Matt D Classic Smallmouth Photo Bomb to End All Fishing Photo Bombs 10/8/2014

Matt and I waded far east on Wednesday 10/8. Getting started somewhere around 10. We waded, because you had to wear waders. I didn't initially, knees were burning it was so cold. Bad bail and no waders, deuce on the way, I headed back to the car to take care of all three. Always carry an extra reel in the car and baby wipes. Matt picked up three 13-14"ers on the tiny fluke fished slow. I had gotten a 14" on a Sammy before I left.

Morning was gone, the bite died before it even came. Bluebird skies and sunny. Worse, everything had been pushed around by Winter icebergs or something.

Matt started to pick up dinks on a slow spinnerbait after he lost one about 15", he had started a pattern. Kind of. I couldn't get anything going until my second buzzbait cast (closer to the woodpile this time) got annihilated by a big golden bass. Shocked us both as it seemed the sun had squelched the fishing. Well, that bass was in the shade and under wood pile. Matt added some more dinks on the spinnerbait at the next good hole. I finally got another Sammy fish in the middle of a large pool with three sets of laydowns down the other side. At the top of the pool, in some shade near the riffle. My Wake Crank first fouled, then as I tried to shake it normal and big sploosh and momentary hook feel happened. Totally not ready for that. Matt and I fished everything through that shade spot. We spied some larger bass in there, so I decided to clip on a shad square bill crankbait. I cranked it in s-l-o-w-l-y from the other side of the river. When the lure finally ticked bottom a couple times, it suddenly stopped. Bass on! Big one. Fish were cold and fights were never in doubt. Very happy to get another nice one to hand on a day where I had almost given up just 20 minutes earlier. Bass measured 18.25"-18.5".

17.5" buzzbait

18.25" crankbait



I started adding a bass here or there on the crank. Later I add a 12", Matt a couple spinnerbait dinks, another 15.5"-16" skinny bass nails a wakecrank in full sight of us watching from above. Really cool to see that fish come up and hit. Mostly from there it was slow. Plenty of depth, wood piles, but wood piles that had been moved a ton by the river this Spring. This seems a theme this year along with a early/late bite.

We folded up this 2.8 mile wade in about 7 hours.

MD 12-13 SMB
BT 9 SMB 17.5,18.25, 15.5

Earlier this week, I headed out for a longer one on the day it rained. Creek was muddy, so hit a second. Tiny tube and wake crank got me 5 from 16-17.75" out of one hole in 30 minutes. Added another 16 and went home. All the driving killed my water time.

9SM (17.75", 5-16-16.75")



Short wade produced a while back, don't know what day. Chubby.

Camp and Fish Cancelled Day Three 8/23/14...Whoa.

After day two's pigs, and personally being on a roll with 18-19" smallmouth (6 in the last three trips, good for Indiana). I had to fish day three. Turns out the others had gone west to look for clean water on Friday and not all packed it in. Most of the guys did get 2 days in. I decided to add a third different stream to the mix. Three streams, three days. Water was stained more than I would have expected. I started out throwing tube and a chartreuese 1.5 square billed crankbait. I was rewarded by several nice fish and a bruiser 17.75"er I picked off a log. Love it when fish are right there on a log like they are supposed to be. Great fight and thick bass.

Not ten minutes later, this thick 18" inhales the same crankbait at the niddle of a rocky pool below a riffle.

Caught some decent spotted bass as well. The water had cleared up throughout the day and I started throwing a Sammy 100 for the distance casting ability in the clearer water. Several 16" bass later it was turning out to be a crazy day for medium sized smallmouth bass, with 15" and 16"ers at every pool I fished.

Finally hit one amazing spot in the bedrock. First cast with the Sammy got eaten and no less than 8-10 other large smallmouth bass followed it back. When I noticed all those bass and some larger ones in the pack, I shook lose the 16"er on the hook while it was till 20' away. Sat down and had a water. Idea here to get them set back up, so I could pick them off, one by one. This worked. The next bas to hand, a 17.25" bass, then after another rest, this 18' smallmouth bass. All on Walk the Dog lures.

