Trip Report 6-15-10
Well, was making a drive through AR the other day on my way to Omaha, and couldn't resist to try for a few smallies. Found a river that conveniently had an outfitter on it, so in about half hour from arriving I had got my license and a rent-a-yak and dropped off for a 5 mile float. Time was limited so I had to be picky what I hit. Fishing was great and boated probably around 30 fish, all smallies except for 2 rock bass and 2 dink LM. Bear with my horrible quality pictures that look like they came out of a 1970's family picture album. I didn't have my digital camera and had to buy an el cheapo disposable for the trip.
Here is me trying to squeeze into this super tiny rent-a-yak definitely not fishing friendly. But, hey desperate river junkies can't be choosers. Super wobbly, cramped, short, and very sloooooow. Missed a lot of good water as I couldn't even paddle against the current below a few shoals to go back up and fish them. Didn't matter, I still caught all the fish I could cram into the few hours I had.
Was not easy accessing my tackle bag, or drinks, or switching rods for that matter, but it was great for navigating some of the rapids until I went off a 3 foot drop and filled the cockpit.
Didn't take long to get into a bunch of smallies. Caught a dozen or so in this size range. This was the first and I stuck him on a scale just to fill the record board in AR. 1 lb on the dot.
Another
The scenery behind this guy made it worth including him in my album
I managed to catch a ton of dinks, and as I was floating over some rather large smallies (saw some in 3lb range) I was frustrated as to why I couldn't get them to take, so I started going through my tackle box one lure at a time hoping to find the ticket. Not long before the takeout, I finally found the ticket for the bigger ones as I resorted to my least favorite lure of all time, the spinnerbait. Sure wish I would've tied it on sooner, because they were tearin it up. Small ones loved it too, but I did get this 1lb 11oz right after the switch.
Soon after him. This 2lb even smashed my spinnerbait in some swift stuff. Being new to the bronzebacks, I'm astounded at how powerful a 2 lb fish could be. I thought I hit the MOAB (mother of all bass), but its still hard to be disappointed with a 2 lb smallie, when you have little experience with them.
Didn't take many scenery pics because I only had 24 exposure on the disposable, and was saving my pics in case I hit the motherload of 5 lb smallies somewhere, lol.
Nothing monstrous, but way more than I expected for having almost no smallie experience and fishing a river I know nothing about in a very limited amount of time from a crappy rent-a-yak. But, it was a perfect day all things considered and I won't forget it anytime soon, unless I get to make a lot of these trips. Yall are truly blessed with some amazing water in Arkansas.
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Super report and nice photos! A wonderful trip indeed!! Thanks for sharing...
Originally Posted by RandySBreth
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