A First.

All I've been thinking about all winter is figuring out fisheries that are closer to home (Portland).
Between work, and family life I don't get out nearly as much as I'd like and when I do, it's always been LONG day trips or weekend trips, further limiting the amount I can get out. So small mouth it was. Never caught one and didn't know anything about them.

So what did I do?
Drove 3 hours to a river that was way too cold, dirty and high to be fishing for them with any chance of success .
I had a couple friends that casually fish and wanted to get out this weekend before our Spring's got to busy.
I threw out a couple ideas and they clung to this river and spot even though I knew it wasn't the right time of year.

We fished the last couple hours of light on Friday, all day Saturday and all we got was 1 eat and a friend landed a lethargic smallie around 10".
Regardless, it was absolutely gorgeous, and was able to catch up and relax around the fire.

On our way home we stopped for an 1.5 hr at a popular state park on a much lower stretch of this river where the water was warmer but dirtier.
In the end we landed two good, thick fish and 3 dinks. Including my fish smallie that really doubled over my 6wt.
I can't wait to start fishing for these more, especially, you know, closer to home .

 

[Pink Nighty]

Nothing wrong with catching the target species in adverse conditions!

Not from Portland, but my understanding is there is no need to leave the backyard to find great smallmouth fishing. The big ditches in town are lousy with them from what I hear.

Check out Bassresource.com. There are a few guys who fish the W really hard and do great write ups. It's all gear centric but there is a ton of stuff to glean for fly fishing too.

 

[mcswny]

Nothing wrong with catching the target species in adverse conditions!

Not from Portland, but my understanding is there is no need to leave the backyard to find great smallmouth fishing. The big ditches in town are lousy with them from what I hear.

Check out Bassresource.com. There are a few guys who fish the W really hard and do great write ups. It's all gear centric but there is a ton of stuff to glean for fly fishing too.

For sure, that’s the plan, fish the local urban fisheries. This just happened this way, meaning to drive. Ideally, I’ll be fishing 10 minutes from home

 

[Old Man]

Fishing local. When I lived in Dillon I had the Beaverhead run through town. and I had a small skinny water out my front door. Blacktail deer Creek. I used to see the fish swimming up and down the creek. Did I fish it, well no. It was to close to home. I could of stepped out my front door walked about 50' and still not get wet feet to fish. When I do fish I like to get away to fish. I like to fish alone.