I noticed the same thing! Caught close to 75 a mile or two up river 4 weeks ago with one pushing 5 lbs and then 2 weeks ago we struggled to catch 25 and couldn’t find any size. Interesting observation about the smolt! Makes a lot of sense I definitely noticed them chasing bait a lot more in mid-to late July. The big ones are always trickier for me to find in the late summer - early fall… probably not fishing deep enough.
@@bwoneymaddic446 Thanks Ol` Crick! I had not fished with my buddy yet this year and we had such a fun day - except for the stupid gulls who kept trying to eat my top water :)
I like to use my shirt as protection while I just grab the line directly and hand reel it in 1 fathom at a time. Like I'm looking at my pole begging it not to break
Learn the art of the flip, keep tension and direct it where you want until the last moment and bring it out of the water onto your lap. Kinda hard on a yak but doable
That is good advice but the rod I am using in this video is a light action and I would snap it. I do sometimes boat flip bass with my casting gear if I don't have my net.
Hey Ol' Crick! Not the day I was hoping for but at least it was steady action. Really far from one of your days! You are the Queen of Quality Bass for sure :)
Maybe Post Spawn is very close? The larger ones are still at the nests perhaps? I have seen some folks upriver around here in Salem getting the 2+ lbs now in the sloughs, so hang in there a couple days from now they could break out.
I would have thought that they would have started spawning but the fish had no tail wear. It seems like ether they spawned a whlle ago or they have not started yet. The rock island slough only had some dinks. A buddy of mine did find some better fish a bit further upstream.
@@pdxfisher1 I'm pretty sure spawn is nearing the end (a week later than last year). I just thought maybe only the small ones, too young to spawn, are biting. I saw that here in Salem in a city lake where I can see the larger largemouth not interested in lures, but I couldn't keep the little ones off anything I used. I imagine largemouth and smallmouth have similar habits. But at least you got out and caught some fish. Good to see you back.
I saw you out there. You battled through the gale force winds! That spot in 25 feet of water was great. We caught at least 30 off that point. Good job 👍🏻
I'm still waiting for my river to calm down so I can go after smallies, but I'm scouting out other areas that might let me get on the river soon. Good to see your day wasn't a total disappointment.
I have not fished the Willamette yet. The current is still to high around here. We are lucky that the Columbia current is usually just fine this time of year.
@@pdxfisher1 thanks to google maps, I'm finding sloughs and backroads that lead me to them that are not private. Also some tucked away State Parks no doubt established during the 70's when McCall and Straub tried to make the Willamette a huge 200 mile long park. Got some back road driving to do.
I have not been to Merwin since the last video I posted (last fall). It's been a busy winter and it seemed like every time I have had a free weekend the wind was howling.
