Tony Buzolich
04-26-2013, 05:34 PM
For the past couple of weeks the Feather has really gotten low. So low in fact I've been dropping my trailer's axle off the end of the ramp at Boyd's and then would have to squeeze through a little channel upstream a ways that was barely a foot and half deep. Here's the pump and the area next to the ramp a couple of days ago.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/002-1_zps275a8f63.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/002-1_zps275a8f63.jpg.html)
As you motored upstream or down the water was only ankle deep for pelicans. This is mid-river. Try driving over this at O'Dark-thirty and see what happens. ;)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/005-1_zpsda97539c.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/005-1_zpsda97539c.jpg.html)
I'm happy to report though that two days ago the river jumped and came up several feet. That means fish and I can't wait. This morning I got on the water as usual and the river is covered with floating debris. Logs, limbs, lots of everything floating downstream. I get to my starting point and wonder if it's going to be good or bad. That moon has been like a floodlight all night and they may be full from feeding,,,, but,,,,, with all this fresh new water flowing there's got to be some new fish around too.
It wasn't long before I got my first hook up. Just a little over 20" but still a fighter. Two more came in about 5-6 lbs. each and I decide to check another spot further upstream that fishes well when the water is moving like it is. I drift over this one particular hole and my screen goes solid black with small fish,,,,,,,SHAD. But, right in the middle of this mass of small fish are three large shapes. Stripers for sure, just picking off an hors d'oeuvre at their leisure.
I make several passes with no luck and decide to change plans. I move upstream of the hole and drop anchor. Doc Cedar told me a lot of times he will add a shad fly as a dropper behind the striper fly and has caught both types of fish using the same rod. Good enough for me to try and I add a shad fly dropper to my 3/0 clouser.
First cast and I get an immediate grab. A nice fat hen shad that pulled almost as hard as a striper but just didn't take off and run. A couple more come in and I decide to switch to shad completely. I change flies again and put a double shad fly on. Sure enough, a couple of taps and I've got a double hook up on shad. Two males this time.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/006_zps7814f190.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/006_zps7814f190.jpg.html)
So, is this a "Striper" post or a "Shad" post? I don't think it matters but it's time to get back on the water and go chase something. They're both fun and when the stripers shut down for the morning, get that 6 weight out and try a double fly :)
Tony
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/002-1_zps275a8f63.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/002-1_zps275a8f63.jpg.html)
As you motored upstream or down the water was only ankle deep for pelicans. This is mid-river. Try driving over this at O'Dark-thirty and see what happens. ;)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/005-1_zpsda97539c.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/005-1_zpsda97539c.jpg.html)
I'm happy to report though that two days ago the river jumped and came up several feet. That means fish and I can't wait. This morning I got on the water as usual and the river is covered with floating debris. Logs, limbs, lots of everything floating downstream. I get to my starting point and wonder if it's going to be good or bad. That moon has been like a floodlight all night and they may be full from feeding,,,, but,,,,, with all this fresh new water flowing there's got to be some new fish around too.
It wasn't long before I got my first hook up. Just a little over 20" but still a fighter. Two more came in about 5-6 lbs. each and I decide to check another spot further upstream that fishes well when the water is moving like it is. I drift over this one particular hole and my screen goes solid black with small fish,,,,,,,SHAD. But, right in the middle of this mass of small fish are three large shapes. Stripers for sure, just picking off an hors d'oeuvre at their leisure.
I make several passes with no luck and decide to change plans. I move upstream of the hole and drop anchor. Doc Cedar told me a lot of times he will add a shad fly as a dropper behind the striper fly and has caught both types of fish using the same rod. Good enough for me to try and I add a shad fly dropper to my 3/0 clouser.
First cast and I get an immediate grab. A nice fat hen shad that pulled almost as hard as a striper but just didn't take off and run. A couple more come in and I decide to switch to shad completely. I change flies again and put a double shad fly on. Sure enough, a couple of taps and I've got a double hook up on shad. Two males this time.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/006_zps7814f190.jpg (http://s22.photobucket.com/user/buzolich/media/006_zps7814f190.jpg.html)
So, is this a "Striper" post or a "Shad" post? I don't think it matters but it's time to get back on the water and go chase something. They're both fun and when the stripers shut down for the morning, get that 6 weight out and try a double fly :)
Tony