Today may have been a great day to fly a kite but it was a tough one for fishing. The winds were howling at 15 to 25 knots with much higher gusts! They were suppose to be coming from the W/SW but from where I was, it seemed more like a W/NW. White caps were all around and boat control was about to become a real challenge. Stephane was back with me this morning and he picked another beauty of a day. Three weeks ago he had managed to get a high wind day but also heavy rain as an added bonus. At least today wouldn’t be wet, we hoped! I instructed him on how to work a drop shot set up with a fish cooperating on the demonstration cast. This is a common outcome while showing people what to do! He was soon into the first of many fish within the first few casts as well and loving it. Although they may not have been the caliber I wanted, he was well on his way to getting them. This area produced a pile of fish in the first hour or so before we slid into the next hole and started all over again. With each relocation, there were more fish hooked and landed as well as missed or lost. The winds were not making my life easy with boat control and I had to pay close attention to how we were positioned in order for him to get hit. In fact, several of the better areas were absolutely impossible to fish, despite out attempts at trying. We were going to have to settle for the ones that weren’t too bad and I wasn’t thrilled with the results. Eventually after a mediocre morning filled with smaller than normal fish, I bit the bullet and headed into the blow. I fired up the kicker and used it along with the electric to better my boat control in the heavy winds. It was here that Stephane managed to land several of the better fish for the day and things were looking up. We held on a rock reef in 30 knot winds as long as we could stand it before pulling the plug and heading to what I thought would be a lot calmer. The run to get there was a little rough but once we arrived I soon found out the winds were almost as bad. There were also white caps here and it felt like the winds were from a different direction once more. I guess I wasn’t the only one that thought this as there were 4 other boats fishing close by too! Gotta love the weekend traffic, even at this time of the year! We fished here for a while and adjusted our presentations to pick up several other fish before leaving to find greener pastures once again. Back out in the open water, we ran through huge waves to hit one final spot for the day. A long drift along an edge with the drop shot fished vertically had just a couple of hits and we pulled the plug for the day. Stephane had managed to catch a load of fish and was happy with the outcome, but I had wished there were more large ones in the mix. Either way, we had succeeded on what was definitely one of the worst days to be in open water. Hopefully there won’t be too many more of these, for the remainder of the season. I can handle high winds, cold & rain but hurricane like conditions are not the easiest to fish in. This was just one of those days!!

Peter & his wife Lynn were accompanying me today on a local lake for some smallmouth bass action. We hooked up around 8:00 and were headed to the first spot shortly after. It was a strange morning as overnight fog blanketed the lake and GPS was a necessity. Air temps were warm at the start and made their way into the 60’s by afternoon. Winds were light, but eventually went to a gusting blow from the SW at 15 to 20 knots, creating a nice roll. Peter began with a second cast hookup on a spinnerbait and it was game on. Glad he didn’t get one on his first cast, it’s bad luck! Lynn wasn’t having much luck, as she missed her first three fish on a jerkbait and was still at zero when I decided to switch locations. We had covered this place pretty good and only had a handful of biters eager to try. The second section of this lake was where everything changed. Lynn was about to take a commanding lead as she boated several decent smallies and all on jerkbaits. A new love for this lure was immediately made and she was the first at having pics taken. In fact her first three fish were photo worthy! Eventually, Peter had just about enough, after she landed a couple more and agreed to toss another jerkbait as well. It was all uphill after that as he too, started to lock up on some quality bass. Now both of them were equally catching and fish of all sizes were coming aboard. He even had a few that were photo worthy and got into the “Kodak Moment”! I mixed it up a little and shifted around with a variety of lures when the action slowed and they managed to add to the numbers. A soft jerkbait was getting a few of the not so eager ones to bite and even a senko picked up one for Lynn. I was amazed to see the water temps had risen but wasn’t totally surprised with all the sunshine we were having. It was now at almost 58 degrees and going in the wrong direction. It’s fall and that means falling water temps with the falling air. This has been one unbelievable year for hot weather and it doesn’t seem like it’s gonna end anytime soon! We kept at it for a while and a few more decent bass came to net before we just threw in the towel. Another change to drop shotting an area was cancelled as two boats were just too close to settle in. Plan B had to take over and I went to an area I hadn’t fished in quite a while. Water levels had risen and we now had enough water to be able to get out to this place. Unfortunately, only a couple of bass were taken but I’m sure there must have been more. We relocated to another area nearby but it too was a bust. With skies looking like they might dump on us soon and the winds really starting to kick up, we decided to call it a day. Darkening clouds were all around and it was just a matter of time before we were gonna get wet. The run back was a little bumpy at times and I’m sure we ran through several 3 foot waves to get there. Although this was the first time out for Lynn and her husband Peter, I’m sure it won’t be their last. They may have waited a few years to hook up but it was worth it. They had both seen what fall smallmouth fishing is all about and landed a bunch in the process. Who could ask for anything more!!

