Not an easy time of year to put together bites or even to find the motivation to venture out. Super early or super late are the choices.
A 330 am wake up led to getting on the water just before sunrise. Second cast in:
This pond has gone through an interesting transition through the years from all smallmouth to a lot of quality largemouth. And they are getting bigger:
Was a fun bite targeting deep weed lines and hunting baitfish boils with poppers:
The sunrise:
Beating the the heat is the name of the game:
I've almost given up on this pond still having big smallies such as this one:
It just seems like through the years the big smallies have vanished. Still a lot of small ones.
But I had two encounters this trip with big smallies that has restored my faith a little. One was the classic fish under popper and I just ripped it out from her mouth early when she took it. Easy to do in the clear water.
The second came up and she just won a long violent battle. I saw enough of her to realize the depth of the fish was every bit as good as the one pictured above if not better. When a big smallie is on and pissed you really have your hands tied.
Heartbreak when she shook off.
It really was a fun morning though and nonstop topwater action:
Soon I'll be on the hunt for fall fish and following the baitfish where ever they may go. I sure hope to see that one that got off again. You don't get chances like that every day....
Billy
A 330 am wake up led to getting on the water just before sunrise. Second cast in:
This pond has gone through an interesting transition through the years from all smallmouth to a lot of quality largemouth. And they are getting bigger:
Was a fun bite targeting deep weed lines and hunting baitfish boils with poppers:
The sunrise:
Beating the the heat is the name of the game:
I've almost given up on this pond still having big smallies such as this one:
It just seems like through the years the big smallies have vanished. Still a lot of small ones.
But I had two encounters this trip with big smallies that has restored my faith a little. One was the classic fish under popper and I just ripped it out from her mouth early when she took it. Easy to do in the clear water.
The second came up and she just won a long violent battle. I saw enough of her to realize the depth of the fish was every bit as good as the one pictured above if not better. When a big smallie is on and pissed you really have your hands tied.
Heartbreak when she shook off.
It really was a fun morning though and nonstop topwater action:
Soon I'll be on the hunt for fall fish and following the baitfish where ever they may go. I sure hope to see that one that got off again. You don't get chances like that every day....
Billy
