Friday, August 21, 2020

Meal Time

 The weather was picture perfect yesterday morning on Smith Lake if you were fly fishing. Those individuals fishing for striped bass, and largemouth bass were doing a lot of motoring. Which tells me they were searching for active fish. Jeff and I were the only ones fishing the rock walls. In fact, I've never seen anyone fishing the rock walls the way I fish these structures. 

The weather was perfect with a cool 68 degrees, overcast skies, smooth surface film, and "NO HUMIDITY" This type of weather in the deep south is unusual in August. One would think they were fishing in the Spring or early Fall. If you fly fish with poppers you want a silky-smooth surface for your surface flies or poppers to land on; most of the morning that was the case. Around 9:30 AM the boat traffic started and the bite slowed. One needs to make the most of the 3 to 4 hours you're given at daylight and beyond to land fish this time of year on Smith Lake!

 One of many bluegills taken off the walls using the 3 and 4 wt fly rods. Don't think you know what the fish will be hitting from one trip to the next. Last week the red poppers were working, this week the blue poppers were getting their attention. 

I am blessed as are all the guys that fished with me to have areas such as this to land the bluegill and spotted bass found lurking on these walls. This rock wall towers up at least 75 ft. which is a sight to see if you enjoy fishing this type of structure. The crystal clear water near its base is between 20 to 30 ft. deep this time of year. When the lake is full pool you can add another 5 to 10 ft. to that depth.  This one wall produced at least a half dozen meal size bluegill. Don't think one run on this wall has produced all the fish that is feeding there. On the sixth run, it was still producing fish. The only thing that stopped me from making a seventh run was the heavy boat traffic that sent us to the boat launch.
The results of Thursday's trip ending in me dressing 10 meal size gills that made the trip even more rewarding! Baked or deep-fried these fillets are special. 
Left-over fillets are delicious in a fish sandwich. Lettuce, tomatoes, pepper relish, Deion muster, two or three fillets and you have a hardy meal. The rewards of a fishing trip can always be topped off by enjoying the fresh catch of the day!!
 

11 comments:

  1. Hey Bill. Those filet's would make some pretty dandy fish taco's.

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  2. Mark
    I haven't thought about the taco thing, I will have to give that a try. Thanks for the comment

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  3. Hi Bill, you've just made me hungry. No chance of finding any bluegill fillets here, so it'll have to be a fishfinger sandwich for me!

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  4. Justin
    Just started eating the fish sandwich, may have to try Mark's suggestion on a fish taco. Thanks for the comment

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  5. A fine lunch you have there Bill. Keep on enjoying those days.

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  6. Alan
    A great healthy meal for sure--thanks for the comment

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  7. Perfect water conditions, with delicious end. Hard to beat, for sure. Thank you Bill.

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  8. Walt
    Got to love it when all fishing factors come together, especially when it ends with a healthy meal. Thanks for the comment

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  9. Mmmmm... fish sandwich. Can't beat that!

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  10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  11. Michael
    Fillets leftover from the first meal works well in a sandwich for the second meal. Thanks for the comment

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