Rodeo Day 2 Everybody Floats!

Wool (Mike), Rusty T, JbCook (Jason), smalliedawg (Bill), and I (me) set out to float the St. Joe river. It was a large fast channelized stream, Bill told us to fish the sea walls and whatever wood was in the stream.

The previous day, the three of us did the mule kicker of all mules aided by lots of heat, sun and hangover lack of sleep. We decided to get a later start so to avoid the scalding sun.

We got on the water about a 4 mile stretch. I quickly snagged a Lucky craft crank on a rug and spent 20 plus minutes wrangling it out. After, there was far too much weed to effectively fish a tube. I was quickly getting frustrated and perplexed by how to catch any fish with my normal methods. Further

Jason caught a nice 17"er from the other side of the stream downstream a fallen tree. That was a good sign. Bill was slowly chucking a tube or senko at the sea walls and I saw Mike chucking a Wolkabuzz. At times the river was 500 yards wide. The fishing started out slow and only Jason was catching fish intermittently on tubes he had 5 or 7 SMB. We were mostly far apart because of the immense area to fish.

I was done, fried, kaputt, the previous day, drinking, mosquitoes, lack of good sleep, sun, snags. 4 hours into the trip with zero fish, I had quit fishing halfway through.

Bill picked up some on a senko, when Mike became lustful of getting a burger at a riverside restraunt. Here they are climbing out of their boats.



I admit, the camera was out because I expected Mike to end up in 4 feet of water . His army training paid off . No sweat. JB and I were bigger sissies about going in so we went to the other side of the river and fished near a cold water drain then waited. I tossed a tube under a tree slightly downstream and took a LMB out- my first fish. I then saw a big bass chasing baitfish around and switched to a popper after a fluke got nothing.

About 45 minutes later the guys were done eating and rejoined us waiting on the opposite shore.

I decided to work the popper since so many had missed the WolkaBuzz a day before. Worked the sea wall parallel to the shore casting straight down to keep the bait in the zone. My boat was nearly on the bank, but everyone else was way ahead. A 14" SMB destroyed the popper 2 feet off the sea wall and fought like crazy. Now I was getting into it! A couple cast later a nice 15 and then a smallies about 16" destroyed it. I caught 7 fish 14"-16" in a matter of minutes. All these fish were supercharged. The fishing only slowed down when I ran into a plethora geese and cottonseed on the water, quickly fouling my casting.

Ran into Bill catching fish on a senko behind bridge pilings- caught another SMB on the Popper- this was fun.

The last seawall to the take out produced 4 more smallies and a couple of near misses including a fish that took about 4-5 swipes at the popper missing each time! I was able to rear anchor and use weed beds to slow my yak while bringing the popper right up stream. When the popper passed the second of two stairwells to the water a big fish slammed it from that direction.

It felt big, and when I saw it, I peed a little. Screamed like a chick. Here she is another 18"er:



All together I managed 12 SMB, a Green Sunfish, and 6 Rock bass on the Popper in about 1.5 hours of tossing it. One LMB on the tube. This was a bizarre and technique changing event. I've caught a couple before, but never like this. The same spots totally ignored a passing buzz. Must have annoyed fish into striking slow enough to bring them up from 6 feet of water.

The lure was an Xcalibur Popper which has an awersome look to it and well weighted for slinging off long casts.

Rodeo Day 4

As we packed to head home, it finally started to rain in South Bend. Plan was to drop me off at a stream named after swimming creature. Wool and Jb would go home at that point.

Stream was amazing, Boulder everywhere, some wood, and plenty of deep holes.

Found out I was more fried than I thought and was initially excited at chance at more hawgs but not really able to put out the effort. It rained off an on hard so I had to seek frogg toggs and shelter. Midstream boulder everywhere to fish. Riffles followed by huge deep pools with good current floating through them. Nice intact banks.



Fish completely ignored popper that worked all weekend up north.

Oh well, caught one on black wolkabuzz and one on a crank with one goog. Had about 5 fish swing wildly at Wolka Buzz. Enjoyed the scenery and powered my yak off a low head dam . Got about 2 gallons of water in the cockpit, but was fun.

