Shenandoah Smallmouth

[jnashed]

Well I hit my favorite hole on the mian stem of the 'Doah yesterday. Paddled upstream and it seamed against the wind too (always seems that way, even thought the forcast said the wind was to come from the north) Got out and fished the rapids. It took two casts to start landing fish. Nailed two nice sized fish 14-15in on the silver and gold kreelex again. Very agressing and spirited fish. One bulldoged me upstream past me into the next set of rapids and then jumed liked crazy, the other just went balistic with jumps everywhere.




I waded up to another section of the river and rapids and soon hooked up again. Then disaster... A nice sized fish hooked up and then broke me off. No big deal I carry some more flies. Oh Oh, no more Kreelex though. I left my other stock at home in another case. Tied on some woolys with some success but no fish of size, then tied on a Clawdad and got another larger fish. Then I found a section of the rapids next to some calmer water. In there were two tailed up carp. Perfect I thought. First cast with the Clawdad and one fish turned on but did not take the fly. But they were still there and feeding. Second cast,... snagged a branch underwater. The only frickin branch in that rapids section and I get it. So fish spooked and no carp. Could only fish a couple of hours so I went home soon after.

Only other bad thing is one of the larger bass had sores on the mouth.


Dont know the whole meaning of this. Saw no signs of a fish kill, but did not see too many smaller fish this yr either. Fish were all very active and spry unlike the rockfish with myco that barely move. But in speaking with a friend, it seems the smallmouth with sores that eventually died during the fishkill all were very "healthy" and strong up until they died. The sores lead to a sudden death unlike the lingering death of myco. Hope this fish above is not a sign of things to come... It has been a great smallie year on the Doah so far. I caught one other fish with sores this yr too.


Jim

[saltfly]

Jim glad to see the Shenandoah is fishing well. Again I love those rivers and miss fishing smallmouth in both the south and north branch as well as the Potomac.

[capt.frankdanner]

Apperently you forgot Murphy's other law, the one branch law, if there is one branch that can snag your fly, it will.

[djones]

Very nice pictures and report.

[chrisdetweiler]

Good to hear that the fishing has been good on the Shenandoah. I live outside of Harrisburg, so my home river is the Susquehanna. Prior to the 2005 fish kill, we would catch so many fish in an afternoon we would lose count. It's gotten so bad in recent years, that we've had days we wouldn't catch a single fish. I almost stopped fishing the river completey. Last year was the best year we've had since the big kill. Not great, but OK. I've been out twice this year and had decent results. While we still have some serious issue on the Susquehanna, it looks like things might be turning around. Still, I'm concerned with the low water right now. Sores on bass have been a common problem in recent years. This year, they are catching fish with black spots, which is a symptom of stress. Fish and and Boat Commission believes it all comes back to nutrient pollution. Nitrates and phosphates causing algae blooms, which leads to decreased oxygen in the water. Chemicals are also playing a destructive role in the river leading to intersex fish. The executive director of the fish and boat commission, John Arway, wants to list the river as impaired. Our new sec of DEP, Michael Krancer, wants more studies. Krancer was formerly the Assistant General Counsel for Exelon Corporation before being appointed by Corbett. Seems like our state's current administration is more concerned with natural gas and corporate profits than healthy bass. It all comes down to $$$$.