Ben K.

Thanks guys, part two will focus a little more on the details and the landscapes of smallmouth fishing with a healthy dose of big bronze monsters.  

Hello my name is Benjamin and I am a river smallmouth addict. 

I've had a few yaks over the years. My current Nucanoe Frontier 12 is by far my favorite. I'll sacrifice weight for an incredibly stable and adaptable fishing platform that I'm 100% comfortable standing and sitting on all day. Get in as many as you can and try them out. 

Mixed bag results but glad to hear everyone is ok., that cold water is no joke. Some very nice fish landed! 

Really saddened by this news, so unexpected. I wish I had the chance to spend some time on the water with Ron.

Size 10, tan and brown worked. They were weighted with a small tungsten bead and a short dubbing collar. I run a small float above it and adjusted for depth. They worked well on my last trip. The fly has some size to it and might weed out the fingerling trout I don't enjoy catching, my theory anyway. I think the Mop material has crazy potential for a small mouth fly.

I've got my bench in the garage,  with the subzero temps it's been tough to get the motivation lately. I did bring in some simple materials to knock out some mop flys, ray charles, and a couple buggers for a recent driftless trip. I want to tie up a bunch of dahlberg diver/deceiver type stuff but that's messy garage work. What I should be doing is taking a razor to the dozens of hideous flies that I tied not knowing any better, then I'll be stocked up on hooks again.

I found the same thing, way too buoyant with a floating line. It would be interesting to experiment with a sink tip? I tied up some really big nasty jointed pike flies with foam diving heads that I'm going to try a heavy sink tip out with.

9:00 would be great for me, I've got a drive. Hows the water looking out there? If the ice isn't bad I might bring my pike gear.

I'm planning on being there.

So sad, my thoughts are with his family and friends. Thanks for sharing those great stories.

Great photos and catches, You will love this place. Welcome!

A great step forward for the club, I'll stand with deputy dodge.

I'll be showing up around 2-3pm at the campsites

I'll be there Friday evening, don't have a hard time yet but will update when it gets closer. I'm also planning on both nights and will be mostly boating. Whats the deal with campfires? do they have some pits?

Just sprained my ankle pretty bad but I'm looking to make at least one day, hopefully both.

I've always liked the knockoff cheapo boga grips for smaller pike, control the lower jaw to remove the hook and easy to hold onto if they thrash (we're talking pike) the big boys need a glove, I use a mechanix style.

I forgot about the doubles, that was too fun.

Great stuff, represents the niche fishing I love the most.

I WILL post a better group shot... tomorrow. I need to resize a bunch of pics. Paul and I had a good day, consistent action with the majority of it on topwater, we each broke double digits. Didn't crack 17 inches but had a handful of fish just shy. I had a great time seeing some old faces, some new faces and getting on the water with smallmouth brethren. Hope to see everyone at the camp out next month, if not sooner.

Count me in, I'm looking to float as well and open to options.

I'm dying to get on the Kish this year, I'll confirm at later dates but so far this looks good.

Very cool boat, Those built in rod tubes are the best. Have you got to demo test the boat on the showdown rig? I'm not sure your car or abilities but that looks like its going to force you to lift your Jackson nearly chest high and level. I would suggest checking out a simpler roller/slider system, you lift the nose of your boat up on it, then lift from the back and slide it into the saddles. This way you never have to lift the full weight of your boat. It will save you around 300 too which the wife might like

Play it backwards? My year has felt more like groundhogs day, plan a trip at optimum river levels for it to be blown out with rain the night before. I have some horror stories.

Bummer, looking forward to the next one.