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Bronze Payload

Started by Ronbo, March 04, 2026, 06:59:50 AM

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Ronbo

March 04, 2026, 06:59:50 AM
I got a last minute call to do a repeat on a river that is out of reach for me to do often but worth the drive if the opportunity arises.  I knew the weather was not promising but the lure of big Smallmouth won out and I made the drive.  The trip would serve 2 purposes 1)Catch big smallies and 2)Try out my new 7wt Payload.  As expected, it was a cool, rainy day which made it pretty tough.  After 4 hours of fishing I had landed 1 bass and thought I may have wasted the trip.  A bite window opened about 2pm and I landed 7 nice fish in the next 2 hours.

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The best compliment I can give Sage is that the new rod performed as advertised.  A great caster, lots of power and light in hand.  It may be the perfect rod for my style of fishing.  Costly, but I look forward to many years of good use out of it.

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Woolly Bugger

#1
March 04, 2026, 08:26:05 AM
Hell Yeah!  :Dance
Because I have common sense, ok
and unfortunately, a lot of people don't.

bmadd

#2
March 04, 2026, 10:56:02 AM
Nice! Chunky fish. This site needs more bronze

driver

#3
March 05, 2026, 07:54:14 AM
Quote from: bmadd on March 04, 2026, 10:56:02 AMNice! Chunky fish. This site needs more bronze

My goal is to solve that problem this year.

bmadd

#4
March 05, 2026, 08:11:39 AM
Quote from: driver on March 05, 2026, 07:54:14 AM
Quote from: bmadd on March 04, 2026, 10:56:02 AMNice! Chunky fish. This site needs more bronze

My goal is to solve that problem this year.

Top of my list as well

Fishbug

#5
March 09, 2026, 21:24:57 PM
Im getting the prespawn smallie itch. This post may have just planned my weekend. Were you fishing w Matt?

Onslow

#6
March 10, 2026, 06:39:46 AM
Quote from: Fishbug on March 09, 2026, 21:24:57 PMIm getting the prespawn smallie itch. This post may have just planned my weekend. Were you fishing w Matt?

I went yesterday and it sucked. I chose the wrong place on the New.  If there is any breeze at all, the wind will be gusting up to 30 mph between Fries and Foster Falls.  I floated from Byllesby dam to Ivanhoe yesterday.  The plan was pre spawn smallies and possibly walleye at the base of Buck Rapids. I arrived at the base of Buck Rapid at 2 PM which also happens to be peak wind hour for the New. Buck lake was white=
capping and the wind was pushing up against the rapid.  The current from the river pushing against the incoming whitecaps coupled with wind gust in excess of 30 mph made things impossible.  The wind was so bad at Ivanhoe, it could have blown over an unwary paddler. I'd like to think the area between Independence and Fries is less windy due to lack of gorges. Elsewhere, it may have been a 5 mph breeze.

Fishbug

#7
March 10, 2026, 13:28:57 PM
Ive had wind ruin many a New trip. Motor helps w plan B
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