There was a storm brewing, fishing got ridiculous at this point, lots of misses due to needing replacement hooks. I added a bunch of 15"s. The rain started to pour. Whenever it rains, I give up the topwater. I feel the main advantage of topwaters is the noise element they produce. This gets drowned out be the noise of rain.

It was quickly becoming stained. I made my way back to the previous multi pig hole and nailed another 17.25" and 16" on the crankbait.

7.5 hours wading 34 bass 6 KY Spotted Bass28SMB (2-18"-18.25", 3-17.25"-17.75", 5-16"-16.5", 6-15") 4 rock bass and 3 Shiners dumb enough to end on a hook.

Crazy wet from the storm. Got kind of cold, but so worth it. Nice

Camp and Fish 2014 Day 2 8/22/14

When I woke up the next morning after the cancellation of the Camp and Fish. I felt like one measly day of fishingh when four were scheduled, just would not do at all. South of Indianapolis, we didn't get much rain. I headed out around 11:30 am for a quick wade. Mainly threw a Sammy 100.

First fish was a whale of a 19.25" 4lbs smallmouth, super thick for Indiana stream.

Fifth bass hit the Sammy right before I pulled it up, maybe 6' from me in 8" of water. 18"

Missed a few due to somewhat rusty hooks. Bloomington certainly is far more humid than I'm used to. I guess my old drying techniques of leaving my hardbait boxes open in the garage don't work very well here. Lesson learned and it lost me some good fish. Last, landed a 17.5"

So 7 smallies in 3.5 hours, but (19.25", 18", 17.5") 3 Rock bass, 2 suicidal shiners

INSA CAMP and Fish 2014 Report Part 1

The Indiana Smallmouth Alliance gets together to camp and fish once a year the weekend before Labor Day at the end of August. It's a chance to blow off steam and meet up with other like minded river smallmouth bass fishermen. I created this event back in 2009 as a take off of Eastern Smallmouth "Rodeos". It's been a giant ball of fun each year. Camp, fish, float, wade, BBQ, beer, Kubb Spiel, hang out.

This year, we returned to Lafayette, IN area. My plan was to float the Tippecanoe with the Commander 120 and Zack. Standing and fishing were I may. The Tippecanoe is one of the few large rivers in Indiana with great smallmouth bass fishing. Plan was to float beneath the Oakdale Dam down to State Highway 18 takeout. Both Zack and I got caught in rain and bad traffic on the way up. We weren't ready to fish until after 11am. 3 other guys hit the Tipp, so we left it to them and did a local wade.

This used to be a great stretch on a small, bending creek with nice gradient, abundant water willows, lots of riffle pools. As with most of Indiana's sod bank lined streams floods have changed the streams a lot as of the last few years. This hasn't improved the fishing any. When Zack and I arrived we had 12" of visibility, but we gave it a go anyway. Fishing was decent early as I threw an over sized 2.5 square bill chartreuse crankbait. By midday, the sun had come and the fishing was not good. We were bemoaning the lack of pigs on a pig laden creek in the past. I picked a 16.5" bass on a tube in a shallow nothing pool. It gave us some hope. I tubed a fish here or there, but mostly we'd catch one fish on any lure we tried but were unable to pattern or rely on typical smallmouth behaviour. At the end of the wade, I had 21 and Zack 11. We decided to go above our take out bridge and make a few more casts. I threw over by a sycamore root wad. My tube never did manage to hit bottom in 3' of water. I did not feel a strike. My rod bent double.

The bass looked huge down in the water. I was thinking 20"+. I guess lulled by dinks, bass only went 18.5". I was saved!

BT 23 (18.5", 16.5") rock bass

ZP 11

When we got back to camp, it started to downpour. My gear and clothes got soaked inside Matt's tent. I went home that night as others packed it in on the event. We never had rain before!

Southern Indiana hadn't been hit by the storms very hard, so I was on my way home(for some more fishing).Little did I know what adventure it held. (continued in part two)

Smallie Stravaganza with INSA on the 5th of April!

