Beauty of Smith Lake+Ragin Cajun Big Trout Fishing Derby

Guys today’s post starts with the announcement of the “Ragin Cajun Big Trout Fishing Derby” which will be held on the Sipsey Tailrace June 29^th. 2013.  

 

Sign up today for the Big Trout Fishing Derby hosted by Riverside Fly Shop and KC Kayak of Baton Rouge, LA. Early Registration Entry fee is $25 and must be registered and paid by 5:00pm, June 23, 2013. Registration after that time will be $35.00. Derby Entry Fee includes lunch. Prizes include a KC Kayak, guided fishing trips (one in the salt, one on the Sipsey), Mystic Fly Rods, cash, food, plus draw prizes. See the Derby Rules and Regulations for complete details. There is also a BIG FISH pot you may participate in for the largest fish in the pot. Donations and proceeds support our Big Trout in the "Sip" project.

Fishing is not the only thing one remembers when visiting Smith Lake, my home waters in Jasper Alabama. The wildflowers, the unusual rock formations and of course the super clear water is what makes this lake the most scenic in the state. One can see as far as 20 ft. down in the gin clear water. It is by far the deepest lake in the south reaching depths of over 300 ft. in some areas. 

 

Beautiful flowers line a lot of banks. I don't know the name of this flower, it resembles a magnolia bloom.

 

The mountain laurel is in full bloom

Lots of rock ledges will challenge anyone who tries to land a lure or fly underneath the ledge. This area often holds some outstanding bass, bluegill, and crappie.

An awesome rock wall where I have landed numbers of bluegills and bass

One of the many beautiful streams that runs into the lake at various places along it's 500 miles of shoreline

The lush green forest of spruce and the hardwoods trees that line the banks

Another flower that blooms this time of year

A low rock formation that doesn't end at the waters edge, but continues for many feet below the water's surface

I landed this nice 16" Spot Tuesday morning at daylight on of all things a size 6 Moth fly. I fished over an hour with different flies landing small bluegills and no bass. I decided before I left I would tie on the Moth. I made a long cast in a small nook off the main channel. The Moth landed ever so light on the still water surface and with no movement at all; after a few seconds the fly disappeared in a surface swirl that only a bass can make. Three minutes later I landed this nice male spot using my 9 ft. 5 wt. The 4X tippet withstood the numerous runs it made as it tried to break free.

Sorry to say only one bluegill qualified for the quest on this trip. What makes this bluegill special is its size; it is the largest female I have ever landed on Smith Lake. She inhaled the Seal Leech right at the edge of a rock wall near the launch as I was leaving. It was an unbelievable fight on the 4wt. I know that the quest is only for the big male bluegills, but I am going to break the rules today and count this beautiful gill----she will put me 64 away. It is going to be more difficult to complete the quest now that the big bluegill has moved back into the deep areas of the lake; but I will continue to compete.  

 

 

 

 



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