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Sartell/Rice Smallies


NELS-BELLS

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I was out last night and had one of the best smallmouth outings that I can remember. smile.gif The last hour of light was the most productive as the mayflies were getting thick and the smallies were surfacing all around me. The Tiny Torpedo got a workout. I was very impressed with the size of these fish. The average was 17" and the largest went 20". Smallmouth on a surface lure...it doesn't get much better than that and they are all still there to fight another battle.
Unfortunately what would have been a perfect evening was spoiled by some kids who decided to key/scratch the side of my truck at the landing in the county park north of Sartell.
The big question is why.
Oh well, I'm not going to let it ruin my memory of the fantastic smallmouth fishing I had.

Nels

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Nels - that sounds like an awesome night. I was talking with some of the guys that made it up to Sartel this last Sunday for an informal get together & BBQ and their pictures & numbers were unreal! I am definitely impressed with the quality and quantity of fish up on that stretch... now if I can only find time to get up there and wade around and catch some 20inchers of my own!

With the mayflies out, topwater is going to be awesome. Torpedos worked pretty good for us down around Elk River this weekend too! Massive explosions always get the blood pumping. BAM, pause, set the hook! FISH ON!

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glad you had a good time on the topwater smallies...pretty hard to beat that. sorry to hear about your truck. too bad you couldn't catch the little SOBs in the act.

s.a.

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I need a RiverPro.

And also keep my current rig.
The wife says no. frown.gif

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I can't afford a riverpro, but the rockhopper on my johnson 15 dose the trick, going out right now, hope to catch a 20"

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I went and walked the shoreline from 6:30 till 8. Got 5 on the senko thing. 2-16, 2-17 and a nice fat 18. I still snagged up 3 times and had to break the line so I'm gonna try the fusion line with the senkos. No boats under the Sauk Rapids bridge for a while. The steel path now goes all the way across. I'm gonna try wade a spot south of town tonight. Somebody warm it up out there!!

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Eyeguy, I'd love to wade that section if you are ever looking for a partner. BigLakeBa$$ keeps telling me to get my rear up there and start wading - I just have no clue where to start or even access it. Maybe I could make the run up some evening after work if I knew in advance - if not, it's on my list of spots left to hit on the weekends between now and when the eyes on my rod start to freeze up (hopefully not that late in the season!!!).

Congrats on the nice smallies! Consistant fish in that size range are a blast! I'm jealous!

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Yowzer!! what an evening!! Thank you Lord!! I ventured south late in the afternoon and got permission from a landowner to walk through her property to fish the river. I worked over a stretch about 1/3 mile long. 24 smallies landed with 3 18ers. I had probably 7 or 8 others spit my mepp in the air. 3 bonus northerns with 2 at 27 inches. I am BEAT!! Time for the Aleve bottle to open up. smile.gifsmile.gifsmile.gif

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Big Mike it would be fun to meet you up here sometime and wade. I just ordered a bunch of yum zingers to use cuz I can't afford senkos. send me your phone # to [email protected]. Bow season is here soon so if not this year for sure next. smile.gif

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Eyeguy, you've got mail cool.gif! Those senkos do get really expensive and the yum dingers are definitely cheaper, even if only by a couple bucks. But you've gotta have'em! It's been funny to see you move from a "mepps man" to a "senkos man" LOL. Just think, 2 weeks ago, you were missing out one of the best presentations for river smallies! I read your story about the ripped senko that ended up on your hook after you landed that bugger smallie...LOL! At least you had the satisfaction of catching him and a funny story to boot.

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I'm still a mepps man but this senko type lure is really fun. I now have a split personality smile.gif

[This message has been edited by eyeguy54 (edited 08-23-2004).]

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for senko/yum dinger type baits, I usually always have a watermelon, black, & pumpkin color readily available. Some of the variations I like are watermelon with red or black flakes. Black with red flakes. Pumpkin with black flakes or with a chartreuse tail. I also like purples/smoke with flakes & puke green color with red &/or black flakes is another AWESOME color but is the best on the lake vs. river. For the river, the 4inchers work the best in my opinion, but you will undoubtedly catch some bigger fish with a 5inch.

Yum Dingers are cheap alternatives that you get get pretty much anywhere. Another great alternative are the Case Magic Stiks. I used them when I went out with Dan Wood a few months ago and they are awesome!

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You mention Yum dingers, I'd like to try those for smallies. What color would you recomend for the river?

Nels

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