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when the weather report call for 6 mph winds in the Gorge? I load up the pick-up and head east.
This is what greeted me when I arrived at 4pm.
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My plan was to goof off for a few hours until the sun fell behind the mesa (that is usually when the top water action begins). I preparation for this, I threw my popper a few times to make sure my leader length was correct. I was going to be throwing my new worm hook poppers. On my second cast, I landed a 12" smallie. Things were looking good.
The fishing was fairly slow, so I switched to a streamer. The action was slow, but I was catching fish from time to time. Here is a 16" smallie I caught using a streamer a friend gave me.
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I could not will the sun to go down faster, but it finally went below the mesa. I heard the dinner bell ring. I was getting strikes about every 3rd cast. The grey/white popper was performing flawlessly. I was throwing to the rip-rap and fishing the fly slowly out towards deeper water. All of the sudden, a fish jumped completely out of the water, and landed atop my popper. Fortunately for me, I paused briefly before setting the hook. After a tough fight, I landed the largest fish of the day. It was an 18" beauty.
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Gene, this is a replica of the popper I sent you.
All in all, it was a great day on the water. The slight breeze left a chop on the water, and helped to keep me cool in the 94 degree weather. I managed to land 20+ smallmouth. It was by far my best trip of the year to date. I hope to make it out there again a couple more times before the season ends.
Regards
Shawn
This is what greeted me when I arrived at 4pm.
My plan was to goof off for a few hours until the sun fell behind the mesa (that is usually when the top water action begins). I preparation for this, I threw my popper a few times to make sure my leader length was correct. I was going to be throwing my new worm hook poppers. On my second cast, I landed a 12" smallie. Things were looking good.
The fishing was fairly slow, so I switched to a streamer. The action was slow, but I was catching fish from time to time. Here is a 16" smallie I caught using a streamer a friend gave me.
I could not will the sun to go down faster, but it finally went below the mesa. I heard the dinner bell ring. I was getting strikes about every 3rd cast. The grey/white popper was performing flawlessly. I was throwing to the rip-rap and fishing the fly slowly out towards deeper water. All of the sudden, a fish jumped completely out of the water, and landed atop my popper. Fortunately for me, I paused briefly before setting the hook. After a tough fight, I landed the largest fish of the day. It was an 18" beauty.
Gene, this is a replica of the popper I sent you.
All in all, it was a great day on the water. The slight breeze left a chop on the water, and helped to keep me cool in the 94 degree weather. I managed to land 20+ smallmouth. It was by far my best trip of the year to date. I hope to make it out there again a couple more times before the season ends.
Regards
Shawn
