Cobb County, GA and Littleton, CO Posts: 32	What a great trip! Thanks for sharing. Adding a smallmouth trip to my list.

06-01-12, 11:00 PM	#2
jgraham140 Native Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mount Berry, Georgia Posts: 238	Wow!!! Thanks for posting that. I sure do miss smallmouth bass. John

06-02-12, 10:22 AM	#4
Trouty Mouth Native Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Roswell, GA Posts: 603	Nice post & pictures! I went to school and lived in Michigan for some time and I try to get up to Port Austin (on the Thumb) each year for some Smallmouth fishing - nothing like them on the fly. I've never managed to get there in late April early May, but they say the fisihing is insane (kind of like the day you apparently had!) then. Interested that you got a Carp - that has really caught on up there too!

06-02-12, 02:04 PM	#5
Windknot Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Dacula, GA Posts: 12,690	Outstanding report & pix! Many thanks for sharing.

06-02-12, 11:28 PM	#8
lewdogg Native Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vinings, GA Posts: 2,027	Great report, those are some awesome fish!

06-02-12, 11:57 PM	#9
derricko1 Native Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Morningside, Atlanta. Posts: 308	That looks like an awesome way to spend the 3-Day... That Carp is insane! And despite the comments on your last post... I, for one, think the clear frames are kickin'.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode