This time I decided to visit a section of the river I know to hold a school of smallmouth and try to get to them. 1 pm launch time is probably less than ideal, but it is was it is. I got a strike on a fluke and hooked up something almost immediately, long before I reached the spot, but the fish shook it off halfway to the yak. However, I saw a bass follow the lure back to the boat and threw a dark sleeper in front of him. He ignored it, but a 20" pike materialized out of nowhere and picked it up. I spent next few hours on 1/8th mile stretch of the river trying to catch a smallie. They completely ignored al bottom contact lures, and topwater, would follow some moving lures, I've had some hits and misses, probably from smaller fish, but in the end I paddled away empty-handed. Looked like they were more curious than hungry. May be it's was too hot, or they are pressured - it's a kayak only spot, but I think it's well-known. Or may be I just did not offer them the right lure.
I then paddled to a different stretch of the river and spent some time casting to the structure. Caught a few fish, including the aforementioned weird bass with malformed spine and headed home, tired and reasonably satisfied, and so ready for a cold beer.
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I then paddled to a different stretch of the river and spent some time casting to the structure. Caught a few fish, including the aforementioned weird bass with malformed spine and headed home, tired and reasonably satisfied, and so ready for a cold beer.
