My New Smallmouth Heaven - Pics

[bigspirit]

Figured since I’ve asked so many questions and this forum has helped me out so much I should offer up at least a little afternoon reading material. This report and pictures are from a trip from over a few weeks ago so writing it down will help me relive it and remember all the small details. Backgrounds may be blurred for the protection of the fishery. 
 

Last winter, I was having a conversation with a lady at work and fishing became a subject we covered. She starts telling me about where she had grown up and how it had a river where her dad and brother used to fish for smallmouth and would catch “big ones”. Obviously, “big” is just a matter of opinion for a lot of people. Being as that it was only a few hours away, I figured it was at least worth a trip to find out for myself. 
 

The day started out at 3:45am to have enough time to drive and get there by mid morning. It was a beautiful drive going through part of the state I had never been to. Upon arrival, it was hotter than I expected at that time in the morning. The kayak was splashed, gear loaded up, and car parked. Fishing started out a little slow for the first 15-20 minutes but found my first fish of the day hanging behind a big rock. Stunning fish. Right at 18” and matched my previous PB that had taken me years to catch when I lived in the south. 
 

 

It was beautiful water and these fish were often floating and I was happy to give them their next meal. It was incredible how they were not spooked at all. A few were hooked within 7-8’ of my kayak. 
 

 

After a couple hours of working my way up river and catching more than I expected, I got to a downed tree on the bank. So far, every piece of tree or bush that was submerged had held fish. So when I made my cast, I was ready for the bite. As soon as this fish hit, I knew it was a large one.
 

As some of you may know, kayak fishing can be awesome and there are many aspects to love about it. However, this fish literally started pulling me under the branches of another another overhanging tree which was a problem as my other rod was sticking straight up from my crate. Also, tangled up in tree limbs is not my favorite way to fight a fish. While all of this is happening, the fish had fought its way under the submerged tree.

 

Great. 

 

I knew I didn’t have many options as I was using 10lb braid to 10lb mono leader. So, I opened the bail, paddled backwards to the shallow side of the creek, dropped my anchor in some thick grass, and tied off in hopes of holding me IF this fight continued. 
 

I flipped the bail and started reeling in slack. As the line came tight, I could feel I was still hooked up. Unbelievably, this fish came right out of the tree and into open water! At this point I could really see how big it was and knew it would top my previous PB so naturally, my brain goes to envisioning getting it out of that mess and getting it boat side and watching a fray give out or the hook come out. 
 

None of that happened though and I brought my new PB smallmouth to hand. Measured at just a hair under 20 1/2”. 
 

 

The size of its tail just blew my mind. Incredibly beautiful fish. I slid the fish back into the water and just watched as it swam up river and back to the tree it had came from. 
 

At that point, I could have gone home EXTREMELY happy. But I didn’t and from that moment forward everything else was just a bonus. The next quarter of a mile was rather sparse but eventually found my way to a hole with fast moving water. This was another experience I’d never had the privilege of before. 
 

In this hole, there had to be over 20 quality smallmouth that were fired up and fighting over whatever I throw in there. Such as a junebug senko, paddle tail, GOAT, and even a top water. I didn’t take as many pictures as I maybe should have but I was busy trying to live in the moment and enjoy it while it lasted. Here’s a few pictures from this experience though…(making another post)

 

 

 

Look closely in this one by the reel handle

 

 

At this point in the afternoon it was getting time for me to head back as I had a good drive ahead of me. Of course I fished on my way downstream though picking up a few more fish. 
 

 

 

 

It was a trip I’ll remember for a very long time. I recently relocated back to the south so unfortunately won’t be fishing this spot for a while. I hope one day I’ll make a trip and rent a kayak for a few days. What an incredible fishery…

 

 

[A-Jay]

Congrats on a killer outing and especially the New Personal Best.

Gorgeous Smallies

A-Jay

[gim]

Those river bass are a different breed. Although I can’t do it this season because of a major drought, there is a mid size river that looks eerily similar to the one in your photos that I often fish in the summer. This post brought back some memories of that place that I hope to get back to next season.

A 20 incher is a real big one for a river like that. They put up an awesome fight.

[GaryH]

Nice report and great pics.congrats on your new PB

[TnRiver46]

Sweet!

[Tatsu Dave]

Wow that got me reved up just looking at the pics! Nice trip....hope you get to return sometime again. Thats the trips that keep me doing it.

[The Baron]

Awesome!  Looks like a great place to be.

[TnRiver46]

Stay off my turf!!! Just kidding I have no clue where you are but it looks like a lot of my home rivers 

 

nice fish and pics 

[J Francho]

Those are really nice looking fish!

[Drew03cmc]

River smallies are my passion. The strikes, the fights, the acrobatics, they're perfect.

[MidwestBassin87]

Any chance you could share the river?

[bigspirit]

On 8/29/2021 at 1:05 PM, A-Jay said:

Congrats on a killer outing and especially the New Personal Best.

Gorgeous Smallies

A-Jay

 

Thanks A-Jay, now if only I could ever figure out how to catch the nice ones in a lake lol!
 

On 8/30/2021 at 8:00 AM, Tatsu Dave said:

Wow that got me reved up just looking at the pics! Nice trip....hope you get to return sometime again. Thats the trips that keep me doing it.

