smallmouth float trip

[Troutman]

I started out the morning watching a beautiful sunrise over the French Broad. I just knew it was going be a good day!




Found some fish sipping caddis so I tied on a popper and the fun began.







Finally was able to break in the guide 119 properly!

[DarrinG]

Those are some beasts of bronze, Gary. Nice going!
Thats fer sure the right way to break in the 119!

[milligan trout degree]

Awesome fish! We're most caught on poppers? If you don't mind me asking, what are my float trip options like in the FB? I've got a one man pontoon boat and would need a put in and take out spot. Paddling back up a long way isn't really an option. I've considered floating from the dam to the 66 bridge, but I don't know how much slow/dead water runs through there.

[David Knapp]

Impressive as always Gary! I wish I had the mad smallmouth skills that you do. I'm planning on chasing them a lot more this year so keep the inspiration coming!

[Waterborn]

Baptism by bronzebacks...what a great way to christen the 119. Love those tigers... and awesome job on the rig.
Inspiration is right, you got me started in figuring out what float setup i want to get into...

[Troutman]

Originally Posted by milligan trout degree

Awesome fish! We're most caught on poppers? If you don't mind me asking, what are my float trip options like in the FB? I've got a one man pontoon boat and would need a put in and take out spot. Paddling back up a long way isn't really an option. I've considered floating from the dam to the 66 bridge, but I don't know how much slow/dead water runs through there.

All the fish I caught today were on a size 4 red/white blockhead popper.
Your float options are limited to the twra boat access unless you know land owners. The dam to 66 bridge is OK but a lot of flat water to row or paddle through. unless you have the toon reg. and a trolling motor on it, it would be a very tiring float. The FB has a lot of long flat slow sections with shoal sections mixed in between, so anywhere you access, you have some paddling or rowing to do.
I haven't been to 66 bridge access in several weeks , but someone told me that it is now closed because they are about to begin construction on the bridge. I had another access downstream but the landowner has decided to close it to the public due to drug usage and thievery going on at night in the parking area. He had some scrap metal stolen from the property. He actually caught some fishermen loading it in their boat.
I haven't driven over there this year, but read on another forum that the Forks of the river access has been closed also. This is the main reason I went back to a canoe. I generally paddle upstream and float back.

David, Thanks, I'm always saying I wish I had your mad big brown trout skills.

Darrin, We need to get everyone together again sometime!

[appalachian angler]

Nice work Gary breaking in the canoe and getting into some very nice Bronze! Since you were having such success with poppers, I'm curious what the water temps were like in the river?

Mike

[milligan trout degree]

I'll probably just stick with the little pigeon mostly. After reading this report, I chose to commit to using topwater flies today when I floated the little pigeon. Fished a fire tiger wiggle minnows and a chartreuse stealth bomber. I caught 8 or so on a relatively short float. Nothing huge but stayed pretty consistent on hookups. I caught 2 spotted bass I believe. Not sure about my identification though. They had broken lateral lines and jaws which stopped before the eyes like a smallmouth otherwise they looked exactly like largemouths. Didn't get any pictures today. I'll be back out there tomorrow evening putting in behind hardees.

[Troutman]

Mike the water temp was 60 deg. The small male bass were eating caddis so I threw a popper to see if there was anything larger would come up. It died off around 11am.
Milligan
Glad you were able to catch some on top. I am taking my father tommorrow either out on the river or up on douglas in my jon boat. I hope we find some willing fish with this storm system headed our way. He has been sick a lot over the past couple of years and not able to do any fishing.
I plan on doing some more floats this spring before they start generating more when it gets hot. If you want to get together and float it one weekend, send me an email.

[Wade Blevins]

Glad to see those fish are cooperating Great post and nice ride!
~~~waders~~~