SLOSHING THROUGH OLD MUDDY

Stream smallmouths have 'saved the day' during the record heat in September.

I AM SOMEWHAT ASHAMED THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THIS BLOG, AS THE FISHING HAS CERTAINLY BEEN GOOD AT TIMES ALONG THE MASON DIXON AREA. IT'S EARLY SEPTEMBER, AND WE ARE NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECORD SETTING HEAT WAVE. So...with all that in mind, here are a few selected shots from this past weeks fishing while wet-wading several central Maryland streams and small rivers...

Most creek bass are 10-inchers, but bigger game lurks.

Small crank baits get the nod for many conditions.

Despite low water, we had a great week, landing 54 smallmouths in four separate outings.

With temps in the mid 90's all week, I thought the best bet would be to hop in, get wet, and maybe catch a few fish. We fished several stretches of the Monocacy River and adjoining tributaries Along with the bass we got a bunch of sunfish species, fallfish, rockbass and one giant carp...

A nice fallfish couldn't resist the little lure.

Stunning colors on this long-eared sunfish!

My friend Alvie with a true river monster caught on 4 pound test line...wow!

Red-breast sunfish are a common catch in the creeks.

Feisty bluegills not much bigger than the Rebel Crayfish.

I actually hadn't wet-waded any rivers or streams for a long time, and some of the stretches we fished I hadn't been to in 15 or more years. But I was both thankful and relieved that, after back and heart operations in 2015, I could walk, wade, slip and slide through old muddy for a distance of 2-miles or more and still make it back to the truck and live to tell of it. And as an added bonus, the fishing was very good...as good or better than I recall from years ago. Stream smallmouths aren't known for great size, but many of our fish ran from 13 to 16 inches. And I managed to land a new 'personal best' creek smallmouth of 19.5 inches on 4 pound line and a small floating Rapala. What a fish...and what a fight. Here's a couple more pics of all the craziness...

Bass heads home.

Floating minnow baits were hot.

Another one returning to home.

Alvie's nice smallie took a topwater early in the day.

I think I could get used to this!

Yes, it was an exhausting, yet very fun and rewarding week sloshing through old muddy and battling 2 pound smallmouths on ultra light tackle, along with a variety of other species. I am exhausted, yet relaxed and hope to do it again soon. I like what it says in God's word about those who are weary...Isaiah 43 : 1-2 says...

'I have summoned you by name, you are mine
      When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you'.

Beautiful stuff, beautiful creation, beautiful God.

Thankful to be in a place like this...