Wade fishing for Smallmouth Bass

 I don’t always fly fish for smallmouth bass.  Sometimes, I do a little spin fishing .

My boys will fish every now and again but prefer spin fishing to fly fishing.  So, I decided to do a little spin fishing too.  Growing up, I had a Kmart Sportfisher spinning rod.  I did a little bass fishing with baitcaster but didn’t do so well - mostly because I wasn’t too focused on it at the time.  

I’ve done really well with a spinning rod this year.  Mainly, I’ve been casting flies but also a few soft baits.  This year has been a good one and with a lot of outings.  So, I just don’t know where to begin.

I’ll just post a few photos and then follow up with another post or two sometime soon.  I even built a spinning rod and updated my son’s old spinning rod.  More posts to come.  

Cheers.

Duke Cannon Beard Balm Review

For several years now, I’ve been using beard products.  Balms, washes, oils, conditioners and the such.  After purchasing products from corporate and small businesses, I prefer items manufactured by the latter.

The product easily emulsifies easily in my hands.  It can be effortlessly worked into my beard which gives it a healthy look and shine.  It’s a light to medium hold and a little goes a long way.  Your beard may need to be tamed again later in the day though.  I do wish it is was a heavier balm.  The scent is good.  Not overpowering and lingers for a long time.  I’d say a good 8 -12 hour scent.  One that would be good for the office and not overpower the noses of your coworkers.  

You do need to emulsify/rub the balm in your hands to be pliable for your beard or goatee.  Make sure to work it in thoroughly. A proper boar hair brush may be needed for proper proliferation of the balm into your beard.

I’m not quite sure yet if I will purchase this product again.  It is possible.  As my beard grows longer and thicker and requires a lighter balm at times, I may try the Big Bourbon balm.

Hope this helps you with your purchase and grooming.

Been a while.

Been a while since I fished the local Tailwaters.  I’ve been fishing other Tailwaters within the White River watershed - not much but they’ve been very productive over the years.

When we moved to the States, my father started fishing the local tailwater in the early 90’s.  He eventually began driving past to the other Tailwaters.  His theory is that quality fishing began to decline once they began opening the dam gates for extended periods of time.  For such reasons as flooding within the watershed, extended rainfalls, etc.  The stream bed began to be scoured and the aquatic environment changed for the worse.  Some folks opinions tend to differ.  I began fishing it in the early 00’s and it was never as productive for me as other Tailwaters.

Over the past few years, fishing has improved. Stream bank restoration and habitat improvements are planned and have begun below the dam.  

I caught a few.  It’s been 15 years since I’ve fished this tailwater.  And in one hour, it was decided that I would return.  One hour and several fished played and a few fish landed.  In speaking with my father that evening, he muttered about having good days and bad days.  I know he still doesn’t think much of that location but maybe I can get him to return.  I have several friends that have been doing very well at several other points along the tailwater.  This may give me something else to do this winter.

I usually wait for warmwater fishing but this will do nicely.  Might even take the kids out to drift some flies.  Y2K and a copper and black midge were effective.

Berkley Rods

If you are looking for an entry level glass rod with a godd reputation, then look no further than Berkley.  It's a "blue collar" fly rod and some of them are coveted.  Such as the Parametric rods, Curt Gowdy line or the older Berkleys - the Stream Specialist being one of the rarest.  I'm not a pro or veteran of fiberglass rods but I love to take them on the stream.

Just as most fly rods of the day, Berkley rods were made in the US.   "In the 1960's Berkley entered into the rod business, which lead to international expansion in the 1970's".

 I enjoy casting Berkley rods for different reasons.  They are straight up fun - if you've even casted an Eagle Claw Featherlight, this rod isn't as slow but it will BEND - and will especially based on the model - even a nice 7' 5 piece travel rod will land a nice 14" smallmouth bass.  And that 5 piece Buccaneer feels amazing.  It's like sitting in a recliner - no doubt that Smallie will tug for his life but you know there is some flex and dare I say "feels like butter" - smooth.  I've heard guys say a rod casts like "butter" but when I've got my rod raised up and that bass is tugging, I'm not holding on for dear life.  Everybody's experience is going to be different.

Look for the spigotted ferrules and not the tip over butt rods from later years of Berkley production.  Depending on the model or the year, the rods were produced in Taiwan or possibly even Korea.  There are other "entry level" or "blue collar" fiberglass rods out there like True Temper and even Garcia Conolon.  If you are looking for more information on fiberglass fly rods then visit the Fiberglass Flyrodders.  http://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/index.php

I even have a Berkley spinning rod.  If you haven’t noticed, I broke off the butt.  It’s been repaired and reinforced with a fiberglass stent.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Size doesn’t matter - to me . . . kinda.

Pictured above, you will find a small bass.  A Spotted Bass - I think, from a small creek.  And it took a lot of work to catch this fella.  

This little one took some effort too.  These fish live in the headwaters off a good warm water fishery.  A number of fish caught have scratched and claw or even bite marks.  I know where to look for the big ones and that’s pushing 12”.  They are so skittish that you got to do your best wading and presentation.  It’s been good practice on this small headwater.

I think that folks forget to be at your best when wading warm water creeks - Fly fisherman, bait angler or lure plopping’ fella.  Walking the bank above those fish and setting up for the afternoon let’s fish know you’ve arrived.  Heck, even me wading or waking soaks the best I can will do that too.  I like to let things settle down a bit before casting.  Or, just be as calm as I can be when fishing as not to set them off with something unnatural.  

My son asked for a scale to weigh his fish.  I token him  that I don’t use one and size doesn’t matter.  Well, I guess it kind of does because it’s the larger fish I like to play too.  It’s those battles with a 16” Smallmouth that takes my breath away.  It’s almost as if I’ve stopped breathing - it’s become shallow even with a rush of adrenaline.  I try to shift into a mode that puts me at my best as I figure out how to best land it without losing the fish.  

But it’s also the little guys that give me a lot of satisfaction too.  It just depends on the situation.  Sometimes, you earth the little fellas and other times, you earth the big fellas.  Or, you’ve just gotten lucky.  Either way, you grow as an angler.  That’s what I want my son to learn.  Size doesn’t always matter.