Post by rgang4 on Aug 18, 2014 16:03:12 GMT -5
Since the last weekend in July the CTR has been inundated with rain. Not official by any means but I am pretty sure almost 12" have fallen and usually in 2-4" doses.
Though the conditions have been tough to say the least the fishing has been okay. Largemouth have been biting way better than smallmouth and are in good shape. Not sure just what they are feeding on because other than shad there seems to be little or no bait around. Shad are abundant but I would think too small to draw attention from bigger largemouth. Larger bluegill and perch are deep. Pond shiners are nowhere to be seen. This and all the wacky weather have scattered the largemouth. You could find one anywhere there is water, or then again maybe not.
Sunday conditions were again poor. Water was clearing but still brown, current was strong and steady. Temps were as low as 65 around the clearer running tribs. Decided to run north from the Ferry Rd. launch and try for smallies and fallfish. Maybe poke around for a walleye too. A tournament out of Norms Marina to the south played a role in my decision. Figured most would stay south knowing conditions to the north have been nasty and the smallmouth bite has been off.
What a mess north of Brattleboro!
The ramp is in bad shape at Ferry Rd. Lot of siltation and debris. If you use it you need 4WD.
Almost went past the first stop I made because Master B told me there was no grass there. But he did not say there were no fish so I took a look for myself. Got one small fish and one keeper on gold/orange Super Spook Jr. Not big but a good start, and as it turned out end.
Never got another after the first stop. I was shocked. Not even a dink. Made a stop at my rock bass spot just to see if I could actually catch something. Happy to say I can still catch Rockies, especially when stacked up like this.
Headed back south around 10:30 to fish some familiar places. Should not have waited so long. First stop produced a nice fat largie who was obviously taking advantage of the bounties of summer, whatever they may have been. Fish was on wood but so were most guys fishing the tourney. In the summer deeper weed edges and crank baits go well together on the river so I fished the edges and left the wood to the tourney guys. Got most of my fish on a crank bait but got the biggest one on a dropshot. Did not take many pic's being it was a bit crowded out there and sadly the fish that would have made the day came off on the last jump boat side. Should have got the net. Better yet wish I had my "net girl".
Last weekend she was there to net for me. Scooped this one up and said there was lots of line attached to it. She wasn't kidding, about 100 ft. came aboard and in its mouth...... two Senkos, one mine the other attached to a 4 lb. test line.
We got both hooks removed, trashed the line and put the fish back in better than it came out.
In lieu of fish pics I'll share what worked.
Spook Jr. in a saltwater style, hooks changed out. Strike King 3XD in Chart/Perch. Liunker City Ribster, motor oil, on a dropshot.
Though the conditions have been tough to say the least the fishing has been okay. Largemouth have been biting way better than smallmouth and are in good shape. Not sure just what they are feeding on because other than shad there seems to be little or no bait around. Shad are abundant but I would think too small to draw attention from bigger largemouth. Larger bluegill and perch are deep. Pond shiners are nowhere to be seen. This and all the wacky weather have scattered the largemouth. You could find one anywhere there is water, or then again maybe not.
Sunday conditions were again poor. Water was clearing but still brown, current was strong and steady. Temps were as low as 65 around the clearer running tribs. Decided to run north from the Ferry Rd. launch and try for smallies and fallfish. Maybe poke around for a walleye too. A tournament out of Norms Marina to the south played a role in my decision. Figured most would stay south knowing conditions to the north have been nasty and the smallmouth bite has been off.
What a mess north of Brattleboro!
The ramp is in bad shape at Ferry Rd. Lot of siltation and debris. If you use it you need 4WD.
Almost went past the first stop I made because Master B told me there was no grass there. But he did not say there were no fish so I took a look for myself. Got one small fish and one keeper on gold/orange Super Spook Jr. Not big but a good start, and as it turned out end.
Never got another after the first stop. I was shocked. Not even a dink. Made a stop at my rock bass spot just to see if I could actually catch something. Happy to say I can still catch Rockies, especially when stacked up like this.
Headed back south around 10:30 to fish some familiar places. Should not have waited so long. First stop produced a nice fat largie who was obviously taking advantage of the bounties of summer, whatever they may have been. Fish was on wood but so were most guys fishing the tourney. In the summer deeper weed edges and crank baits go well together on the river so I fished the edges and left the wood to the tourney guys. Got most of my fish on a crank bait but got the biggest one on a dropshot. Did not take many pic's being it was a bit crowded out there and sadly the fish that would have made the day came off on the last jump boat side. Should have got the net. Better yet wish I had my "net girl".
Last weekend she was there to net for me. Scooped this one up and said there was lots of line attached to it. She wasn't kidding, about 100 ft. came aboard and in its mouth...... two Senkos, one mine the other attached to a 4 lb. test line.
We got both hooks removed, trashed the line and put the fish back in better than it came out.
In lieu of fish pics I'll share what worked.
Spook Jr. in a saltwater style, hooks changed out. Strike King 3XD in Chart/Perch. Liunker City Ribster, motor oil, on a dropshot.