Craig & Herm were in for their first fall hunt for smallies today and what a day it was. We started in the rain and drove in it all the way to the launch. When we arrived, it stopped and we were able to everything in dry conditions. We dropped the boat in and ran to the first spot relatively smoothly but with a pretty good east wind and chop. Once we arrived, it didn’t take long before the rain started up again and back into the wetness we went. From this point on, wet would be the theme of the day! It didn’t matter though as bad weather keeps all the flies out of our way and today there weren’t any other boats around. I wish every day could be just like this! We tried a variety of presentations without anything and eventually went to deep water and a slow drag. Craig locked up first and brought a great starter fish to the boat soon after, that was a real bruiser. Herm followed up with another but considerably smaller and I thought we were gonna just crush em. How wrong I was as only one other three pounder was to be caught from here and another move was in order. Next location, another big one came to the boat and things were looking up. Craig managed a couple more bruisers and they both caught a few other small ones before we just pulled the plug and ran to another location all together. This area had produced only 4 huge fish, but today wasn’t about the numbers, but rather the size. As the rain was pouring nicely upon us still, we made a long run to fish another area looking for more smallies. Ironically, it proved to be even tougher until I moved to one spot that just seemed to be loaded. The winds were blowing on this section and by covering water we were able to find a good group of decent bass willing to eat. In the last hour or so of the day, close to 10 quality bass were landed before we called it quits. The winds were kicking up even stronger from the east now and unanimously, we pulled the plug. Craig had managed to start the first of several fall trips off with a bang and definitely got what he had come for. Hopefully the next ones will be equally as rewarding and Herm will get his too. Once back at the ramp, the rain stopped and we were able to get out of all the wet raingear comfortably. It was ironic to have such a strange weather pattern today with all the rain, but I don’t think we could have asked for anything more. No boats and big bass were the best reward. Bring on more foul weather!!!

Mike & Cory hit the nail right on the head with what was sure to be the nicest day of this fall. We hit the water around 8:00 and headed directly to an area that had produced on previous days. With any luck, they would have another high numbers day today! With sunshine and highs to reach almost 70 degrees forecasted, I knew we would have company on the water. Along with the warm temps, there was a high SE wind predicted that would gust to over 25 knots. This would make boat control quite interesting to say the least! Even trying to feel the bites would be a little tough with lines bowing in the wind and they would have to be on their “A” game. Cory hit the first fish immediately with a crankbait but it was also on his first cast. Never a good idea to hook one like that as he was about to find out! Mike was showed a drop shot rig and after several casts and a learning curve, he found one willing to eat. It wasn’t big like I had hoped but he was on the board. It didn’t take me long to figure out that these fish weren’t chasing down and changed Cory up to the same set up. Now with both on the bottom, they were finally able to start picking at them. I had to move around a fair amount as the numbers just weren’t there and by switching locations, found several eaters. We fished for quite a while all over some of the key areas before switching up completely to try for another species. Although we did work at it for almost two hours, it just wasn’t to be and back we went to the bass. Hopefully now that the air had warmed almost to the max, the fish would be a little more cooperative. Well, they were and almost immediately they had a double. Several casts later, another double and things were looking up! Winds were also at their max and blowing directly into our faces making all control very difficult. I really had to watch closely as bites were being missed and positioning was switching by not doing so. They did manage to have many shots at the fish and monopolized on most of them, despite the winds. As long as they were biting, I was staying! Eventually however, it slowed enough to make me shift areas and I found another pod for them to pick at for a while. It was getting on in the day and I really wanted to get them more and bigger so after I accidently picked one over 5 pounds, we moved again. The last couple of spots produced a few more decent fish until they had another double. Mike had locked up with a nice one and was forced to net his own as the current break was too strong for me to leave the bow. Almost on cue, Cory also locked up but this time it was a giant. He was fighting his personal best and I wanted to make sure he landed it. I now had to leave the front and start drifting away just to be able to get a shot at her, but managed to scoop up the 5 pound beauty quickly. It may have taken all day but Cory had accomplished what he had wanted. This fish deserved several pics before her release and we shot many. They went back to fishing a few other places, landing a couple more bass before we finally pulled the plug on this summer like day. Although it may not have had the high numbers I had hoped for, it was still well above most peoples expectations. They had caught plenty of fish and tangled with even more. Cory even had his best smallmouth ever and would be taking memories of the catch back with him along with some really great shots. A perfect end to a perfect day!!!

Warren & Nathan were with me today on what turned out to be the nicest one, so far this fall. Although the air temps were a chilly 38 degrees at the start, they climbed all the way to the 60’s by afternoon. Sunshine & no wind and it was the perfect setting for today’s outing! Water temps were amazingly almost 56 degrees at the highest and the fish should be active. We began with a troll for the mythical one and unfortunately, it remained a myth. By mid morning we pulled the plug and headed for bass. With Warren on a blade and Nathan on a soft plastic, they began combing the water in search of big bass. Ironically, it took a little longer than I had expected but eventually they found em. Warren hammered a nice one and seconds later, Nathan was locked up as well. Both smallies were decent fish but I wanted bigger! The search continued and Nathan nailed another but this time it was much bigger. Into the livewell for a few pics later and back to the task at hand. By covering a few different zones they were able to monopolize on where the big ones were and we found them. They were schooled here and all we had to do was slow down and pick them off one at a time. In the next couple of hours, many big ones were hooked & landed and many more hooked and lost. For some reason most of them weren’t staying on but they were definitely here. Soft plastic accounted for the bulk of these fish with some of them well over 4 pounds. At one point Nathan spent about 5 minutes battling another sturgeon and I had to chase it with the electric. We were about 500 yards from the hookup when I was finally able to grab it for the pics. Quite a battle on only 10 pound line! We motored back to the area producing all the bites and hooked a few more before pulling out. A relocation was in order as we had picked at them pretty good here. I tried a deep water drift, but soon found out that this wasn’t the place to be and moved again. The next area was slow as well but at least it put a few fish in the boat. By drop shotting a ledge, a couple of smallies and a nice walleye of about 7 pounds was brought to net. Too bad they hadn’t stacked up in this place yet as that was all she wrote. It was time to pull the plug and off to the ramp we went. Although the fishing had many a dead period, there were definitely some quality bass landed today. Fish from 3 to over 4 pounds were the norm and they put several of them in the boat. Too bad we couldn’t have monopolized on all the others we missed. Regardless, it was still a really pleasant day to be on the water with these beautiful fall conditions & they had pics to prove it!!