Fletchers, 4-15-10

[HJS]

Fished Fletchers today, Thursday, 4-15-10, 6:15am-1:00pm. Pretty much same as my other reports accept this trip I went out in my canoe. Caught 30+ hickories, mediums and a few large, no Americans, all on spinning gear. I fished at many spots from 1/3 mile below Fletchers to 1/2 mile above. All produced at least a few shad. Fair number of boats out. I think Fletchers may have rented all their boats. Flows continues to get lower. Water temp 61F. Dang Americans evaded me again.

[SPatt]

Didn't get onto the water 'till 10:00 and with the bright sunshine figured we wouldn't do much but we had steady action pretty much the entire day (all hickories). Fished the frogwater; shad were interested in something chartreuse and moving. Surprisingly, most of the fish were caught in the upper part of the water column, even though we were both fishing 250 gr heads.

Regards,
Scott

[goose70]

Paula gave me a tip today on catching Americans. Tie two short leaders (maybe 6" each) onto your main line with a small dart on each (I prefer white or pink for Americans, but I'm sure that everyone has their favorites). About 6" below the lowest leader, tie a loop. Attach a 1 oz sinker to the loop via rubber band. Simply drop the rig straight down and slowly veritical jug off the bottom. The rubber band allows you to break off the sinker without losing the whole rig if you get snagged. I plan to try this next time.

The way I've caught Americans in the past, albiet with mixed success, is with a tandem rig and either gold spoon or small pink dart as the "high" lure. I let it sink to the bottom and retrieve VERY slow...often pausing (esp. if I feel bites). Sometimes I'll just let the line out to the bottom, then have the rod sit there while I use another to cast for hickories (jam the rod handle under the seat or tackle bag so you don't lose it once a strike happens!). The current picks the lure up off the bottom and gives it some action. I've caught a fair number of Americans both ways.

[jffoley]

Got there later Thursday evening than planned as I got slammed at work with a bunch of problems. Picked a dozen in an hour or so at dusk. A nice surprise is that I did get an American. Maybe went 2 1/2 - 3 pounds. Nice fish. Also a couple larger hickories than I'd been getting. Pretty cool acrobatics on some of 'em.

[SPatt]

Jeff,

Cool, almost like a flounder rig; definitely sounds like something worth trying. It may not be "pure" flyfishing, but neither is chucking heavily weighted flies/darts/crappie jigs with a sinking head and it seems a heck of a safer, too. Got to do what it takes to get down to where the fish are.

Regards,
Scott