Elk River Summer Patterns

[conorsixtakc]

Here we go with another party float... good news is this time the lady and I will have our own canoe and a couple sticks    I know at least a few guys on here are very familiar with the Elk *cough* Bluebasser... Here's what I'm thinking the lineup will look like (looking to travel light)

• Rapala Skitter Pop
• Stanley Ribbit
• 1/8oz, 3 1/2" GP Finesse Tube
• Tiny Deep Rebel Craw - light green/orange
• T3/32oz Ned Rig - pbj and green pumpkin

Am I missing anything?

[Bluebasser86]

When I go to the Elk, I usually have 3 things rigged up;

 

Zara Puppy or Sammy 85

2.75" Craw Papi on a 1/16 or 1/8oz shakyhead

4" Zoom mini lizard, meathead, or finesse worm on a pro slider head

 

I've never tried a Ned on the Elk but I have no doubt it will be a killer. Walk the topwaters fast through skinny, fast water areas and behind logjams. 

 

Fish the plastics in slow water areas and behind current breaks.

 

If one of the plastics is doing way better than the other, I might swap it out for a fluke or small jerkbait like a 65 pointer. 

[conorsixtakc]

When I go to the Elk, I usually have 3 things rigged up;

 

Zara Puppy or Sammy 85

2.75" Craw Papi on a 1/16 or 1/8oz shakyhead

4" Zoom mini lizard, meathead, or finesse worm on a pro slider head

 

I've never tried a Ned on the Elk but I have no doubt it will be a killer. Walk the topwaters fast through skinny, fast water areas and behind logjams. 

 

Fish the plastics in slow water areas and behind current breaks.

 

If one of the plastics is doing way better than the other, I might swap it out for a fluke or small jerkbait like a 65 pointer. 

 

Thanks man. I'm trying to set low expectations because I know the river will be a party, we'll see how it goes.

[Bluebasser86]

It's always been crazy when I go down there. The fish are used to it and go about business as usual. I've caught them right around swimmers and in pools where people were jumping off high banks. The real treat is to get up really early, like 4:30 or 5, and go wading before the zombies start stumbling out of their tents. It's very peaceful and the fishing is usually even better. My biggest Elk river smallie and largemouth were both after or before the party crowd was on the river. 

[conorsixtakc]

The real treat is to get up really early, like 4:30 or 5, and go wading before the zombies start stumbling out of their tents. It's very peaceful and the fishing is usually even better. My biggest Elk river smallie and largemouth were both after or before the party crowd was on the river. 

 

haha nice! looks like I'll be prerigging the night before... wonder how many line guides I'll miss lol

[micahthorlawson]

If you can get on the river early and stay in front you can definitely do the most damage, but like Bluebasser said you can catch em right in the middle of the party too.  I floated back in May and for the first time ever was not having a good day on the river at all.  Started throwing the Ned and we ended up boating 50+ smallies.  Usually do better for LMB if you are floating the upper half but they were all spawned out back in May so that sucked. I am jealous though, one of my favorite places to float/fish.  Hope to get down there again in September.

[conorsixtakc]

If you can get on the river early and stay in front you can definitely do the most damage, but like Bluebasser said you can catch em right in the middle of the party too.  I floated back in May and for the first time ever was not having a good day on the river at all.  Started throwing the Ned and we ended up boating 50+ smallies.  Usually do better for LMB if you are floating the upper half but they were all spawned out back in May so that sucked. I am jealous though, one of my favorite places to float/fish.  Hope to get down there again in September.

 

Oh man, last time we floated the Elk was in mid-July drought a few summers back, which is what happens when you agree to a trip scheduled by a girl that knows nothing about floating... anyway, half the float was spent dragging over rocks with floating moss pads everywhere, but the smallmouths were just CRUSHING topwater all around us. I didnt have a stick with me, it was torture. A local told me guys were catching 18" fish on horny toads... yeah I'm bringing a few packs this time! I was thinking green pumpkin and coppertreuse for da neds depending on what the water's looking like. Definitely gonna bring some craw papis and small shaky heads per Clayton's advice. I'll let u guys know how it goes.

[micahthorlawson]

The first couple times I floated it we killed LMB. Buddy caught one at 4 pounds and we had a ton over 15 inches.

The smallmouth in my avatar is from Elk, way down river near the cowksin access.   Considering how packed it is, I am always amazed at how great of a fishery it is.

[Bluebasser86]

I did it backwards and caught my biggest Elk largemouth (4.5) on a Sammy and my biggest smallie (19") on the Zoom Mini Lizard. I haven't got to fish the Elk in a couple years, really sucks, but once the little man gets old enough hoping to take some family trips down the river. 

[gardnerjigman]

I've never been, but with all this talk I'm going to have to investigate! 

[cbass12]

I did it backwards and caught my biggest Elk largemouth (4.5) on a Sammy and my biggest smallie (19") on the Zoom Mini Lizard. I haven't got to fish the Elk in a couple years, really sucks, but once the little man gets old enough hoping to take some family trips down the river. 

We'll join you on that!!! As long as it's on a weekday....

[SuperFluke]

I did it backwards and caught my biggest Elk largemouth (4.5) on a Sammy and my biggest smallie (19") on the Zoom Mini Lizard. I haven't got to fish the Elk in a couple years, really sucks, but once the little man gets old enough hoping to take some family trips down the river. 

Once the little man gets old enough it will be time to have another!

[conorsixtakc]

Man... all this talk about kids has me looking forward to this float trip hah

[gardnerjigman]

Man... all this talk about kids has me looking forward to this float trip hah

 

Lol... you should have a few.... I'm sure there are lot's of little ones out there conceived on float trips! 

[conorsixtakc]

Lol... you should have a few.... I'm sure there are lot's of little ones out there conceived on float trips! 

 

Hahaha... Well son, you were conceived in a Coleman.

[micahthorlawson]

Here we go with another party float... good news is this time the lady and I will have our own canoe and a couple sticks    I know at least a few guys on here are very familiar with the Elk *cough* Bluebasser... Here's what I'm thinking the lineup will look like (looking to travel light)

• Rapala Skitter Pop
• Stanley Ribbit
• 1/8oz, 3 1/2" GP Finesse Tube
• Tiny Deep Rebel Craw - light green/orange
• T3/32oz Ned Rig - pbj and green pumpkin

Am I missing anything?

Did you go this past weekend?  How was it?

[conorsixtakc]

It was fun, good numbers but no size to write home about. Tubes drew in the dinks, and a finesse spinnerbait ahead of or through current seams drew the better bites. Probably should have thrown more topwater but didn't see/hear a single fish surface the entire time.