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Smallmouth trip
#14492667
09/30/22 07:16 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16
bowhuntb
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16 |
Need some input. Wanting to take my dad on trip for smallmouth. Has anyone fished pickwick or dale hollow? If we go would hire a guide for a day then fish fee more days on our own. Where would y’all recommend going for a great smallmouth trip? I have heard st Lawrence, Champlain, st Clair, Erie are great places but was looking for something a little closer. TIA for yalls input.
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: bowhuntb]
#14492706
09/30/22 08:16 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 756
Clark Reehm
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 756 |
I have fished everywhere that you have mentioned and honestly nothing in the south compares to the experience at St Lawrence, Champlain or St Clair (As well as a bunch of other northern fisheries). pick any of those lakes and put it on your bucket list.
With that being said, I can put you in touch with an awesome smallmouth guide on Pickwick and you will catch them and big ones however, it is tailrace fishing and his knowledge to make adjustments as well as the nuances would be hard to replicate solo. You would honestly be better off just hiring the guide for several days and leaving your boat at home. Ultimately, you will probably save money between the added gas, frustration and mechanical issue you are going to encounter whether it be on the boat or trailer.
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: bowhuntb]
#14492711
09/30/22 08:33 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,223
Douglas J
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,223 |
Wherever Josh Jones is right now catching smallmouth
#MFGA
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: Douglas J]
#14492862
09/30/22 11:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,911
Happykamper
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,911 |
Headed to Mille Lacs in a few days, we smoked them there last year, lots of 4-5 lb fish, hope to get one over 6 this year.
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: bowhuntb]
#14492882
10/01/22 12:20 AM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,223
Douglas J
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,223 |
Jones posted one today over 8, I think he is in the Northwest somewhere
#MFGA
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: bowhuntb]
#14492925
10/01/22 01:10 AM
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Joined: May 2021
Posts: 412
572Fitter
Angler
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Angler
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 412 |
I’m in Central TN and fish the brown fish all winter.Where are you coming from?
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: bowhuntb]
#14493029
10/01/22 10:09 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16
bowhuntb
OP
Green Horn
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OP
Green Horn
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16 |
572Fitter we are coming from Fort Worth, TX.
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: bowhuntb]
#14493046
10/01/22 10:51 AM
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Joined: May 2021
Posts: 412
572Fitter
Angler
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Angler
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 412 |
572Fitter we are coming from Fort Worth, TX. Well the Great Lakes are going to be the best hands down for numbers and size.I used to fish Sturgeon Bay often,the end of May to the first week in June is prime time.The wholly grail trip is up to Washington Island.However that season doesn’t start until July.I do fairly well here in TN and it’s just about to start getting good.I catch them good on top water up til Nov and rotate that with a 110 +1 and a small swim bait. I’ll give you all the info you need if you head this way
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: Douglas J]
#14493077
10/01/22 11:54 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40,013
Dan90210 ☮
Jr Deputy Dan
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Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40,013 |
Wherever Josh Jones is right now catching smallmouth Looks like northern California. Shasta is my guess. Deep as hades and the smallies suspend and eat trout. Makes them especially difficult to target. But the right guy with one of those live scope units could crack the code and catch some donkeys like he's doing
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: bowhuntb]
#14493531
10/02/22 12:00 AM
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 6,170
Rescue Fire
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 6,170 |
St Clair for the best fishing and the easiest trip, especially if you're taking an older person.
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: bowhuntb]
#14494639
10/03/22 05:49 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 8,543
Jpurdue
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 8,543 |
Jones has 8 fish over 7 lbs and two over 8.5 lbs in 5 days of fishing. Any one of those fish would be the fish of a lifetime for most guys. I'd say the 8 lb smallmouth is roughly equivalent to a 15 lb largemouth, maybe 16. They are just that rare.
"Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley." -A.L. www.LunkerLore.com
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: bowhuntb]
#14494646
10/03/22 06:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,771
Mckinneycrappiecatcher
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,771 |
Shoot if you want to stay close to home the east end of texoma is loaded with big smallmouth. Broken bow is really good too.
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: bowhuntb]
#14494677
10/03/22 06:27 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 611
FW_Tom_H
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 611 |
I've fished Lake Erie (western and eastern ends), St Clair, St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, and Mille Lacs. It's really hard to beat the SLR/Lake Ontario combo. If the wind is bad, you can always find somewhere to fish on the River. If the wind isn't bad, run out to Galloo, Duck Islands, etc. on Lake Ontario. Clayton, New York is a great little town to stay in. I drove from Fort Worth and met a buddy from Jasper in Marshall, I hopped in his truck and we went as far as just this side of Louisville, KY the first day. From Kentucky to Clayton, NY the next day. 2 long days on the road but worth every minute once we got there. My 2 cents...I live for Smallmouth fishing so if you're serious about a good time chasing them, SLR has to be on the bucket list.
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: Rescue Fire]
#14496034
10/05/22 12:31 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,243
Dan21XRS
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,243 |
St Clair for the best fishing and the easiest trip, especially if you're taking an older person. Early April for the spawn... Good safe hotels close by with every restaurant chain close by... Only negative is 99.9% of the ramps are private and those available to the public are expensive and close at dusk. If you're not in the parking lot buckling everything up they lock the gate and your truck and rig are stuck until the next day... Dan
"The problem with having a sense of humor is often that people you use it on aren't in a very good mood"... Lou Holtz
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Re: Smallmouth trip
[Re: Douglas J]
#14497087
10/06/22 12:10 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,356
9094
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,356 |
Wherever Josh Jones is right now catching smallmouth He is in Orofino,Idaho. A friend of mine just fished with him for 4 days and had one over 8 and a lot over 5.
Last edited by 9094; 10/06/22 12:11 AM.
Retirement best job ever.
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