Drifting Smallies...

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

Walleyes and Weeds???

It's pretty obvious to say that our weather has really had an impact on the fishing conditions this season.  While all fish species are about 2 to 3 weeks behind schedule, the success has been rather high yet again.  Reasons for this...adapting to the conditions.  And, in all honesty, the fish, specifically the walleyes, are far more active at this time of the year than on many years with warmer springs.  While certain parts of the state started slowly, it sounds as if everybody is caught up, and the typically early spring walleye bite is hot and heavy.

The metro waters near my hometown have been producing very well for me yet again.  And how am I catching them you ask???  Well, the simplest method to ever exist.  The jig and minnow combination.  The key to my madness is where and when I am catching them.  I have been finding my walleyes in shallow water during daylight hours.  I am finding the thickest milfoil / weedgrowth in my lake and fishing right in the stuff.  I fish during high sun and there are fish stacked in these spots.

The reasons for this???  Well, I am fishing a couple of lakes that have stocked walleyes in them.  What does that mean?  Ron and I discussed this a few times, so here are our thoughts.  Stocked walleyes tend to act differently than natural walleyes.  A stocked walleye spends its first year of life in a shallow stock pond that is full of weeds.  As this fish grows, it knows only one thing...Weeds!  When it is transplanted, to a new lake, it goes to what it knows, and that is weeds.  Therefore, many of the traditional deep walleye haunts such as midlake reefs and rockpiles become less effective as the thick weeds.  Not only that, but all the baitfish that a walleye needs for survival is stuck in the same areas of thick weed growth. 

I spend about 100% of my time fishing the weeds on metro waters.  This is from spring to fall, and the fish seem to always be in their homebase and cover.  My advice, is fish the walleyes like they are bass, you just might be surprised what comes out of the weeds.

Good luck!

Travis Frank ~ Livin The Dream!