Continuing The Bluegill Quest on Scenic Smith Lake

My first trip on Smith Lake today was wind out the east and bluebird skies, and we all know what that means. According to the old timers back in the day, they would always say “wind out of the east fish bite the least and wind out of the west fish bite the best” I know this has some merit because one is actually fishing behind a front that has just passed through when the wind is out of the east, and from the west the front is approaching, which means the fish are more active. The bluebird skies derive from the front that has already passed through meaning clear skies with no cloud cover, hence bluebird skies. Another factor that really plays into this scenario is the barometer. In my opinion a good fishing barometer is essential for any serious minded fisherman. I know a lot of you guys don’t have the luxury of picking and choosing the times you go fishing, which makes the wind direction and the barometer a none factor; but for individuals like me who can fish anytime during the day and year, then the wind and barometer play a big part in when I take to the water. This is not to say I don’t go on lousy days, like today but when one has the time to fish as I do, why not make the most of it chasing those bluegill, crappie, bass and trout.

 



The end result of a very slow morning--the bigger bluegills were not in the nooks and not bedding, this big bluegill was on the rock wall--I landed some smaller females but this was all I could muster for the morning--I will count this guy putting me 74 away from my quest

 

Barometer Guide

 

     High Pressure (30.50 +) = Clear Skies = Fishing Medium to Slow = Fish slowly in deeper water or near cover.

Medium Pressure (29.70 – 30.40) = Fair Weather = Normal Fishing = Test lures, baits, and techniques to see what works.

Low Pressure (29.60 -) = Cloudy/Rainy Weather = Fishing Slows = Fish slowly in deeper water or near cover.

Rising Pressure = Improving Weather = Fish Slightly Active = Fish slowly in deeper water or near cover.

Stable Pressure = Fair Weather = Normal Fishing = Best time to test lures, baits, and techniques to see what works.

Falling Pressure = Degrading Weather = Best Fishing = the fish will attack anything you throw at them. (well, pretty much)

So, what is the best barometric pressure for fishing? Answer: When it’s    between about 29.90 and 30.90 and the pressure is rapidly falling. This is when you will find the fish most active and feeding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishing For Some Beautiful Bluegills With The Betts Poppers

I have spent a few days in Mississippi this week fishing with my brother landing crappie "future Post", and some colorful bluegills that were left behind by the bobber fishermen. Thursday afternoon was best with the temps in the lower 70’s and no wind at all. In other words it was a glass water surface perfect for some fantastic popper action with the fly rod. The water temperature was still in the cool stages from a number of cold nights they had experienced a couple of days earlier. The bite was not explosive but one could differently tell when the popper was being taken. Soft hits are usually the case when you fish after a cold front. I never used anything but the Bett’s popper all afternoon; with a variety of colors used to entice the hits. It just seems one color would not suffice.

This is one beautiful bluegill, notice the orange belly--taken on a white dot Betts Popper

Another counter with the cream Betts Popper

Nice fat dark bluegill on black legged Betts Popper

Another counter on the white legged Popper

The last counter of the afternoon, with the white legged popper stuck in the throat--I count five here making me 75 away from my quest.

 

 

 

Hiking The Appalachian Trail Georgia to Maine

Thought you guys might enjoy following the adventures of Nathan Gressett one of my former students who is hiking the Appalachian Trail. He started his epic journey in Georgia 3 weeks ago and will complete the hike in Maine sometimes in late September or early October. He has not posted anything for the past couple of weeks because he got his cell phone wet and lost all contact. He will be back on line in a couple of days so if you would like to keep track of his journey just type his name in Utube search and it will give you his progress.

 

The beginning of the trip

 

Second day of the hike

 

Springer Mountain

 

Bat hunting on the trail

 

Neal's Gap

 

Blood Mountain

 

Dick's Creek Gap

 

Cow Rock Mountain

 

Low Gap Georgia

 

Low Gap is his last report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Bedding Bluegills Doesn't Mean They Will Hit

I found the bluegills bedding today, but the only problem they were not cooperating as far as hitting my offerings. I have seen this happen a couple of times over the years and today the fish were in lock jaw mode. I could see some on the beds swimming around, and they were not the least bit concerned with me close by. Even the cricket fishermen couldn’t muster a hit either. So what to do; because this happen as soon as I got on the water and I knew then it was going to be a slow morning.

My first fish of the morning using the Seal Leech. It is a dink, but it is a fish and got the skunk off my back.

A nice female full of eggs. She inhaled the Seal Leech. Nothing was happening on top and both these fish were caught in deep water.

I finally manage to land this bull bluegill on top right before the sun covered the lake. He was resting in a small cove off the main body of the lake. There were no more with him, because I sit and made cast after cast without any further action in the area.

The take home catch for the morning. One big bull and three females. I landed four or five smaller females that I released. I will blame the slow action today on a cold night, bluebird skies, wind out of the east, too much fishing pressure the last week or just plain and simply the fish were not biting. I get to count one for quest today. I am now 82 away.