Smallies on the Umpy. Trip report

Wade Rivers

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My fly club had a weekend outing down near Elkton targeting smallmouth. We caught wads of the aggressive little buggers on a wide variety subsurface patterns and pretty good mid-day action on poppers and gurglers.

Most of the fish are 7-10 inches like this one...

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But we got some in the 12-15 inch range too...

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I prefer to sight fish at short range with a heavy grub style pattern. This one has a hot green butt for visibility...

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My dad and I floated it back in the summer of 91. We caught 100 smallies by lunch time. We quit counting them after that. Got into an awesome school of shad too. I caught one that had to be 5-6 Lbs on ultra lite spinning gear. Peeled the drag until I could start to see bare metal on the spool. I've always wanted to get back up there.
 
My 1st every cast pink day in 2005, my friend complained about being tired, I promptly gave him shit and told him to suck it up you may never have a day like this again.

Well over 100 fish a piece, 2009 was even better, with over 20 days over 100, 6 where with people that have never fly fished before!

Soooo want to do that smally fishery on the Ump or JD!
 
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