Fall Fishing

Type: Nontidal
Region: Northern
Location: Local Creek

I wanted to send in a few pictures of some better fish I have caught this fall in a creek within walking distance of my back door. The fish activity is starting to heat up now that the temps are cooling off. Taking as many chances as I can get after work to head down.

I have caught a variety of fish using "Joe Flies" including smallmouth, largemouth, bluegill and fall fish. The pictured largemouth was caught on a Joe Fly. There was a fairly big smallmouth, for this creek at least, pictured caught on a Heddon Torpedo. I was happy to finally land a decent sized fish on a topwater other than buzzbait. The biggest of the smallmouth pictured was caught on a tube I modified. I added two red beads for a rattle and glued them inside some "river bottom" colored tubes I ordered. I had read this technique along with a glass rattle is great for good size smallies. I didn't have the rattles handy but apparently the book was right, or I just got lucky. Either way I took pride in my 2 lb(approx) 16 inch smallmouth. The water quality was AMAZING after the extremely heavy rains a few days after the reminisce of Nicole has pushed through. You can see from the picture of the largemouth how clear the water was. It cleared away all the debris in the creek, washed the rocks and shore line clean. I went out two days in a row because of how beautiful the water and temps were a few days after the storm.

On a sad note I was wading down the creek on a little further excursion than usual one day and I noticed was looked like the head of a heron from a distance and just assumed he was in the water waiting for food. I knew he would fly away as I got closer. However this time the bird didn't move and as I got closer I knew it was no longer what I thought. It turned out that a kingfisher had gotten tangled up in someone's excess line from a tree branch overhead and strangled itself. I cut the bird down and placed it on the shore line for the picture. You can see the extra line against the leaf. I was disappointed to see such a beautiful, and somewhat rare bird, dead due to someone's negligence. It is very easy to cast up into a tree. On the same token, it is very easy as well just to pull your line against the resistance of the tree until the line snaps. This does two things, breaks the line where the lure was tied, saves you from cutting off excess line, and potentially then saves that dangling line you cut from killing a bird or other species that comes in contact with your line. I was originally concerned that I might not see another Kingfisher at the creek since they are so unique, but luckily I got a fly by visit from another one my next trip down so I am feeling better that they will be fine.

Finally I have bumped into a beaver on two occasions this year at the creek, a fairly large one at that going at least 2 feet in length. The first time it was with its pup and scared me half to death when it shot out from an under water bush. The next time he was just swimming along the creek looking for food I suppose. Still a nice sight out in my backyard.

Good luck to all the anglers catching another big one before the seasons cools off for good until Spring!