 

Thank you! And I absolutely agree, to be honest I wasn’t originally going to post but I’ve always enjoyed when someone took the time to type up about a day on the water so the reader can live it with them. Makes for good reading material on a rainy day - or just whenever!
 

On 8/30/2021 at 12:36 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Stay off my turf!!! Just kidding I have no clue where you are but it looks like a lot of my home rivers 

 

nice fish and pics 

Ha, if you’re in Tennessee I think these might be just a bit north of you. 

 

On 8/30/2021 at 1:05 PM, Drew03cmc said:

River smallies are my passion. The strikes, the fights, the acrobatics, they're perfect.

100%. There’s nothing like a river smallmouth, I started smallmouth fishing in Virginia a handful of years ago and they’ve been my favorite freshwater fish since the first day I went out for them!

[TnRiver46]

5 minutes ago, bigspirit said:

 

Thanks A-Jay, now if only I could ever figure out how to catch the nice ones in a lake lol!
 

 

Thank you! And I absolutely agree, to be honest I wasn’t originally going to post but I’ve always enjoyed when someone took the time to type up about a day on the water so the reader can live it with them. Makes for good reading material on a rainy day - or just whenever!
 

Ha, if you’re in Tennessee I think these might be just a bit north of you. 

 

100%. There’s nothing like a river smallmouth, I started smallmouth fishing in Virginia a handful of years ago and they’ve been my favorite freshwater fish since the first day I went out for them!

You’re like the rest of us, hopelessly addicted to the bronzebacks 

[JWall14]

On 8/29/2021 at 12:44 PM, bigspirit said:

Figured since I’ve asked so many questions and this forum has helped me out so much I should offer up at least a little afternoon reading material. This report and pictures are from a trip from over a few weeks ago so writing it down will help me relive it and remember all the small details. Backgrounds may be blurred for the protection of the fishery. 
 

Last winter, I was having a conversation with a lady at work and fishing became a subject we covered. She starts telling me about where she had grown up and how it had a river where her dad and brother used to fish for smallmouth and would catch “big ones”. Obviously, “big” is just a matter of opinion for a lot of people. Being as that it was only a few hours away, I figured it was at least worth a trip to find out for myself. 
 

The day started out at 3:45am to have enough time to drive and get there by mid morning. It was a beautiful drive going through part of the state I had never been to. Upon arrival, it was hotter than I expected at that time in the morning. The kayak was splashed, gear loaded up, and car parked. Fishing started out a little slow for the first 15-20 minutes but found my first fish of the day hanging behind a big rock. Stunning fish. Right at 18” and matched my previous PB that had taken me years to catch when I lived in the south. 
 

 

It was beautiful water and these fish were often floating and I was happy to give them their next meal. It was incredible how they were not spooked at all. A few were hooked within 7-8’ of my kayak. 
 

 

After a couple hours of working my way up river and catching more than I expected, I got to a downed tree on the bank. So far, every piece of tree or bush that was submerged had held fish. So when I made my cast, I was ready for the bite. As soon as this fish hit, I knew it was a large one.
 

As some of you may know, kayak fishing can be awesome and there are many aspects to love about it. However, this fish literally started pulling me under the branches of another another overhanging tree which was a problem as my other rod was sticking straight up from my crate. Also, tangled up in tree limbs is not my favorite way to fight a fish. While all of this is happening, the fish had fought its way under the submerged tree.

 

Great. 

 

I knew I didn’t have many options as I was using 10lb braid to 10lb mono leader. So, I opened the bail, paddled backwards to the shallow side of the creek, dropped my anchor in some thick grass, and tied off in hopes of holding me IF this fight continued. 
 

I flipped the bail and started reeling in slack. As the line came tight, I could feel I was still hooked up. Unbelievably, this fish came right out of the tree and into open water! At this point I could really see how big it was and knew it would top my previous PB so naturally, my brain goes to envisioning getting it out of that mess and getting it boat side and watching a fray give out or the hook come out. 
 

None of that happened though and I brought my new PB smallmouth to hand. Measured at just a hair under 20 1/2”. 
 

 

The size of its tail just blew my mind. Incredibly beautiful fish. I slid the fish back into the water and just watched as it swam up river and back to the tree it had came from. 
 

At that point, I could have gone home EXTREMELY happy. But I didn’t and from that moment forward everything else was just a bonus. The next quarter of a mile was rather sparse but eventually found my way to a hole with fast moving water. This was another experience I’d never had the privilege of before. 
 

In this hole, there had to be over 20 quality smallmouth that were fired up and fighting over whatever I throw in there. Such as a junebug senko, paddle tail, GOAT, and even a top water. I didn’t take as many pictures as I maybe should have but I was busy trying to live in the moment and enjoy it while it lasted. Here’s a few pictures from this experience though…(making another post)

 

 

 

Look closely in this one by the reel handle

 

 

At this point in the afternoon it was getting time for me to head back as I had a good drive ahead of me. Of course I fished on my way downstream though picking up a few more fish. 
 

 

 

 

It was a trip I’ll remember for a very long time. I recently relocated back to the south so unfortunately won’t be fishing this spot for a while. I hope one day I’ll make a trip and rent a kayak for a few days. What an incredible fishery…

 

 

Sick outing!