The Indiana Smallmouth Alliance will be hosting the 6th annual Smallie Stravaganza on Saturday April 5th at 4:00 PM!

The event will be held at the Zionsville American Legion (9950 E 600 S Zionsville, IN 46077)

Admission is $20

Dinner of Sqealers Barbecue will be served, including Barbecue pork sandwiches, Coleslaw, and Baked Beans.

Speakers include:

Dar Deegan will have a presentation on age and growth issues in the Elkhart River, as well as info on the bass intersex phenomonen. He will also present information on the Elkhart's tagging and tracking program including fish movements and other data. It will be an interesting discussion for sure!
INSA Director Brenden Terrill will be giving a fishing presentation about how keeping a detailed fishing log can help you find more and bigger fish.

As usual we will also be holding a silent auction of various fishing gear. So bring some extra cash and bid on some great items! Also, if you have any items you would like to donate for the silent auction, please bring them along.

For more info, contact us at INSmallmouthAlliance@gmail.com

Camping and Fishing 8/22-8/24

I am back and alive. Replete with 9 different rashes, but a ton of great memories.


First fishing while I still remember.

Zach M and I fished Thursday, covering close to 7 miles on foot in 12.5 hours. It was amazing day, overcast and then thunderstorms. Smallies upticked when it rained and went nuts. I got 103 smallmouth bass to hand- loads of dinks, but plenty of nice ones too. ( 18.25", 17.75", 17", 4-16", 8-15") 11 other fish of 7 species total on the day. Zach added 48 (19.25, 18", 17"). We both lost a couple other large fish. Mixed it up quite a bit, square billed crankbait was on fire.
18.25":

17.75" in the rain:

18":

19.25":


BT 103 SMB  ( 18.25", 17.75", 17", 4-16", 8-15") 11 other fish of 7 species total on the day
Zach 48 (19.25, 18", 17")




Waded with Mr. Doddridge Saturday, covering 3.7 miles in 7.5 hours everything was again coming up gold for me. I finished with 50 SMB (19.5", 18.75", 18.25", 17.5", 17", 4-16", 9-15") Matt nailed 19 or so. He just couldn't get his favorites going. Ran into Ben at the end of the wade.



18.25":



19.5":


BT: 50 SMB (19.5", 18.75", 18.25", 17.5", 17", 4-16", 9-15")
MD: 19

18.75":


Saturday after 10-11 beers the night before, I parked at the first available bridge and went out solo. Sun was bluebird and intense. Fishing was not great , but I managed some nice ones and lost a couple more.



18.99":


17 SMB (18.99", 18", 17", 16", 15")



The true star of the weekend was an unexpected square bill style crankbait at 1/2oz.

More 18-20" fish caught than I can ever remember amoungst the INSA CF crowd.

 

4th Annual Indiana Smallmouth Alliance "Smallmouth Stravaganza" Tomorrow

2012 INSA Smallmouth Stravaganza- Next Saturday!!!!

Great event with a great group of guys and gals. Some nice stuff to bid on, catered meal and beer available.

Be there!!!

The Golden Smallmouth- INSA Gold Challenge Trophy

GOLDEN SMALLMOUTH TROPHY I AIRBRUSHED

Keep in mind it is not a fish catching contest per say, but a having fun while fishing contest, to encourage camraderie and resource stewardship while making ours an awesome website. March 6th was the start of the contest this year and will run until INSA Stravaganza 2011 where the GOLDEN SMALLIE will be awarded.

