I spent 5 hours on the Arkansas Tailwaters today. Arrived at 1000 am, The sun was peeking through the overcast sky and the air temp was a cool 53. Perfect fall fishing weather for me. So I proceed to one of my favorite spots thinking I would bounce some tubes and Huddlebugs in the deep holes looking for that elusive 5 lb Brown that's on my list for this year.
After gearing up and walking to the opening through the thicket I was shocked to see how high and muddy the water was
rolleyes: duh, I had forgotten how much rain we had the last few days). After a few failed attempts to work the jigs in the swift water I quickly switch gears to something with a little more thump and that wouldn't get swept away in the currents before the fish could find it; my old standby the "Polish Assasin".
Within 15 casts I landed my first fish just off the edge of the current. A plump little 12" brown. Not exactly the hog I was hoping for but nonetheless I eliminated the possibilty of a skunk rather quickly. I proceeded upstream working every section with at least 15 casts before moving. Again and again I was met with solid thumps in the murky water. Sometimes it was just the remaining moss beds but about every 10 cast or so after cleaning the lure of moss I would hit a fish.
I fished about a mile of river working the edges of the currents and slow pockets and ended up landing another 8 fish (all rainbows) and had another 6 come unbuttoned before I could put my hands on them in about 5 hours. All on the "Polish Assasin". The biggest two were right at 19" and the smallest was 14". Not a bad day, but I was hoping to find more Browns. But then again there's always tomorrow.:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:
After gearing up and walking to the opening through the thicket I was shocked to see how high and muddy the water was
rolleyes: duh, I had forgotten how much rain we had the last few days). After a few failed attempts to work the jigs in the swift water I quickly switch gears to something with a little more thump and that wouldn't get swept away in the currents before the fish could find it; my old standby the "Polish Assasin".Within 15 casts I landed my first fish just off the edge of the current. A plump little 12" brown. Not exactly the hog I was hoping for but nonetheless I eliminated the possibilty of a skunk rather quickly. I proceeded upstream working every section with at least 15 casts before moving. Again and again I was met with solid thumps in the murky water. Sometimes it was just the remaining moss beds but about every 10 cast or so after cleaning the lure of moss I would hit a fish.
I fished about a mile of river working the edges of the currents and slow pockets and ended up landing another 8 fish (all rainbows) and had another 6 come unbuttoned before I could put my hands on them in about 5 hours. All on the "Polish Assasin". The biggest two were right at 19" and the smallest was 14". Not a bad day, but I was hoping to find more Browns. But then again there's always tomorrow.:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:
