In search of Smallmouth!

Buggies!

I went to Columbiana County in Ohio in search of favorable river conditions. They got 0.25” of rain last night and the upper stretches showed signs of a storm. The river was moving avg flows for pre-summer and had about 18”-24” of visibility. Just like the Clearfork Creek it has rock vegetation issues. I pressed on down river. I would not see any aluminum hatch “canoes or kayaks” until I got to the lower half of the river. The flow was beautiful here since the gradient is higher. The water clarity was green and about 342 cf/s. I used shallow diving clousers, deep diving clousers, and my skagit set up. The skagit was 375 gr short max by RIO with that the tip of 8' of T11 and I never snagged anything. The swings where between 30'-40' long and I cover what I thought was a great job of the water column.

Downstream

Upstream

Skagit Set-up

Better perspective

Part of the Ohio Erie Canal System

Why do people feel the need to vandelize certain things?

Remember those who have fallen protecting what the living have today.

Moultrie Chapel in Columbia County, Ohio 

High Stream Gear - TX Aluminum 7075 Folding Trekking Pole Review Part 1

I just purchased these and will be giving them a review. I understand they are not wading staffs, but I will see how they go and hold up.

I went back to thee old play ground in search of a peace of mind!

Hello I missed you!

This is water that is coming from the normal lake Erie pool level. This area has an additional 1-2' of water in the river.

The faithful back pack never leave home with out it.

I was in search of smallies and found the water to be to cold still. I knew that would be the case, but still hard headed I went out anyhow.  I did see sometype of shad breaking the waters surface. 

Lake Erie Trib II of the day. No joy found here, but again its not the fish I am after.

Middle Section of an Erie Trib

Just to cold for smallies, but shes a great looking run!

Where did the taste go? - Calument Farm

I have never had a burbon that I needed to make sure I ate with it as I drink it. I present to you a small batch that goes great with a burger. Dont drink this with out steak or some type of meat cause you will not get any of the spices that hit your lips and the finish is almost zero flavor.  With meat its a great drink.

Warm Water Fish Hotel

I'm going to be using my Hubba Bubba tent by MSR as seen below.

https://www.msrgear.com/tents/backpacking-tents/hubba-hubba-nx-2-person-backpacking-tent/10316.html

I plan on fishing and exploring areas I have never fished before and as soon as this zombie apocolypse is over I'm going to venture into other states as well.

Headed South of North to the Clearfork River.

Old barn most lilkely from the early 1800's

The wrong message for locking us all up! lol

Seeing my past is not as bad as ignoring it.

Headed south to a place where I cut my teeth on trout. The Clearfork River is a catch and kill fishery, but it does and has some amazing trout opportunities. There are muskies, smallies, and brown trout. What more can an angler wish for? I waded an upper section and sound peace and solitude. The Dam on the upper section was running at 158 cf/s and it was blue green with 2-3 feet of visibility. The rocks have some type of algae growing on them and its awful. If you wade this river at this level know full well your footing will be treacherous. I used an indicator rig with a size 12 nymph on an indicator rig for deep nymphing about 12 feet in total length. I set two split shot small BB size 12”-14” up from the fly. The rock snot was horrible this is the algae I'm talking about. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didymosphenia_geminata I picked up one nice 12”-14” buck with the set up that I spoke of before.   

I went below Pleasantville Lake and the water weeds where horrific and the rock snot was worse.  I dont know if the ODNR even knows how bad it really is.  No one can fish it  unless you use a dry fly.  The pools are filled with this weed thats 12"-18" long and swinging flies is darn near impossible.