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July 11, 9:00,12:00 am , Pine River above
Midland
The water temperature was 78oF,
level slightly high , and visibility 2 feet.
After days of almost constant rain the Pine
started to return to normal levels. I started
fishing a new crayfish pattern with rubber claws
that was used with great success on the upper
lake Huron earlier in the year. The fly caught
five fish in the 10 to 14 inch range. Most of
the fish were caught in two foot deep shaded
pools. At 10:00 I switched to the old standby a
#6 Chartreuse Sparkle Grub. The logic was that
the bright color might attract the fish better in
the someone muddy water. The fly was quickly
effective in catching four smallmouth between 10
and 14 inches. I came to a heavily shaded pool
with a high bank and several large hemlock trees.
I heard a chirping noise and looked up t see a
family of raccoons scampering across a big log. I
was thinking that this was going to be another
day were I did not catch a 15 inch fish when a
nice fish hit. It made a quick jump and then
dove down under a small submerged log. Since
the water was only about two feet deep I jumped
out of the canoe and I was able to grab the fish
below the log. It turned out to be 15 inches.
Nice but not the 17+ fish that I was looking for.
At about 11:00 I was continuing to think about my
difficulties in catching large smallmouth. I came
to a long shaded run that looked like a perfect
place for a nice fish. At last a really big fish
nailed the sparkle grub and quickly tore off fifty
feet of line. After a few two foot jumps and a
two more hard runs I pulled the fish to the
canoe. A 19 inch smallmouth! I switched to a
olive deer hair frog and caught five more 10 to 14
inch smallmouth before we reached our bridge
takeout.
July 13, 7:30- 9:30 pm , Tittabawassee above
Midland
The water temperature was 78oF,
level slightly high, and visibility 2.5 feet.
The Tittabawassee was still quite clear even after
some rain the night before. I started fishing a
tungsten eyed olive matuka on a long deep flat
that often in the past had produced big
smallmouth. I quickly hooked a fourteen incher
that fought much harder than his size. I fished
very carefully through a serious of log jams but
for some reason did not get a strike. I at last
hooked a big fish in about four foot of water
about ten feet from shore. The fish made a long
hard run and I was very careful not to give him
any slack as I chucked the anchor chain over the
side and managed to get the line on the reel.
After two jumps and a really hard fight I got the
fish to the boat. Again this this fish was an
over achiever – I would have guessed he was larger
than 16 inches. I switched to a #2 grey deerhair
frog and caught quickly caught two smallmouth
under 14 inches. I came to a shaded log jam and
placed the frog about a foot in front if it bear
shore. A nice fish hit the fly and as I am
trying to throw the anchor over I am drifting
into the log jam- a capsize is a real possibility
if I don’t get out of there. With a considerable
amount of effort I was able to paddle with my left
hand into the middle of the river and get the fish
under control. After some hard runs and jumps
the fish finally tires out enough to get him to
the canoe. It was another 16 inch fish. I
fished the last hour in many places that had
produced big fish but no strikes. The big fish
were not feeding in the shallow water before dark
as they usually do. This has been a very strange
year. I have just not had much luck with large
17-20 inch smallmouth in the Tittabawassee. I
guess that my theory that the large fish move up
into the small rivers still may be true. I did
catch a 19 inch smallmouth in the Pine recently.
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