Drifting Smallies...
Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 10:36AM 
Tuesday night I found myself on an adventure that was very new to me. Certainly I was on the water fishing, but this time I did it in a way that I am not accustomed to. I tagged along with our "Man About The Woods" Bill Sherck as we used his drift boat to fish Smallmouth Bass on the Mississippi River. I have heard so much about this stretch of water over the years, and jumped at the chance to hop on board.
We had a few different weapons in the boat, and the plan was to catch a few conventional style, then switch to the fly gear. It was a whole new experience for me, and I can honestly say that it was the first time that I actually felt like I was being guided. It was great! He had the same half hour's worth of chatter that I give to all my guests as they come on my boat, and filled us in on what to do, and what not to do. Not that I haven't caught numerous smallies in the past, but it was a whole new feel, and the drift boat seemed to set it all in place. 
How we would work the spots, and most of all, the use of a fly-rod is very new to me. The fish weren't jumping in the boat on this afternoon, however it didn't take too long for me to land a couple of dandies.
My first fish went about 19 inches and the next two followed very similarly. When you add the current into the equation, you are really in for a treat when these beasts battle. After my third fish, I decided it was time to find out what this fly fishing stuff is all about. After a quick tutorial from Bill, I was slinging back and forth trying to get dialed in. 
With the strong winds, it made things interesting, but I got it figured out and it was go time! I pictured myself stripping a huge popper on the surface as if I was Tarpon fishing in the keys, and waited for the explosions. Well, they came, and I missed all 4 explosions on my popper. Oh well, Can't catch em all the time, but it sure would have been nice to say I conquered that Smallie on the Fly. We had a great time on the water, and although the fish weren't flying in the boat, we had some great laughs, and a few of what I call "kids Messes." Joining Bill and I on our adventure was first time Smallie fisherman Mitch Petrie of Plymouth. He managed a big goose egg for the day which was a bummer, but he did battle the largest catch of the day, when he got us wrapped up in an overhanging tree. Great times boys! Now that's Livin The Dream!
Travis Frank - Livin The Dream
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