Lunchtime

[AtticaFish]

Not made it out wading in the river at lunch much this year..... busy at work to start the season then broke my toe on July 4th. Hurts like a son-of-a-gun to slip and slide on the bedrock then mash it against the boulders. Got out today though - super low water, just about as low as i have ever seen - had an outstanding short trip.

Fished for about 45mins and lost count of how many Smallmouth i caught. If i had to guess would say at least 10 fish total. Caught a few that were of decent size but all were very healthy fish with chunky guts to them. 1st 4 casts caught fish in the hole i started out in! Was using a minnow profile bunny/baitfish jig and quick ripping it through the deepest slots i could find.

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Moved up to the dam and fished right in the white water - far side - where there are some deeper holes.

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Caught fish or got hit on almost every cast. Also caught a Rockbass i didn't bother taking a picture of but that would have made it a species grand slam for the river.

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After the bite slowed down on the minnow pattern, i switched to a bulkier bug pattern ( Silli Bug ) and picked up a few more. As i was making my way back down stream i noticed a carp, tail up, feeding in some chunk rocks and gravel. Threw my bug out past it just for giggles..... this is a large profile jig with a 1/0 hook mind you. Slowly crawled it up to it and as soon as it saw it - busted loose and nailed it! Very agressive strike. Took a good 6-8 mins to wear it out. After that, i gave in and quickly walked back to my car. Only ended up being a couple minutes late back to work.

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[Jig Man]

Nice way to spend lunch... Glad your back at it....

 

[Ron Don]

Ha not everyone gets to spend a lunch break catching fish! Nice catch.

 

[AtticaFish]

Well...... what else would you do on a break from work? Jeesh!!!

 

[StumpHunter]

Awesome report! It's good to hear you got to hit the river again at lunch. Looks like a good time pulling in the fish. Hate to hear about the toe...ooch!!!

 

[quivira kid]

Sweeeeet! I would be doing something similar during my lunches, but the creek near work is BONE DRY.

 

[Hawnjigs]

Looks like the smallies growed up from last year.

 

[fisherb]

Nice! Multi-species fishing is my favorite

 

[Fatman]

Great way to spend the lunch break!!!!!!! Wish I could do that!!!!

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

Nice smallies and they do look like they're growing up and getting bigger. The crappie and carp were bonuses.

 

[hookup]

Some sweet looking water you have there!

 

[JSC]

I wondered what had happen to that lunch time "Fishin"

I have been 2 days iin the past and not caught that many ... Man what do you do in a day if you do that in the middle of the day for 45 minutes ??

 

[Radtexan]

My kind of lunch break !!! Nice job !

 

[toadfrog]

That water is chucked full of all kinds of fish . I especially like those run off falls some times to fish sometimes to just sit by in the evening and listen to the water . Long as I don't here more mosquitos than water . Your one lucky fellow .

 

[Pup]

Great report and pictures AF.

I really like the photo of the bugle mouth bass with the Ugly Bug lookin' jig in its mouth.

We both like to tie and fish jigs of similar design as you alluded to in the other thread (cut from the same cloth). Who knows? We might be very distant relatives of the Gapen Family.

 

[AtticaFish]

Thanks for the looks and comments.

Hawn & JJ - Had such a mild winter, maybe they had more time with higher metabolisim and able to put on xtra size over-winter? Possible. The average size was up for sure from last year but not alot of fish going towards that number yet this year. See how it pans out as i fish a little more.

JSC - It breaks up the day much better than coldcut sandwich and a few games of Hearts on the computer! Come back to work sweating, hungry, stinking of fish and river water...... but with a grin. Boss even asks me every once in awhile if i caught any.

Toad - I have spent a few breaks just out listening to to the flow. Further out of town is much more peaceful but you can't hear much standing up near the dam.

Pup - 'Bugle Mouth Bass' Haha, that is a good one. Another guy i know locally refers to them as Sewer Bass. '......that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.......'