Stopped and talked to a guy who lives in an awesome home right there on the creek. He told me a bit about the fishing, so I'm excited to go back.

Rodeo Day 1

JBCook, D. Sanchez, Wool, and I hit a Medium sized Northern Indiana River about 10am after getting blitzed the night before. It looked like a long stretch, but we said we'd fish fast. Famous last words.

We put in at a dam and proceeded to drift downstream. The 'river' was chalk full of weeds. By weeds, I don't mean algae like we have here. Hydrilla and grass were everywhere. Mike and Jason started doubting Bill after Jason caught the first fish, a dink LMB on a buzzbait. I got ahead and caught a 13.5"er on Wolkabuzz off a bend with rip-rap.

We floated past 900 school kids who had alot to say. Imagine that. Passed under some LOW bridges- you had to lay flat to get under.

The fishing had been slow when I tossed a Wolkabuzz at a fishy looking spot on the bank downstream a bridge. My bail failed to close and the buzzbait plumeted down when I saw a large fish come up and pummel it. The fight was on, it fought like crazy, went airborne and eventually came to hand. 18". Lucky.



Not long after that, we came to a impassable dam dropping 20 feet to the 'river'. The fishing picked up dramatically and the habitat improved greatly. Wool and I started catching fish on Wolkabuzzes about 2 o'clock we were picking them up regularily, at one point I had three in three casts. The current busted on this part of the stream and we came across another stream that merged with ours.

I caught 24 Smallies 8 Rock bass and 2LMB, started throwing a tiny crank to catch some of the dink swipesat Wolka- started nailing googs instead. JB came back in the last half of the float with a vengeance, picking up fish on tubes he had 22 SMB, Mike had 14.

Lots of 10-13 fish, with only a few that went 14" all day.

When we met up with Bill at the campground, he said we had put into a Mill race and not the river at first!

We were dead men walking by the end of this 8-10 mile float. We did fish fast- skipping some good looking water- the takeout took 9 hours with rarely a stop. That night we took it easy- and Bill probably thought we were a bit lame so livened things up a bit South Bend style!

5/25/07 Wade with Bros McD

Got a PM from Miracle about him needing a date to the gay pride parade . And I said: "hey man, I'm not into that." But how about we go fishing instead?

After exchanging a couple phone calls where I rejected his less than manly advances, he talked big bro into coming along for a wade. Had to jump at that.

One rule, I had to be back by 5pm so my wife didn't know I was going fishing AGAIN, when I said I wouldn't.

We got to the put in near a bridge, Josh immediately started catching fish with pinpoint casts and a well worked prop bait/popper. I woddled off downstream to hit a riffle and downed tree. Miracle did his thing.

Wolkabuzz over tree- smack 16.5" fattie.

Meanwhile Josh was killing some greenies on topwater. They were everywhere. I caught a bunch on a tube and Miracle did his thing.

The objective was a deepish stretch where I caught a 19" during the winter then on to another bend in the creek a half mile up. We didn't catch smallies at the first spot- but 10-12 LMB .

As we waded upstream it was apparent LMB were very active. I caught one about 17" on a Wolkabuzz. Josh caught more fish and Miracle was doing his thing.

When we finally got to the first deep hole Josh caught a 16-17" SMB on topwater LC. Miracle hooked into a fish that I saw jump right into a tree to toss his hook, another 16-17"er. The run I often find fish in was mostly empty. When we got to the top of the pool, Josh got another good 16"er on topwater, then I caught a 15" on a wolkabuzz as he caught another Smallie.

We rounded a bend Miracle caught a smallie, and Josh caught another good one at the head of a pool on topwater.

Not bad for a three hour wade (if that). I'd guess about 12 bass for me and 3 googs. Josh was probably up closer 15-20 total. Miracle had a rough day, having left his fish catching Mojo at Lake St.Clair he got 3 or 4.

I knew there were greenies in this stretch as they dump out of several nearby lakes. It was kind of crazyto catch that many- we probably caught all of 12 SMB. We didn't get anything much bigger than 17" and all the bigger fish were caught on topwaters.

