More Bronze

[bmadd]

Been a while since I've posted a tr. Got some time last week at the front of a boat on the longest un impounded river in Tennessee. A bill was just passed this month to protect this river as well as a few others in Middle Tennessee by designating them as Class II scenic rivers. This river, and the river it branches off of, are two of the most biologically diverse rivers in the US.
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This river shares a name with America's first scenic river over in Arkansas. It was named after the large population of smallmouth buffalo that run this river. European settlers named it after the dis after seeing how full the holes can get during the spawn. I was after the other smallmouth though.
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The fish are there, but require some finesse. The rivers are so rich, they don't chase a meal down because another will soon be right there. A popper-dropper was the ticket most of the day with all fish coming on a simple minnow fly.
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Lots of water snakes were out and about. Lots of eagles, both juvenile and adult were flying up and down the river the entire day. Sorry Doug, there were probably flowers but I didn't have time for that.
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The water was 70+ degrees. The smallmouth seemed in full post spawn. Caught a few small spots that were still in pre spawn. Season seems to be progressing about 3 weeks ahead of schedule. The fish came steady in spurts. Caught two on craws, the rest all on minnows. 4 at 15" with the largest 16.5". Could be worse.
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[driver]

Looks like a good time. I'm itching for a float. Everything here is about dried up.

Damn! Do I see some gray in that beard?

How was duck season?

[bmadd]

Grey in the beard and all mixed in on top.

I gave up on ducks a few years back. Haven't hunted them at all. Hunted turkey some, but not any this year. Fish when I can. A front with some possible severe weather moving in this weekend. Was eyeing next Tuesday for another day out, but we'll have to wait and see

[Dougfish]

Bravo.
I have the flowers covered, my man.

[Onslow]

Looks like a good time. I'm itching for a float. Everything here is about dried up.

Damn! Do I see some gray in that beard?

How was duck season?

If the dry weather persists, I would certainly consider exploring the Dan around Danville and Mayodan. Spawning is taking place in the Piedmont so fishing them now isn't a great plan. 

The wet decade is in the rear view mirror ending in 2022. Less muddy water, better recruitment, better fishing levels. 

During the dog days of Summer, they bite late in the evenings and the approach of lightening fires them up. They'll go on a feeding frenzy just before skies unleash.

 

[driver]

I am actually planning to fish around Danville this year. I may have decided I'm purchasing a jet boat this year.

[Woolly Bugger]

I'm purchasing a jet boat this year.

      
 

[Woolly Bugger]

seeing all these smallie reports got me to thinking that it might be time to hit the New up at Farmers Fish Camp. It's about the same drivetime as the Smith. It was a bit chilly, so I wimped out and wadered up. Tried some subsurface flies for a bit but switched to a gurgler later on. I got a wicked respones as an 18 incher exploded on the top water fly. I had him on for a while as it kept trying to get under a log. I kept the side pressure on as it made repeated attempts to get to cover putting a good bend in the 6 wt. Effin hook popped out and despite getting close I didn't net the fish.


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Kept going for a while but the low clear conditions with a blue sky didn't produce any other action.

[Fishbug]

I am actually planning to fish around Danville this year. I may have decided I'm purchasing a jet boat this year.

Been on my wish list - what are you thinking of getting?

The new HDPE boat from Upriver Boatworks is tempting....

https://bigfranksoutdoors.com/boats/upriver-boatworks/

[driver]

I am actually planning to fish around Danville this year. I may have decided I'm purchasing a jet boat this year.

Been on my wish list - what are you thinking of getting?

The new HDPE boat from Upriver Boatworks is tempting....

https://bigfranksoutdoors.com/boats/upriver-boatworks/

I going to get some sort of jon boat as it will be a duck boat as well.  I'm looking to spend under 10k as I know I will probably use it less than 10 times a year.

[bmadd]

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More, more bronze.
Another float down the same stretch. Fish were spread out. Could only catch one on each stretch, didn't see any follows either. Flow was up just a bit from a month ago. Not many dinks this go around. Just a few rock bass, one bluegill, one longear, a few decent spots, and some solid smallies for this river. I think the fish were transitioning into their summertime haunts and just all over the place. Water still pretty low too.
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Jig craw flies got the eats. No topwater love yet. Lost another good one, but the eat alone was worth it. Parked in a rock garden and the fish of the day showed itself chasing minnows before darting back into this cave at the waterline on this boulder right by the main seam. Basically looked like a 4" tall crack where the waves have washed away. The fish's back had to be touching the top. Bounced a minnow off the rock and it plopped down on the fish's door mat. It shot out and pounced on it right away. Popped the hook trying to keep it out of more boulders. The fish weren't very acrobatic. They all chose to head straight to the bottom in the most current nearby. Fun stuff.