Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
#7277838
06/02/21 07:38 AM
06/02/21 07:38 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379 Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
James
OP
"Minka"
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OP
"Minka"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
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I, my brother, and two other guys like to go on fishing trips every other year or so. We've been out for kings, caught silver salmon in Chignik, AK, and pike in Saskatchewan. But our planned June trip to Canada has been scrapped due to the border closure.
So we've decided to go after good red-blooded American smallmouth bass in early September. Thing is, we're not real sure where to go.
I've been told the upper Mississippi is good for big smallmouths. Then someone else told me it's tough there to get them on a fly there because the water tends to be murky.
Another guy (who posts here, but I won't share his name lest he become associated with James) told me the upper Miss is mud-bottomed and murky water, and not that good of fly fishing. He suggested I try some of the rock-bottomed rivers in NW Wisconsin.
Ideally, we'd like to find a good guide or guides with drift boats to take us out. That's a very popular way to fish in the West, and I hear it's catching on down there.
I've also found out there is good smallmouth fishing in the Columbia River, believe it or not. Nobody fishes for them there, they're all after steelhead or salmon. Windy conditions reportedly make fly fishing tough. But we ain't married to our fly rods. We're willing to pick up spinning rods, if needed to catch fish.
Jim
Forum Infidel since 2001
"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: James]
#7277844
06/02/21 07:45 AM
06/02/21 07:45 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 719 Stanton Mi.
BigJoe.
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 719
Stanton Mi.
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Grand traverse bay. Super clean water, lots of fish.
Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association Director at Large
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: James]
#7277850
06/02/21 07:53 AM
06/02/21 07:53 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,009 Wisconsin
8117 Steve R
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,009
Wisconsin
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Hayward Fly Fishing Company, Hayward WI. Smallmouth and muskies out of a drift boat on a fly. They will put you on lots of fish.
Steve WTA NRA
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: BigJoe.]
#7277861
06/02/21 08:08 AM
06/02/21 08:08 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379 Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
James
OP
"Minka"
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OP
"Minka"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
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Grand traverse bay. Super clean water, lots of fish. I should have mentioned that we prefer to fish on rivers and streams. Lake smallmouths are a different fish from river smallmouths. River smallmouths spend twenty-four hours a day on a treadmill. Jim
Forum Infidel since 2001
"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: 8117 Steve R]
#7277863
06/02/21 08:12 AM
06/02/21 08:12 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379 Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
James
OP
"Minka"
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OP
"Minka"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
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Hayward Fly Fishing Company, Hayward WI. Smallmouth and muskies out of a drift boat on a fly. They will put you on lots of fish. Hayward is on my list to check. I found their website. It's good to hear you give them a good reference. Have you fished with them? How did you do? Did the guides work for you and honestly try to put you into fish? Jim
Forum Infidel since 2001
"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: James]
#7277873
06/02/21 08:24 AM
06/02/21 08:24 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,009 Wisconsin
8117 Steve R
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,009
Wisconsin
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Yes, about 20 years ago I won a trip with them on a raffle. I took my son and they used two drift boats. We each caught about 20 or 25 fish. After realizing how much good fly fishing was available in my backyard I bought a drift boat. I am not sure if the two guides we had are still guiding; I think they are the owners and have others guiding with them now. Very good people.
Steve WTA NRA
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: James]
#7277878
06/02/21 08:30 AM
06/02/21 08:30 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,009 Wisconsin
8117 Steve R
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,009
Wisconsin
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I just went on their website and saw that one of their guides bought the business this spring, so I can’t vouch for them personally. However, the rivers are still there and if they continue the same customer service as the prior owners you would have a good trip.
Steve WTA NRA
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: James]
#7277896
06/02/21 09:02 AM
06/02/21 09:02 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,562 Va
bandy
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,562
Va
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Eastern Virginia the James or the Shenandoah the best small mouth float fishing or the new river here in southwest Virginia.
No matter where you go there you are.
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: James]
#7277897
06/02/21 09:03 AM
06/02/21 09:03 AM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150 Tennessee
Scuba1
"color blind Kraut"
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"color blind Kraut"
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
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There are no Small mouth bass in Tennessee ... never have been and never will be ... they are illegal here
Let's go Brandon
"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: James]
#7278005
06/02/21 11:06 AM
06/02/21 11:06 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,404 Northeast Oklahoma
Mike in A-town
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,404
Northeast Oklahoma
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I've never fished it so I can't speak to the size of the fish, but... Shoal Creek outside of Joplin, MO is a local hotspot for smallmouth bass. Rocky/gravel bottom waterway as well.
Mike
One man with a gun may control 100 others who have none.
Vladimir Lenin
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: James]
#7278023
06/02/21 11:29 AM
06/02/21 11:29 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,942 PA
elkaholic
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,942
PA
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All the Erie tribs have smallmouth in them that are fairly easy to catch them on fly's. September is not the time for them. Right now is thru late August is.
Millions of trees die every year to print environmentalist publications
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: bblwi]
#7278044
06/02/21 12:16 PM
06/02/21 12:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 535 MI
Supergoose
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 535
MI
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Jim, already been mentioned —Traverse Bay is good ....people, scenery,food, and lodging great. Muskegon river is good too...... in fact lots of smallmouth fishing in Michigan
A goose may honk....but he won't wave
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Re: Good places to catch big smallmouths on a fly
[Re: James]
#7278144
06/02/21 03:45 PM
06/02/21 03:45 PM
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,573 Kentucky
ky_coyote_hunter
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,573
Kentucky
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Come on down to Kentucky Lake James, .....Would love to show you a smallmouth safari. Teach you how to fish on the bottom first, Lol.
Member - FTA
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