if you ever thought that the Blue River was omly for winter time trout then I beg you read and reconsider.

Blue is the new Red

nice story & fantastic smallie...I have never heard of the Blue River, central Ok. I take it ?

Yessir, right outside Tishomingo.

Can't wait to go again. And Robin, I am sure I saw several larger bass, just downstream, from Hughes Crossing. They were cruising the edge of a boulder covered shelf. Couldn't tell if they were spots or smallies. But, they were definitely bigger than the smally I landed...

I remember you calling them Gray. I bet if one were to drift through there in a tube or canoe or yak or something, dragging a streamer, it could get exciting.

man i looked at your blog, i can't believe gray thinks smallies are more fun than tarpon...i love smallies, but c'mon, are you high gray?????

LOL - Gray is high on smallmouth!!! Me too. I caught my first ever smallie that day. Small on size, big on whoopty doo!

Very cool, I need to consider a trip on the blue.
Les

Les I believe you'd love it. It's like your creeks on steroids! Well, kinda. Lovely place and wet wade fishing this time of year.

Hey Dave. It is all in the eye of the beholder. Tarpon is something I may only fish for once or twice in my life. Very thrilling. But, I have spent my whole life trying to catch more and bigger bass. And when I improve on a personal best bass, it means a lot to me. And by the way, when was the last time you caught a smallmouth, on fly rod. Not knocking you, your skills or your affinity for saltwater tackle-busters. But, I know lots of fly fishermen around here, and I rarely if ever hear or read about them catching smallmouths. So, I personally consider it a very rare treat. Anyway, you should join us, sometime.

Blue River trip possibility - four guys go up in one vehicle to split up the fuel costs. Float tubes would be all that was needed if that. Wading is still pretty much possible on 70% of the water.

Two teams of two could go different directions so there was no cramped space. An all day deal. Could be loads of fun. A camera is important (next time I promise I'll bring one)

Ahh... I didn't realize you'd made a new personal best... that makes sense-- I either didn't see it or misread it. And I'm not knocking you... I'd just rather fish for tarpon myself!!!

The last smallies I caught were up on Texoma last year with Jerry Hoover... I want to say it was early May. We couldn't keep them off the hook, but, they were all 1# or less. Fun little jumpers. The last smallmouth I caught of any consequence was Dec 05, it was 4.5# and also caught at Texoma. A 4# smallmouth is a strong fish!!!!

Thanks Dave,
I hope to know what a 4# smallmouth feels like. And I hope to do it sooner, as opposed to later. Up until now, I had not been able find an easily accessible population. I can wade fish, for these bad boys... Though I think I might want to bring a float tube, next time, as well.

And regarding tarpon. If I manage to land myself an adult tarpon, say 40 or 50#s, I might rearrange the order of my favorite fishing experiences. But for now, the smallmout takes the cake...

Tarpon, no fooling-will change your life. I've only landed two, and only one of those was on a fly. Now, though, I think about them all the time. As Robert Travers says, They inhabit my dreams.