Nothing big but lots of Mississippi smallies were snipping today during the little drizzle we had over the lunch hour.

Stacey, Joshua, and I made our second fishing trip together to Arcadia Lodge up on Big Turtle Lake. Joshua really enjoyed the beach and all the water toys, playing in the multiple playgrounds, having ice cream in the lodge, and participating in the tie-dye shirt making as well as sailboat creation and crafts. 

Weather for the week was in the low-50s to mid-70s with a high in the upper 80s and low 90s on Thursday and Friday. It rained at the beginning of the week. The smallmouth fishing was even better this year than in 2017! Fish were in post-spawn. They were shallow around big boulders early morning and moved out to 6 feet of water by mid-morning. I did notice lots of rusty crayfish springing along on the bottom as I pass over them. I caught all my fish on the Ned Zone, Clackin’ Crank, and Pop-R. Smallmouth size ranged from 17.25″ to 18.75″ with a few smaller ones, so average weight was around 3.5 lbs. Stacey hooked into about a 19″ largemouth too on the Clackin’ Crank.

Something about being deep in the woods, a flowing stream, birds flying overhead, squirrels jumping between trees, with mosquitoes and all, I find myself being one with nature.

Yesterday my cousin Thinh landed his first trout ever! So happy for him.

Fun day exploring a new stretch of the Vermillion River for trout! Caught 6 rainbows on this outing and lost a couple more, all on a Mepps spinner.

A little mid-day smallie action! Nothing big through the stretch of river where I am at but lots of feisty brown bass chomping 3″ curly tail grubs.

Lots of fun exploring a stretch of river this morning for trout! A few rainbows, looking for that big brown.

A few amazing action photos of JT yesterday from Taylor Brown Photography!

JT put on a fishing clinic on the dock today! Caught his first crappie too. Lots of bluegills and a perch!

Chunky river smallmouth just a 10 minute walk from my office! My first smallie this year on a 1/4 oz. Flasher jig rigged with a 3″ curly tail grub in the pumpkin pepper color.

Fun day this past Saturday at the Vibe Kayak Bass Tournament! One of my prize selection was this Wraptor Tackle Roll. Very impressed with how I can organize my crankbaits neatly and retrieve them without the treble hook tangled mess.