Both were a riot to hang and fish with and I'd definately do it again.

Not bad at all for a quick wade.

Junk Spinning Reels Interrupt Mad Good Bass Bite

Got out for a nice wade on a smallish Indiana stream. Waded for about 6 hours.

Fish were hitting tubes adjacent to wood and in holes with current. I caught many of them jerking the tube and killing it. If they bit I felt to see if they were on, if not I let it jerk slightly away- the fish almost always came after and hit again. Several times while fighting a smallie there were three or four chasers trying to take the bait away.

I'm gonna have to try a two tube rig sometime .

The last time out, I dunked my Stradic in the middle of a great numbers day- you guessed it- bound up! So, I had to quit short while fishing was good.

Well, this time I brought my Pflueger President and dropped it fully in the drink while tying a knot. An hour later it was sounding like a helicopter and making fishing nearly impossible. I went home early pissed because I started to get into some better fish on this flow.


33 fish- 21 SMB and 12 Googs. One on a spinnerbait , and 3 on cranks. Biggest went about 16" about half were 14-15". Smalles are starting to turbo charge. Lost one about 16" when he jumped 2' in the air and my tube flew through the air in slow motion....cool.

New Wade 5/19/07

Got out to a new stream by 8am. Water looked good gravel bottom some boulders at first. Later turned out to be more silt and wood. Something was amiss as I waded upstream. There didn't seem to be much...life?

Plenty of water depth knee to waist depth so there should be plentiful smallmouth in there , but all I caught was a dink and a 12"er on a crank. So, after an hour or two I got out of dodge . Probably waded about a mile.

I had to try another new stream. Passed one on the freeway, so I got out the Delorme's and got stuck in immediately. Took an allergy pill and got at it.

Fished under the interstate bridge for 4 Smallies 12-14"and a Rock bass in like 15 minutes on tubes, hmmm good sign. Decided to wade downstream then upstream after refreshments.

Waded about two miles down. This stream had some wood, but was mostly gravel and chunk rock bottomed. I did not see one carp all day and there were fewer suckers than normal. There were some shallow parts, but ample holes and pools to keep busy. The fish were mostly on the slow current side of holes right in the current.

Ended up with 39 fish on the day, 26 SMB, 1LMB, and 12 rock bass. Five on cranks, the rest on texposed 3/16 oz watermelon/pepper tubes (with orange tentacle tipped by garlic marker) jerked, paused, swam and dropped etc. Nothing over 15". The upper part of the stream away from the populace produced mostly 14"ers which fought like crazy . No fish on Wolka buzz, but I did have a couple swipes that I followed up with a tube and caught fish.

Waded up about 1.5 miles. So I think all together I walked 5-6 miles today. 2Hour wade/7hour wade. It's getting a lot easier .

New river wade 5/19

Got out to a new stream by 8am. Water looked good gravel bottom some boulders at first. Later turned out to be more silt and wood. Something was amiss as I waded upstream. There didn't seem to be much...life?

Plenty of water depth knee to waist depth so there should be plentiful smallmouth in there , but all I caught was a dink and a 12"er on a crank. So, after an hour or two I got out of dodge . Probably waded about a mile.

I had to try another new stream. Passed one on the freeway, so I got out the Delorme's and got stuck in immediately. Took an allergy pill and got at it.

Fished under the interstate bridge for 4 Smallies 12-14"and a Rock bass in like 15 minutes on tubes, hmmm good sign. Decided to wade downstream then upstream after refreshments.

Waded about two miles down. This stream had some wood, but was mostly gravel and chunk rock bottomed. I did not see one carp all day and there were fewer suckers than normal. There were some shallow parts, but ample holes and pools to keep busy. The fish were mostly on the slow current side of holes right in the current.

Ended up with 39 fish on the day, 26 SMB, 1LMB, and 12 rock bass. Five on cranks, the rest on texposed 3/16 oz watermelon/pepper tubes (with orange tentacle tipped by garlic marker) jerked, paused, swam and dropped etc. Nothing over 15". The upper part of the stream away from the populace produced mostly 14"ers which fought like crazy . No fish on Wolka buzz, but I did have a couple swipes that I followed up with a tube and caught fish.

