Its been a couple quick weeks since my last fishing report, so I will try to recap my findings as good as I can. The fish have definitely started to group up as of late. We are seeing more and more fish group up into small areas like we would expect this time of year. Find that magic spot and you will have plenty of fast action for a little while. We are just starting to get some low 50 degree nights up here that is slowly cooling those warm water temps of summer down and the fish are responding like clock work.
We are at that time of year where just about anything you want to throw at them seems to be producing for those first couple active fish in a spot. Whether it is Booyah buzzbaits and spinnerbaits, topwater chuggers such as Rebel’s Prop-R, crankbaits, etc… they all seem to get bites right now. However, as for taking full advantage of optimizing those spots, a little finesse is still the ticket for me getting as many biters out of the school as possible. Here is where I have those stickworms and tubes rigged and ready to flip into a producing spot to try to coax out a few more fish. 4-5” YUM Dingers rigged on a 1/0 Gammie hook has been deadly as of the last 3 weeks or so. Rig it wacky style for those open areas where there is not a lot of cover. Or simply rig it texas style to skip it underneath overhangs and structures such as docks and boatlifts. 4” Yum megatube has been a real good backup right now as well. I like to rig this tube on a BFT weedless Super-doo jighead. I will either thread the tube onto the jig and utilize the weedguards for heavier cover or I will simply bury the jig head up inside the tube and fish it on a exposed hook for the deeper haunts or open areas free of snags and timber.
Look to the end of my report to find a video clip of one of our last smallie outings where James Holst brought his video camera to capture fish catching as well as a couple “how to’s” by Tom Donaldson and myself.
As you can see by my arsenal that I have noted so far, two completely different presentations I like to fish of and on all day long. Right now a guy can fish fast with the topwaters and the faster horizontal presentations and once a fish shows themselves, I will often drop my fast approach after another cast or two and pick up my finesse presentations to get on them….no more biters? Keep on moving until another fish gives his/her presence away!
What kind of structure should I be looking for this time of year on the upper miss? Well, first off I firmly believe we are in a transition stage up here where fish are starting to leave their summer active haunts and starting to find a good early fall spot (close by) to school up. I will very often find summer to fall spots within 100 yards of each other. This is something you can use as a guide when searching out those cooler water smallies. Typically a good section or shoreline that traditionally has lots of fish spread out on it, there will be one or two small confined spots where all these fish on the shorelines will relocate together somewhere along that stretch. In most cases, they move down river or upriver to the back side of current bends in the river. These offer some current protection as well as a ambush spot for those schooled up fish. Slack water with deep water nearby are very good starting points for you to start looking.
This last photo in my report here is a picture of a small group of wild turkeys. The picture is not all that great, but what it amazing is after I saw these 3 turkeys, I powered up my River pro and went around the corner of the island to find about 25 more turkeys all spread out on the gravel shoreline. I am not a turkey hunter, but have been surprised at how these birds have flourished in the last 5-6 years. It now becomes a common sight to see a couple of these birds on a day long trip. Good luck to all and I look forward to seeing you on the water. I still have a couple open dates if someone is interested in taking a day and going toe to toe with these fish!
Nice work guys. Them are some huge smallies!!
That video is just SLICK!
Nice work,a nd nice smallies!
We apologize for the volume of the audio. We experimented with a different mic and the clarity just wasn’t up to spec. The mic we used filming with Briank and Chris Tuckner worked much better and will be used in all shoots from here on out.
On another note our full-color underwater camera arrived last week and we’re hoping to get back out with Steve soon to capture some underwater footage from up in his neck of the woods!
Awesome report!! I’m even more eager to head up there this weekend.
Thanks for the report and pics Steve. What more a guy say….you are truely IDA’s ”Mr. Smallmouth.”
Thanks, Bill
Nice work guyz!@! I thought I was watchn’ In-Fish for a bit….
Steve,
thanks for the report, and nice job with the video.
Fall IS just getting started!!!!!
Jack..
??? what am I missing? I don’t see a link to the video?
Nor do I
Excellent work there guys. The picture quality is very good. I really liked jumping on the dock to get the fish, that was pretty funny.
Informational and entertaining. 
Instead of a link, James was kind enough to provide a movie player so all you have to do is hit play!
Its in James’ first post. THanks James.
Yeah, the dock footage was a risky cast on my part. I threw in somewhat underneath the dock and the fich hit and took off towards deep water around the back side of the dock post. The only was for me to get any leverage on the fish was to get around the back side of the dock, so instead I kicked the trolling motor on high and moved over to the dock and hop on and finish the fight from there.
A little update on the bite right now on the Upper Miss…….
THe fall frenzy has began and the fish are bunched up just like they should be this time of year. When you find one smallie most of the time you will find a bunch of fish real close by. The bite has been nothing short of fantastic since this recent series of cool nights. The cool overnights temps we have been having has given these fish the jump start warning that cool weather is on its way someday soon, so many fish have been found at there typical fall haunts and they have brought buddies along!
This has another 4 weeks at this pace if mother natures decides to keep it a mild fall for us. Usually when water temps get down to the low 40 degree range the smallies get real lethargic. Still catchable, but you need alot of patience. It seems to happen almost overnight when we get to that stage. But take advantage while its here. This is the best smallie fishing you are going to have all year long in my opinion! Remember this is the time of year where these fish are extremely vulnerable and I would suggest that we all take special care when handling these fish and get them back in to the water as quickly and safely as possible.
Steve, still don’t see the link or player but that’s ok. My mom and I will be up there this Sunday to see it for real. See you there.