Mayflies and Smallies go figure.

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• Posts: 6
• Joined: 30-August 10

Posted Yesterday, 05:35 PM
I got out on Friday, the Smallies fishing was tough. I got 4 Smallies on a brown and MC worm, the largest was 12",all the fish hit when the fly was hanging down below me. All Day I noticed bizillions of Mayflys, some Caddis, and even some Crane flies. I didn't think nothing of it. I called my friend Pete see if he was interested in some fishing. He meet me late afternoon. We started fishing a run and noticed all the rise forms of fish taking Mayflies. Pete had mention that the Smallies were taking mayflies, at which I said they were probably small fish. He puts on a floating mayfly nymph and catches a 14" Smallie. Needless to say guess whos looking for any kind of small bugs which would be in my Smalliebox which usually go bigger is better. I tried a small blk. popper, different gurglers blk, and wht. nada. Finnaly Pete asked if I wanted a Floating hares ear nymph, thank you Pete.In the mean time he was catching what seem like every Smallie in the run, but their were fish rising everywhere.We caught a bunch of Smallies on Mayfly nymphs the biggest being 17 1/2 " a couple of 16", and many 15"- 13" Smallies. It was a very interesting evening of fishing something I had never seen before. CarlB http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/a...compare016.jpg My buddy Pete http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/a...ayflies006.jpg http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/a...ayflies022.jpg and me http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/a...ayflies026.jpg Pete with another nice Smallie http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/a...ayflies030.jpg Bunch of bugs http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/a...ayflies014.jpg Just a cool evening of fishing, fly of the day a #12 hares ear emerger http://i938.photobucket.com/albums/a...compare016.jpg .

Any time some one post a message about catching smallmouth on a flyrod I am envious. I have caught a few on spinning tackle from the Tennessee River in the Muscle Shoals, AL area but never on a flyrod. Looks like great fun, I am glad you buddy decided to share with you. I enjoyed you experience very much.

Uncle Jessie

You should have tried the fly rod on the Tennessee River instead of the spinning tackle. Have caught many Smallmouth on a fly rod on Wilson and Wheeler lake. Wilson is where I fish most of the time. I catch many Bluegill but catch a Smallmouth enough to make it interesting. Fish against the seawall's and the bluff's.

knucks

Posted Today, 02:44 PM
It been to much fun. Smallies getting in a conga line to eat emerging and adult mayflies. I made it out thursday evening, really I started a little earlier than that with a few smaller fish to hand. I tried Murdichs, flashdances, big poppers small poppers and Barto Minnows also. I am always amazed at the size of a streamer that will catch a dink smallie, they try. Then on a Blue Gill size popper, a #10 dead drifted through a run not even popping it. Well once the Sun went down behind the clouds in the western sky the Smallies would line up for the evening mayfly hatch. It seemed as if there were fish coming up everywhere, almost didn't know where to cast. I tied on a #12 Adams, I'm going to have to come up with a more durable Mayfly pattern for Smallie. While out on the water I did meet up with Mike H from ISA. , he was kind enough to take a picture for me. Thank you Mike it was nice to see you again.In about 35 minutes of fish I caught 8 Bass all between 16" to 13". I'm going to have to put together a dry fly box for Smallies. What I did notice is that Smallmouth will all take the fly different some sipped then from the surface , some very big splash, some airborne, which are all fun. You hook more that you land. Ten as soon as the fish start biteing it's over, once it gets dark the party is over. I guess I'm not the only one that can't Adams in the dark. I want to get out for some more Smallies on Dries, but it may be over by that time. It was just to much fun. http://i938.photobuc...rlB46/009-1.jpg http://i938.photobuc...rlB46/004-1.jpg http://i938.photobuc...rlB46/006-1.jpg http://i938.photobuc...CarlB46/008.jpg http://i938.photobuc...CarlB46/014.jpg

There really isn't a big mystery about this at all - all fish have to eat - they all eat whatever is available. Soooooo, trout, bluegills and smallies will all eat mayflies (or caddis or stoneflies or ants and grasshoppers!) Look around and see what insects are available and match that to what you have in your fly box. (Don't have an assortment in your box? Shame on you *S*)

Those are some beautiful smallies..excellent coloration!

A few weeks ago we had a hatch(Hexes? but I really don't care what it was as that is not important) and the LARGEMOUTH were slurping them up left and right. Tons of fun. Very nice smallies!

I normally fish late afternoon/early evening but I was able to get out midmoring this past Saturday. The river I fish has an abundance of minnows and as a result I see very little surface feeding by smallies. Saturday afternoon the smaller bass were all over a hatch which really surprised me. I wasn't prepared for that (my fault and besides I fish for large smallies) but found it interesting that they went after the easy meal instead of chasing minnows around. I will probably put a few small dries into my boxes just in case I find this again. All the feeding was being done on stillwater.