Wading for Smallmouth Bass last Fall

I'm still catching up on my outings from last year.  I probably won't make a post for each outing but ya never know.  I can't remember them all - not too many but I did a lot of scouting which prompted me to buy stripping guards for this year.  I'm used to fishing familiar spots and a lot of skinny water where I'm drifting a lot.

I do remember this outing.  I didn't have to wade far at all and it was just the second time for me to take out the Fenwick FF786.  It's a 7'8" six weight fiberglass fly rod.  It does seem more of a 5 weight but it's got some back bone.  I wouldn't say it has a deep flex but it'll handle weighted flies and good fighting Smallies in a swift current.  A very comfortable and smooth casting rod.  Fits me well.  I did some casts on the lawn and the first time I hit the creek, it fit me so well.  One of the few new rods I had to think about or struggle with when first taking it out on the water.

A couple of pics from first outing with the Fenwick FF786.

I hit my initial spot for Smallmouth Bass on this creek - one of which I had fished a lot up stream of the lot but never below.  Lot of shade up stream and many nooks and crannies and cover or vegetation for fish to hide or hang out.  But it would seem that some other folks always headed that way.  I never saw anyone go downstream.  And that's where I spent a good portion of my trips out for Smallies last year.

I went on a week day and yet, some folks decided to come in for a wading and bathing session just behind and of to the left.  And one of them came closer to me and only about 10 yards away while the other threw rocks across to the other side.  They may have been trying to chase me off.  And it worked because the Smallies took off downstream.  I headed that way too.

About 20 yards downstream from the bathers, I found a fallen tree near the bank.  I would cast about 10 feet up stream from the roots into the shallow riffles and drift the fly under the roots into faster water and then along the tree to the branches where the water became really shallow again.  Initially, I caught a few Smallies in the riffles just in front of the roots and then just under them.  I began using my Shucker pattern.  After a bit, the action stopped for a long while.  I switched to a chartreuse Panfish Charley and action picked up again.  A few strikes and a few small bass.  I then began mending my line up stream as the fly passed under the roots as to keep the fly there longer and let it go deeper.  Then I finally had a good strike.  I landed the beauty and took a few photos.

 I looked at the time on my Fitbit.  It had been 3 hours since I waded down to the fallen tree.  The bathers were long gone and it was time to head back home.  My calves had tightened up and my back felt as if it wouldn't ever straighten up again.