I had another great day on the water with ATCTower from over at smallmouths.com. We fished a section of the Junata that I had not been on since early summer last year. I really didn’t know what to expect. Luckily, we were able to get on quite a few fish. I was well over 20 on the day and I believe ATCTower was as well. It was definitely a day when you had to change up you tactics to catch fish..hence the title of “dumpster pattern”…I’ll explain later.
One of the highlights of the trip was when I caught one of my spare rods on a back-cast. As I started my forward cast the hung spinnerbait snapped off my rod. The resistance from getting caught also ripped the rod out of my hand. I watch in horror as my $200 Energy PT baitcaster and favorite spinnerbait rod sunk to the bottom of Davy Jone’s Locker!
ATCTower and I quickly went into search mode and spotted the metalic finish of the reel in only about 4 feet of water. Tower held position over the rod while I paddled to shore and beached my kayak. I was able to swim back out in the fairly rapid deep water and recover the rod is short order. I tied on another spinnerbait, added a trailer, and we were fishing again! Now back to our regularly scheduled programming…
Weather Conditions
Skies were partly cloudy to overcast the entire day. It threatened rain a number of time but it never happened. Air temperatures were just a touch cooler than previous days in the mid 80′s.
Water Conditions
Water temperatures had cooled slightly over the past two days but it definitely was not a concern. The water levels were actually on the way down from a previous rise the day before. The biggest factor we had to contend with was water clarity issues. River left was cloudy to down right muddy due to inflows. River right was much cleaner and ranged from clear to cloudy.
Comments on Patterns
We did actually see a dumpster in the river but didn’t catch any fish off it. It just got me thinking that because of the water clarity difference on various sections of the river, we had to alternate our tactics significantly throughout the trip. It was what a lot of folks call a “junk fishing day”…get it..junk….dumpster??
We fished spinnerbaits and tubes on major current breaks and ledge drop offs when we were on a muddy section of river. When we hit clear water we threw finesse style bait like 3″ stickworms and Winco’s Wacky Creek Worm to similar targets.
Baits and Presentations
Top producing bait in order:
- Winco’s Wacky Creek Worm (This bait was absolutely “killer” in clear water)
- Winco’s Specialty Smallmouth Spinnerbaits 3/16 oz and 3/8 oz (in stained an muddy water)
- 3″ stickworms
- Winco’s Krinkle-Cut Worm
- Tubes
The soft bait bite was very light. We fished most baits weightless using a drift or dead-stick technique.
The fish were slamming the spinnerbaits. Spinnerbaits were most effective when pulled down shoots into current lines and eddy’s. Push water was also a great target for the spinnerbaits. The largest fish at 18 inches was caught in push water using a 3/8 oz. spinnerbait.
Here are a few pics. Enjoy!…
This is the infamous “dumpster”
Multi-species award goes to ATCTower for catching a smallmouth, fall fish, and a walleye. The Walleye was taken on a spinnerbait!
This isn’t a big fish but It is one of many smallmouth that ATCTower caught. I just wasn’t around with the camera when he caught some of his better fish
Here’s one of the nice Winco’s Wacky Creek Worms smallmouth. This fish EXPLODED on the bait on contact with the water!
I caught several nice fish 3@16 inches and this nice 18 inch smallmouth that absolutely put the stops to my 3/8 oz. Smallmouth Specialty Spinnerbait!
Great Report, Juan… Too bad I don’t have my kayak SOT Tarpon 100 anymore!
The water down this way was hitting 82 degrees down and 87 on the surface!!
I haven’t fished clear water for a few weeks now. I have the River Darter, Jr. tied on, but the water may be a tad too warm for that right now. I have some Winco Worms with me, but I’ve been hesitant to throw them in the brownish stained waters.
Nice pics!
Tom
Beautiful fish! That last one has some nice girth to it, especially for a summer smallie (looks like a something you’d see during pre-spawn). It’s good to see the action picking back up again. Heopfully this heat wave will die off and the fish will become more active.
Tom, any time you want to get back in a yak let me know. I have an extra t-120 for such situations!
Nate, good to hear from you. I’m headed for you neck of the river in about an hour. Honestly, fishing has been consistantly good for me and those I’ve fished with. Yes, we’ve worked for the fish but they are thee and still feeding. Day to day though it has required some change in tactics. Small finesse baits have been most productive even for big fish.
What color spinner baits were you using?
Great report Juan! I love reading you articles…even if I am less than diligent in my commenting. I can’t wait to get back next month and chase some smallies!
Honestly, I only own a handful of colors in terms of spinnerbaits and two get over 90 percent of the water time. Chart. and white are the primary colors I use for smallies.
Awesome man! August can be great in the early morning or evening. Once we get to september….The big fish bit usually starts coming on strong.
Juan,
You’re killing me here with your success with spinner baits. I’m not having near the success with them. Perhaps water conditions are not favorable for a spinner bait bite up here on the North Branch?
Whatever the case… Great Report!
Dave, that may be the case. I’m looking for specific targets when I’m throwing the spinnerbait.
1. off color water
2. Current chutes/downstream “v’s”
3. small eddy pockets along the bank
4. “nervous water” on the downstream side of ledges or major current breaks.
hope this helps