1. Catch a smallmouth bass 17" or better. +10 points only one fish nominated for the year.
2. Catch a smallmouth bass 18" or better. +10 points - only one fish nominated for the year.
3. Catch Indiana Bass Grand Slam of any 4 of the following in one day: 10 points Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, KY Spotted Bass, White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Striped Bass, or Rock bass. Bonus Points for each extra species past 4:+5, +10, +15. Trust ya on the smallie, LMB, rock bass; get a pic of the spot, white bass, striper, or wiper. For identifications purposes. Only score once on this-take the highest total.
4. Catch a smallmouth bass in each month of the year with 1 point for each month +8 bonus for all 12.
5. Catch two smallmouth bass or more on one line: +10 points +1 for each additional time after the first.
6. Participate in INSA stream cleanup: +15 points per event
7. 1 point for each Indiana stream you catch a smallmouth bass out of (no maximum).
8. 1 point for fishing with each different INSA member. (no max)
9. 10 points for getting someone to join INSA. (no max)
10. Random tagteam clusterfrick deathmatch. Teams fish with total inches over 16" combined counted. Penalty if a team member blanks on 16"+ of -5". Win 10 points, lose 5 points. 1st event counted total no matter how many events held.
11. 2 Points per full garbage bag of trash collected. (No max)
12. Catch a double with a partner: 5 points. Bonus +10 if one catches a double during the double. +20 bonus if you both get a double/double, etc...
13. Reverse cliff dive. Catch a smallie from a high bank with your feet 6' or more above the water. +10 (Once)
14. Catch a smallmouth on a fly rod if you chuck gear, catch a smallmouth on a spinning rod if you are a fly fisherman. +10 (Once)
15. Catch a smallmouth in 5 bodies of flowing water in one day. +20 +2 for each additional stream with smallie caught during same day. (Once)
16. Take kid fishing, have kid catch a fish +10, smallie +5 points +1 each new kid taken fishing.
17. Catch a smallmouth on a lure you find on your outing +10 points (Once) +1 each day after.
18. Catch a smallmouth bass with the reel handle on the wrong side. +10 points (Once)
19. Random tagteam clusterfrick deathmatch. Teams fish with total inches over 16" combined counted. Penalty if a team member blanks on 16"+ of -5". River fished are picked by your opponents. +10 win, +5 lose
You could throw whatever rules in you like. Pick as a team determined randomly ahead of time. Rivers would have to be picked from a list of candidates. No sending someone to Blue river! Course you could also send them to Blue river! LOL.
20. Catch a fishing lure, ON A FISHING LURE. +20 points (Once)
21.Pics of wildlife posted to site (you have to take them: Badger 10, Skink/salamander 9, River Otter 9, Bald Eagle 8, Owl 7, Mink 7, Coyote 7, Red Tail Hawk 5,Deer 3+.25 per point, Beaver3, Muskrat 2 , Water snake 3, misc turtle 3. 1 submittal? (Once each, bonus points for rare duplicates)
22. Pretty shot of smallmouth being released or swimming off: +10 (Once)
23. Catch heeps of smallies and Morrels. IN THE SAME DAY! 10 of each. +10 points (Once)
24. Volunteer at the State Fair kids fishing pond. +10 points
25. Volunteer to run the INSA booth at a show. +10 points
26. Super human report of some strange feat with rod like catching a lure on a lure you found then landing a 17"er on the lure you caught on your found lure . Or some other such crazy happening as to entertain your INSA members. (heck, I give 20 points for the lure on a found lure caught on a lure that catches a fish- hell, just hand over the trophy!) Eyewitnesses or pics please! Catch a fish with a rod and reel you found in the stream that day (call it the "Franko special"). Catch two smallies on the same single hook. +10 points or more as needed)
27. Catch a fish on a lure you made from scratch. Ie...tie a fly, carve a crankbait, pour your own plastics. Sorry, jigheads don't count. +10 (Once)
28. Catch a smallie at night, it must be dark for it to be night. No sunlight or sunnset or dusk. DARK. +5 points (Once)
29. "Call Your Shot Challenge". You have to be with a witness. Declare you will catch a fish, on your next cast, you catch a smallmouth. +7pts. Fail -5pts.

2011 Indiana Smallmouth Alliance Photo Video

Indiana Smallmouth Regulations Public Hearings-October 11th/17th

Public Hearings scheduled for proposed rule changes to black bass rules in streams

The Natural Resources Commission will conduct two public hearings on proposed changes to the black bass fishing rule, one on Oct. 11 in Spencer, the other on Oct. 17 in Peru. The term “black bass” refers to smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and spotted bass.

