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We took a canoe trip down the Zumbro Saturday night. We left at 8:00 p.m. to do a moonlight canoe run to Hammond.

Our trip started out nice right away with a nice sauger that was just a fin under 16", follwed by an decent smallie that came in at 14". Both on a Firetiger Rapala. A few more bass and then a follow by a Northern but no hook up.

The darkness follwed by some kind of hideous bug hatch made fishing more difficult. Navigating around rocks and shallow riffles in the dark also became more difficult even with my million candle power spotlight. Seemed like everytime I clicked that thing on the bugs would swarm so bad it was hard to even breath. Bugs in the mouth, eyes, ears, everywhere.

We made it too Wall Rock around 11:30 and I was so sure we would get into the catfish. Nothing, not even a bite. The rest of the trip went fine with no major complications. Got to Hammond around 1:30 a.m. It was a very nice night!

The next day we went again and even with all the tubers and canoers out in full force the smallies were biting. Just have to get over closer to the rocky banks. A lot of times those bass would strike the Rapala just as soon as it hit the water. Really got to be ready.

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did a trip in IA on the Wapsipinicon last Saturday. Smallies were so close to shore that they were "finning" during mid-to-late morning....and decent fish too. Was semi jerk baiting a floating blue/silver rapala. They would cannonball out of the shallow water to put on quite the acrobatic show.

A "strange" (as Paul Harvey puts it). Caught very nice catfish on crankbaits! 9 between 2 of us....and decent fish too. Majority were 2.5-3lbs...w/ one 5+ that pulled me around for awhile in my canoe. What a fight. Black/silver deep divers. My 1st experience w/ cats on an artificial.

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Dan,

I get down to the Zumbro every now and then to do some work (and some fishing grin.gif) for my uncle who lives right on the river. Man what a blast those smallies are! When I have been down there I just wade the river. I get most of my smallies right up next to the rock banks like you said you were catching them as well. I've had my best luck with wieghtless white tubes sight-fishing. Its great when they come up and suck it right in.

I will have to try rapalas next time, sounds like they produce well.

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I'll second Dan's post. Fished the Zumbro R. all week last week and had great luck. The fishing was unreal on Wed. a buddy and I caught 2 limits of big bull bluegills, numerous smallies, northerns, walleye and catfish. Literally, we couldn't keep the fish off our lines. But you know it goes, I'm sure I'll be learning the law of averages for the rest of the month.

Hey Stillhunter, what part of the Wapsi do you fish??? I'm familiar with the area around Riceville. Sounds like you guys had good luck with the cat's this weekend. We went out for a while Sunday night at Lake Hendricks, but it was pretty slow.

good luck and good fishin'

fishgutz

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we were SE of Central City....so quite a ways from Riceville, My Brother lives in Cedar Rapids and it was my turn to drive ;o). Been promising to get down that way for a couple of years. 6 hours of driving (round trip)....5 hr float! Wouldn't do that for JUST family...unless you throw in some fishing (just kidding )

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