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It's not as much fun to report the mundane days, but if you're gonna tell fish stories, may as well tell all.
Made it out on the North branch of the Root Sunday afternoon from 3-7 and caught around 20 smallies and 2 browns on jigs and Rapalas. Everything was small stuff. Biggest smallmouth was 12" with most around 9-10" and both browns were 12". The smallies wouldn't hit anything unless your presentation either VERY slow or stopped.
Was anybody out Friday or Saturday during the warmer weather?

.

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Hey uffdapete! I didn't make it out on the root, I was down on the Miss. Sounds like you had some fun! "Usually" on days like you mentioned, I always seem to manage at least one decent smallmouth. I think with the lower water temps, the big boys have to battle with the smaller fish. Especially when it is a slow bite. You still fishing down by Whalan? I highly recommend going up stream for at least one day here in October. Any where between Fugels mill on County 1 and Chatfield holds a lot of big fish. Hunt for big holes with rock/boulders or some form of structure/cover near by and be patient. Some times in the Fall, you have to make 15-20 casts into the same spot before you get any action. It is suppose to warm a tad so I might have to get my feet wet a couple more times yet!! Good luck! Keep the rods bendin', hopefully not on snags!! Jim W

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Sunday afternoon I closer to the mouth of Torkelson Creek.
With this weather, sure wish I would have taken today or tomorrow off. Was supposed to head up to Rainy Lake this weekend for crappies, but the reports I'm hearing aren't turning up any slabs yet.
I've canoed from County 1 to Hwy. 30 before, but not to fish. Canoeing that stretch would be a challenge now with low water, but plan to get out and wade something in that area in the next 2 weeks.

------------------

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Hello uffdapete, I was down at the Torkleson Creek spot a couple weekends ago and had on a couple large smallmouth in that slow eddy near the steep bank on the North side of the river. The other fish that I never saw, that felt very good, came from the deep run just before it shallows, running into the large Boulder/undercut. All were on the plastic crawfish!
What is your jigging technique for smallmouth? I'm always willing to learn something new to add to my smallmouth arsenal!! If I can manage it, I'm getting out of the office today for some October smallmouth action!! Yehhaaaaa, is it beautiful out!!!! However, I'm inside-NOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD!!! Keep us informed and let's get on to one of those illusive 5lb. Root river bronzebacks!!! SHoot for 20 + inches!!!!!! Keep the rods bendin'!!!! Jim W

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i dont know anything about the root river....but i fish the cedar river in iowa around osage year-round.....it is also a shallow river...very rocky in most places....in the fall i stick to a three hook rapala in minnow color..but for jigs i go w/a small white power grub....when the fish are active theyll hit it on a normal retrieve but if inactive...they smash it on the fall....i would love to hear more about the root river and if any of you know anything about the cedar
gotta love those smallies...
good luck

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With the heat of the sun(yes the heat of the sun) I arrived at one of my favorite Root River spots. Driving up I spooked 3 white-tails chewing up some plowed field corn. I met up with them 5 minutes later in the river bed! I guess we were playing a little hide and seek.
The scent of the fresh fallen leaves and the wired robins(apparently "schooling up" for migration) enhanced this short small mouth outing!
I didn't find a lot of fish, but I managed to CMR (catch measure and release)a beautiful vertically patterned 18 incher!! A couple casts prior, I had a much heavier fish on that spit the crawfish!!
Anyway, here I am, standing in waist deep water(with out my waders-no time to repair) telling myself how fortunate I am to enjoy and live in such a splendid part of the state!
The smallmouth are biting! With the leaves on/in the water it makes it very difficult to fish anything other than the bottom. The temps are suppose to moderate yet remain in the 60's. With in a week, the river will be clean from leaves, but don't let the leaves get in your way of your pursuit of a trophy bronzie!!!! Good luck and keep the rods bendin'!!!!!! Jim W

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This all sounds so Heavenly, but I have a question. Where are you at on the Root? I don't need exacts but a near location to get me started. I have never fished the Root but would love to catch a few of those bronzebacks.

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ssendek,
The best way to find access spots for the Root is via a trout map, county or state maps. There a ton of county roads that cross the Root River and most have places that you can park your vehicle when accessing. Also, there are several different branches of the root that hold smallmouth, along with tributaries that hold small mouth as well. There is the Middle, North and Main branches of the Root River. Many miles of fishable water. However, if your unsure whether or not there is an easement in place, always ask for permission when accessing a stream or river. I personally have good standing with land owners whom I ask every time I go on their land, even though I have been fishing there for years!
Personally, I pretty much flip a coin before I go smallmouth fishing! Where there are holes, good structure and cover, there will be smallmouth!!! I have walked and fished every foot of the North Branch from the County 1 bridge to Parsley's Bridge South of Chatfield! You really can't go wrong no matter where you access! Plan on some walking though to get to spots that see few fisherman!!!!!! I hope this helps some!! Keep'em bendin'!!!! Jim W You will need waders!!!!

[This message has been edited by Jim W (edited 10-20-2000).]

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Thanks for the info. I have the week off from work so I will try to get out a couple of times. I'll let you know what happens.
Again thanks!

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With this wonderful weather you still have plenty opportunity to get on a "piggy" smallmouth. Managed another 3lber this weekend on the North Branch, but no "piggies"! The bite was very similar to a walleye bite(when using spinner rigs). You wouldn't even feel the bite. When slowly moving the crawfish across the bottom, the smallies would pick them up ever so gently and start to swim with it. So you have to maintain contact with your bait at all times. Very slow bite, but they are there!!!! Keep the rods bendin'!!! Jim W

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Never got a chance to get out last week. So many things and so little time. I'll just hope for some free time soon.

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It's gonna get a lot cooler! So you better get out real soon for the potential catch and release bronzie of a life time. I'm always hoping for the usual "Indian Summers" to come by so I can wade the river, but that seems to be a crap shoot these days.

The bite is very light and slow. You need to remain in complete contact with your bait(being the craw fish). I recommend starting with a floating rap #9 - #11 , 1/8 -1/6 rooster tail or the #3 Meps for the potential aggressive fish. Your best bet will be the Plastic crawfish!!! Good luck and Keep the rods bendin'!!!1 Jim W

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