The DNR has proposed changes that will replace the minimum size limit of 12 inches for black bass taken from rivers or streams with a requirement that black bass taken from rivers and streams must be less than 12 inches long or more than 15 inches long, with not more than two being greater than 15 inches long. The bag limit of five in aggregate per day will remain the same.

The DNR believes that this proposed slot limit will afford increased protection, particularly for smallmouth bass populations, and may increase the quality of smallmouth bass fishing opportunities in certain streams. Allowing some harvest of bass less than 12 inches is aimed at preventing “stockpiling” of small bass, and the resulting slow growth that occurs. It would also allow the take of spotted bass, which are plentiful in some streams, compete directly with smallmouth bass, and seldom grow larger than 12 inches.

The proposed rule language can be found at: http://www.in.gov/nrc/files/smallmouth_bass_10154d.pdf.

Individuals can provide comments at one of the public hearings scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, October 11
Canyon Inn, Oak Room
McCormick’s Creek State Park
Spencer, IN 47460
6 p.m. (EDT)

Monday, October 17
Community Building
Miami County Fairgrounds
1029 W. 200 N.
Peru, IN 46970
6 p.m. (EDT)

Submit comments regarding these proposed changes to the NRC at: http://www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm and click on "Comment on Proposed Rule" next to the “Smallmouth Bass (Black Bass) Amendments.” The deadline for submitting comments is Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011.

Comments can also be mailed to:

Natural Resources Commission
Indiana Government Center North
100 North Senate Ave., Room N501
Indianapolis, IN 46204

All comments sent to the NRC regarding these proposed rule changes will be provided to its members and DNR staff and will be publicly disclosed and searchable on the Internet and in a paper docket as part of the final report.

For more information: Phil Bloom, Division of Communications, (317) 232-4003.

2011 INSA Camp and FIsh 8/26-8/28/11

Indiana Smallmouth Alliance has a tradition of putting on a Camp and Fish event each year. This year we were at Tippecanoe State Park near Winamac, IN August 26-28th. Thursday to Sunday. Lots of great times, yummy food, and new favorite lawn game "Kubb Spiel". We had 15 attendees this year.

Fishing:
Andy got 9 Northern Pike on a wade Thursday

Weird stream. You can see down 4-5' in direct light with perfect clarity, yet would have a hard time making much out due tothe dark brown and yellow bottom. All they would hit really were 5" flukes.

Multi species day SMB, pike, googs, crappie. We ended with about 16 SMB, 10 Northerns, 5 Rock Bass, and a crappie. biggest smallie below, 14". Lots of slaps on the fluke which were 8-10" smb. Probably would have cleaned up with a 3" fluke.

Zach M and I did a wade on Friday, driving about 35 minutes south to fish a creek there. Big difference instead of swamp and wood we had rock and silt no flow. Tubes and grubs we had 33 SMB biggest 3 16.5", 15.5", couple 14"'s.

Saturday MC and I floated the Tippecanoe river down south. Dead sea for 4 hours, but we knew it would be a PM bite on a sunny day. Fish went absolutely nuts for 2-3 hours and we paddled out in the middle of the frenzy to finish the 9 miles before dark. Too long of a float to ever finish and we left a lot of fish behind in the hour+ of paddling. Action was great. Nailing a lucky craft splashtail 90 again and again. Fun. Topwater. Can't beat it.

53 SMB/2 LMB/2 KY 1 sauger. Wakecrank then LC SPT 90. Biggest 19.5" then a 15".

Indiana Smallmouth Alliance "Smallie Stravaganza" THIS WEEKEND

I will be speaking at the Indiana Smallmouth Alliance's third annual Smallie Stravaganza. Topic will be everything smallmouth bass in rivers and Indiana. I will detail my theories on locating fish year round and how my approach changes. I'll try to make it as appropriate for fly casters as for those who like to throw lures at fish.

Here's the link: Stravaganza Tickets (Paypal) and details



INSA LOGO

Ticket price includes dinner. We will also have fishing/outdoors related raffles and auctions, so you just might pick up some good deals on gear that works on Indiana streams. Expect to have a great time and be pumped to get out and go fishing!

2010 Indiana Smallmouth Alliance Photo video