I got a call from my Dad (Jimmy D) the other day. It went something like this…..
Dad: ”Steve, I really got into the big ones again today!”
Steve: Is that right? How big this time?
Dad: Well, 5 over 20” for starters, biggest fish was well over the 22” range!
Steve: Wow…Those are huge fish. I take it they are still biting like crazy?
Dad: Yeah, they really are, but were on borrowed time with mother nature. A couple hard cool nights could slow things down in a hurry!
Steve: Well then, sounds like I need to take a day off and come visit you!
Dad: Sounds good to me….pick me up at the dock in the morning?
Steve: You bet, see you then!
Needless to say it did not take too much convincing on my part. These fish are such a precious resource to have. I look forward to the day that I can share calls with my son in a similar fashion.
On with the rest of the story….I picked my Dad up at his dock at 8:00am and he said. “I have a special spot for you!” But I only want you to catch 2 fish out of there, and leave the rest for me to catch tomorrow! I said, “I completely understand!” Well, I proceeded to throw 2 cast with a 1/8th oz black Jimmy D River bug in the spot and stuck a 19” fish on the first cast and a 20-1/2” fish on the second cast! All I could say was “Thank you!”
Dad and I proceeded to fish with this amazing predictability with the smallies the rest of the day catching ALOT of smallies. Growing up on the Mighty Mississippi River all your life, you have the privilege to get to know the river like no other; However, the neat thing is that the river is always changing every year. Spots that traditionally deliver piles of fish this time of year may be quiet and moved to another area. So, its challenging yet predictable!
River bugs and YUM Dingers were all that you would need for this time of year. Catching 20+ fish from a spot is easy to do with these two tackle items. With all the rain we have had in the past few weeks, the river is still moving pretty good. Instead of throwing the traditional 1/16th oz river bugs in the spots, we resorted to the 1/8th oz to bite the current a bit. After we picked off all but a few of the remaining biters in a spot, we would throw a 5” chartreuse/pepper YUM dinger either rigged weightless or with a small split shot about a foot up from the dinger. This coaxed several more reluctant fish out of the school!
As I have mentioned before in my previous smallie reports. Minnesota has a mandatory catch and release on ALL smallies from Sept 13. 2005 through the end of the season. Please take a quick picture a put these beautiful creatures back in the water to continue to prosper for all of us to enjoy for generations!
Thank you Dad for showing me what the great outdoors were all about years ago!
Here are a bunch more pics from our day yesterday.
Here is one of several instances where Dad put a whoopin on me with his special Jimmy D creations!
Here is a pic of many doubles that took place through the day.
Here is a YUM dinger in action
Fish don’t bite in the rain!
Steve you are my Hero….
Your Dad is too… 
Those are some HAWGS!!! Makes me wish the water wasn’t a mess down here.
Got any more vacation days left?
Look at the size of this guy’s tail?
No wonder they are pitbulls of the freshwater world!
Blue….are you twisintg my arm?
Always got room for ya buddy!
Man! Those are some wedges! You will have to tell me more over lunch today!
Nice report!
Tuck
Steve,
As always, You the man
Those are some super fish
The pics are great, but the one of you and your dad is priceless. What a day this had to have been.
dave
Those are some SWEET HAWGS!
Blue is right the river is a mess down here right now.
Hope if will get better soon so we can smack some of those.
Blue give me a holler when you feel the time is right.
Steve to you and your Dad, GREAT JOB.
Haywood,
Thats too bad. Mother Nature has impeccable timing. I know Blue said he could not wait for the fall bite to get in gear down there. If my memory serves me right, he should be sticking them pretty good right about now?
The fish up here have relocated in a few of our milk route spots due to the amount of current…after a little searching however, we were back in the game.
Blue,
How long does your bite last?
Steve, Are you running your 620 up there? It looked like it in your pictures.
If so is it easy to read the river there?
You have no idea how hard it is to be in Mo and look at this pig smallies…Wishn’ I was up-NaRth
Looks like a awsome day!!
Amazing fish Steve. I can’t wait get moved up there. I will of course be following!!!
I know, not likely once you get the new rig.
Some of those pics look like they have largie mouths!! WOW!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Fishanytime,
Yep, thats my 620.
There are a handful of pools that you can run big boats on with just a hint of caution. The further up the pool you get, the skinnier it gets naturally. Some of these pools are like the Anoka/Champlin section that you are probably familiar with. The lower 5-6 miles are completely navigable with a bigger boat.
Kevin,
There is room for ya!
BTW….Have I told you how pumped I am to get into a River-Pro for 2006?
My Ranger 620 will be up for sale shortly!
Kooty,
I got a couple rocks with your name on them!
Now that I have confidence to fish areas without tearing up my prop. I think it’s safe to way I will be fishing that stretch your in Steve
If thats the case before you come, I sure hope you clean your self up a bit. A haircut, several trips to the orthodontist, a pair of sun glasses, etc…
In fact, a visit to a plastic surgeon Dr. PlasticSawzall, M.D. would hurt a thing or two either.
Good point, but then again you’ll be sure to see me on the River if I just keep everything the same. I’ve killed a few smallies just by breathing on them
Great day STeve,
Nice that your dad thought he should call you. Keep the good times ROLLING.
keep those reports up.
Jack..