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Smallmouth Bass
#11074661
08/31/15 05:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 79
DainW
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Outdoorsman
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 79 |
A couple weeks back, I was fishing the Baron Fork Creek in NE Oklahoma for smallmouth bass. We worked our way up from an access that neither my Dad or myself had ever fished before and found a run that reminded me of the middle evening hole on the LMF (pre-flood). It was a slow to moderate run, crystal clear water, and there was a shelf on one bank that fish were suspending off of.
Anyway, the crazy thing is that I could see fish everywhere, and they were behaving just like trout. I'd constantly see little flashes under the water, just like you would in the middle of hatch when trout are feeding subsurface on nymphs. I threw everything I had at them and managed to catch a couple, but I didn't have any strike indicators with me so I couldn't really nymph the run the way I wanted to. I was mostly swinging streamers, but it seemed to me like I would have been much more productive if I had been able to "match the hatch" with a nymph. The only thing is, I've never really fished a warm water river like this, so I had no idea what kind of insects they were feeding on.
Has anyone ever ran into a situation like this where smallmouth are feeding like trout? If so, do you have some go to patterns that you like to throw? What type of insects hatch in warm water rivers? I didn't see any insects on the water, except the occasional dragonfly. I was guessing they were probably feeding on midges or maybe even caddis? Anyone have any ideas? I'm headed up this weekend and want to be prepared.
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Re: Smallmouth Bass
[Re: DainW]
#11075423
08/31/15 11:53 PM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 56
Dylinapickl15
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 56 |
This is just a guess really since I don't know if they are found in that area, but I know smallmouth are really big on hellgrammites in the Appalachian mountains.
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Re: Smallmouth Bass
[Re: DainW]
#11075541
09/01/15 01:02 AM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 79
DainW
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Outdoorsman
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OP
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Posts: 79 |
I think we do have hellgrammites up there and that may be it. One of my favorite stonefly patterns looks just like a hellgrammite, I might have to throw it next time I see them feeding like them.
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Re: Smallmouth Bass
[Re: DainW]
#11075646
09/01/15 01:44 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,344
2FlyFish4
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,344 |
hellgies are probably a small jaws favorite meal. you can also just dead drift a small streamer/clouser under an indicator, crawfish patterns and other general bushy/hairy flies will get bit.
but you'll probably quickly realize that catching smallmouth under an indicator will be one of your least favorite ways of catching them.
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Re: Smallmouth Bass
[Re: DainW]
#11075802
09/01/15 02:28 AM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 79
DainW
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 79 |
I almost feel like this had to be some sort of hatch going on, because I threw almost my entire box at them...woollies, clousers, poppers, jigs, and only caught like 3 or 4 in a 4 hour span, but I could see them feeding all over the place. And they were feeding like trout, not really chasing things down. You'd just see little flashes beneath the surface. I never really used an indicator though, I wonder if that would've made a difference?
Last edited by DainW; 09/01/15 02:28 AM.
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Re: Smallmouth Bass
[Re: DainW]
#11076045
09/01/15 09:54 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,728
mickfly
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,728 |
I fished for smallies on a lake in Canada in June. In the evenings, they would rise to big mayflies like a trout. Unfortunately, I didn't have any big mayfly patterns with me, but was able to take some on poppers.
Mickfly Fish Friendly -- Life's too short to do it any other way
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Re: Smallmouth Bass
[Re: DainW]
#11095801
09/11/15 03:12 AM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 713
gray
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 713 |
Gents, The Blue river in Oklahoma is full of Helgrammites. They are the larval stage of the dobson fly. They live on the bottom of flat rocks. They are leathery and tougher than any live bait I have ever seen. I lived in northern Virginia in my high school years. We fished the Shenandoah river, with them. I saw guys catch 7 or 8 smallmouths on 1 helgrammite.
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Re: Smallmouth Bass
[Re: DainW]
#11096874
09/11/15 05:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 79
DainW
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Outdoorsman
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OP
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Posts: 79 |
Gray do you have a good hellgrammite pattern that you recommend?
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Re: Smallmouth Bass
[Re: DainW]
#11097096
09/11/15 07:29 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,900
Bissett
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,900 |
I love the Barren Fork and there are some great smallies in there for such a small stream. I've caught a few over 2 pounds. Do you live in the area or just take a trip up there?
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Re: Smallmouth Bass
[Re: DainW]
#11097480
09/12/15 12:15 AM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 79
DainW
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Outdoorsman
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 79 |
I live in okc but go up there from time to time. We always do really well numbers wise, but never catch anything huge. Where do you access it at?
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