Waded up about 1.5 miles. So I think all together I walked 5-6 miles today. 2Hour wade/7hour wade. It's getting a lot easier .

Two Stream Float for Smallmouth Bass 5/12/2007

Mike and I got out for a float of two different Indiana streams. Idea being to increase the chance we might find Smallmouth that were done spawning.

We had also talked in the pregame conference about bringing ultralights for panfish in case the fishing for bronze was still off. Mike misunderstood and brought only his ultralight . During the first float I quickly put the ultralight away under the hull

We did a lot of driving today but it was worth it, it was a beautiful day.

The first stream was very shallow and had filled in quite a bit from the last time I was there, we dragged boat rather than fished a lot, but the german beer I brought helped.

We just couldn't find any decent size fish. But they were hitting the Wolkabuzz in the shallow water. I caught 10 Smallies and 2 Rock bass. Mostly dinks with the biggest being 13 and 12" 8 smallies were caught on Wolkabuzz. Mike caught about 4 Smallies on tubes or Wolka buzzes-

We hit the second flow around 3PM first good hole I caught a 16.5" and 16"er on a 1/4oz tube in about 5-6 feet of water in current. They were right on the bottom. Then Mike caught this 15.5" on a tube on his ultralight .



We hit a deepish pool that was covered with shade and had current running through it. I caught this skinny 18" on the bottom with 1/4ozer in about 4-5 feet water in current.


Then I caught a 16" in the same spot, then Mike caught a 14.5. Then I lost one on the jump that looked 15-16".

It was starting to get late so we were paddling out a bit when something behind me smacked the water hard and scared the living daylights out of me. It was a huge carp that had been in 10" of water. We saw a deer midstream and actually got within 30 yards before it jumped off.

Then last, I came through a riffle to see an owl the size of my golden retriever (or so it seemed) 10 feet away from me up on a limb. We sized each other up for it seemed like a full minute before the owl flew off. I noticed it looked to be 'shedding'. Cool!

Mike was tossing a Wolkabuzz at some chokepoints and wham! Spawned out 17" hit and fought on the ultralight. To give Mike his props, he was really without his stream smallie equipment for the most part but hung in there to the end and it paid off .



We had a portage and about 8 log jams to go around, but the fishing on this float was great. I caught 5 SMB (18, 16.5, 2-16, 15) and 6 rock bass. Mike had three solid Smallies on the ultralight (17,15.5, 14.5) and a couple of rockies too.

Had we been able to fish half the good spots for worry of being on the stream at dark, doubtless more fish would have been caught. As is, it was great fun.

Most of the smallies were spawned out. Strange- there were no smaller fish caught on the second float

05/04/07 Wade

Tried to get in one small flow but couldn't get a place to park. Headed out to another flow. Water was green stain, sky was overcast- no signs of bass spawning.

Fish were in front of log jams in current, Right off the bat I got this 17 3/4" on a tube- yanked him out from under all kinds of woody mess.





Went to the other side of the stream where I had a bigger fish come unbuttoned.

Caught 15 Smallies (18", 17.75", 16.5"), 5 rock bass on tubes and one 10lbs carp on a jig. The carp hit the jig midstream, muscled him up to the surface as much as possible with plentiful wood for him to dive under- again Power Pro came through like a champ as I pulled the fish over a log and to shore. Didn't get a pic as I didn't want to touch the stinky thing so finally he flopped off the hook and swam away.



Mid wade I caught this 18" SMB behind a downed tree current seem.

My wife said this looks like a Fish Glamshot:




If I keep this up, I will have lost all kinds of weight. Better than working out!

Oh, saw my first Coyote and a Water Snake swam up on me.

04/10/07 Hogs on Lucky Craft Pointer 100 Jerkbaits

These two fish were caught on a Misty Shad Lucky Craft Pointer 100 on a warming day in early April. Caught withing minutes of one another. Several fish fought over the bait! One went 20.25" the other just hit 20"