Do bass like smoke?

[skyriver]

Headed out to my local tonight to try the Commander SUP contraption with a new paddle. Target was bass. I started with my bass gurgler and only had a couple interested. Of course, I screwed up the bigger one. Bigger being about 2#.

I downsized to a small frog popper and immediately had more players, but the crappie also mess with it. And again...screwed up on the biggest one. I'm blaming fishing from my new standup Commander thingy. Another possible 2# fish and what funny is I've missed that same damn fish 3 times now. He's sneaky.

Anyway, only a couple baby bass to hand, but what a cool night. And learned a few things about the contraption. Need to move the seat back half the distance to the back of the platform, need to fasten the platform to the foot pegs and definitely needs a skeg. The skeg is on it's way.

The moon was cool too.






I've done well in the smoke before, but tonight seemed a bit dead. I guess the vote is still out on whether bass like smoke.

Sorry, just had to....

 

[clarkman]

yes, yes they do!

Several years ago during the really bad fire season (and when C-19 was really ramping up) here in the Willamette Valley, we floated a portion of the main river and just crushed smallmouth all day long on the surface because of all of the "cloud cover"....probably not the healthiest decision in the world in spite of the masks and covering up, but what a surreal experience that will likely never be replicated

 

[Shad]

Makes sense that the low light would make for happy bass and get them looking up. Tough to get a bass to eat off the top in the bright sun (in my limited experience, anyway).

Does anyone know if the same particulate crap we're breathing when it's smoky gets into the water in any meaningful volume? I wonder if they get irritated eyes and "gills" like I do.... Makes me feel a little "snappy," but not in a good sort of way.