To test the bike I took it on one of my favorite circus: down the valley and across the river, up the dirt access road to a stretch of river good for bass and white sucker in the summer. Then down to the tidal water and back up the other side.
The river was low and clear. No good for trout but it made for the perfect sight fishing, and I was into smallmouth, fallfish, and sunfish immediately.
Even a small smallmouth bass puts a crazy bend in a 3 weight.
Downstream in a pool with boulders and solid bedrock bottom, I spotted some sucker fish. I tied on an egg pattern and started meticulously presenting the fly to the biggest fish. Eventually it more or less ate. The fly floated under his face and his mouth extended out. Either the fly was an annoyance or he thought it was food. I set the hook and the reel sang. I've caught big sucker on an 8 weight before and the fought plenty hard on that. This was a battle and a half!
The tidal water was not as kind to me as it was last time, but it still gave up some fish. I got caught by the incoming tide though and had to leave early.
On the way home I stopped to double check a stream that I was sure had to have brookies. I was wrong. I didn't find any last time, and I didn't find any this time. And to seal the deal the water was warm to the touch. I discovered why on a stroll up stream. I discovered a big weedy pond. Right smack in the middle of the woods. There were some big pickerel pummeling bait-fish and leaping around in the lily pads, but I was unable to reach them. I'll figure out how to fish this one soon.
It was good to kick up some dust on the dirt roads again, and plenty fun fishing for smallmouth. I might get a shot at pike tomorrow. If not, I'm going for brook trout.
I'm glad you were able to get yourself a bike.
ReplyDeleteThat river looks so clear.
Thank you,
DeleteYou could see a good fish a mile away in that water!
RM
ReplyDeleteLanding the smallmouth would have made my trip. They are without doubt the ultimate on the fly. Glad you purchase the bike, my son uses one to mountain out in Sacramento. Thanks for sharing
Sailfish are my ultimate, but I do love a good smallmouth!
DeleteI know what you mean about bikes, the designers got it backwards in the beginning. Nice trip and you did catch good fish. I sure like the look of that river. Thanks for the trip!
ReplyDeleteTie, fish, write and photo on..
Thank you.
DeleteGlad you got a new bike so you won't be walking anymore. I guess you won't be able to run into porcupines that way, though. Were there any trout left in that part of the river? And as Alan said, it is so clear! That stream probably held natives in its heyday. Was the pond formed by a dam? If so, it maybe could me removed and its brookies restored.
ReplyDeleteNo, the trout down there are hanging out in spring seeps this time of year and those are few and far between. The pond was formed by a dam, but it was not made by the hands of man.
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