My buddy and I decided to take a chance on the Gorge today. The wind forecast was a little higher than I had hoped (13 MPH), but opportunities have been few and far between. We arrived around 11 AM. The water level was about 2 vertical feet lower than the last time I was there. The water temperature was 66 degrees.
My buddy swears that there are no fish in the particular lake. He has fished it a few times and has never landed a fish. I was on the water in no time. My buddy dawdled around at the launch while I was catching fish. I had 4 bass to hand before he even launched his pontoon. I was using an artic fox Clouser to start off my adventure. My first fish was 15.5" smallmouth. I caught 2 smaller SMB as well as a 10" LMB. I did not expect to see any LMB in this lake. What a nice surprise. By this time, my buddy was finally on the water. The fish stopped biting right around that time. I managed to catch 4 more young SMB over the next 2 hours.
I was heading towards the launch when it happened. The fish I had been looking for all year finally inhaled my fly. I was fishing along a weed line using an Arizona Simiseal Leech (what a surprise). It was not long before she came flying out of the water. After that, she headed for deeper water. My rod tip was submerged. After a few minutes, my buddy managed to net the fish. This fish really made the trip worth while. She was 18.5" long and weighed 3.5 pounds. I managed to catch one more fish before calling it a day. My buddy never did land a fish today. He did have 1 LDR. To be honest with you, I would have preferred my partner to have caught that big female. That lake does seem to have his number. I can not really explain why that is the case.
Don't feel too bad for my buddy. We will be heading to Idaho next week for a week of large bluegill, SMB, and LMB fishing. I predict sore forearms before that week of fishing is over. I will be sure to post a report about that trip when we return. It will be a good trip. Four of the six guys in our group have never fly fished for warmwater species. There may be a few converts before this trip is over.
I love the coloring on this bass.
Regards
Shawn
My buddy swears that there are no fish in the particular lake. He has fished it a few times and has never landed a fish. I was on the water in no time. My buddy dawdled around at the launch while I was catching fish. I had 4 bass to hand before he even launched his pontoon. I was using an artic fox Clouser to start off my adventure. My first fish was 15.5" smallmouth. I caught 2 smaller SMB as well as a 10" LMB. I did not expect to see any LMB in this lake. What a nice surprise. By this time, my buddy was finally on the water. The fish stopped biting right around that time. I managed to catch 4 more young SMB over the next 2 hours.
I was heading towards the launch when it happened. The fish I had been looking for all year finally inhaled my fly. I was fishing along a weed line using an Arizona Simiseal Leech (what a surprise). It was not long before she came flying out of the water. After that, she headed for deeper water. My rod tip was submerged. After a few minutes, my buddy managed to net the fish. This fish really made the trip worth while. She was 18.5" long and weighed 3.5 pounds. I managed to catch one more fish before calling it a day. My buddy never did land a fish today. He did have 1 LDR. To be honest with you, I would have preferred my partner to have caught that big female. That lake does seem to have his number. I can not really explain why that is the case.
Don't feel too bad for my buddy. We will be heading to Idaho next week for a week of large bluegill, SMB, and LMB fishing. I predict sore forearms before that week of fishing is over. I will be sure to post a report about that trip when we return. It will be a good trip. Four of the six guys in our group have never fly fished for warmwater species. There may be a few converts before this trip is over.
I love the coloring on this bass.
Regards
Shawn