Stream Stalker

Final Guide Trip of 2011

Tue, January 03, 2012

On December 30th, Gerry Hansell came down to Central Illinois in search of a little cold water bronze.  We fished three seperate areas on the Mack.  It was the perfect weather day - sunny with highs approaching 50.  I figured the smallies might be (at least for winter) “easy pickings”.  But the ol’ Mr Smallmouth does not always subscribe to the same magazines and other literature that I peruse.  In other words, the bite was tough!!  A tough bite is not abnormal for this time of year, but with the air temp being around 25 degrees above normal, you would have thought Gerry would have conncected with a few more fish.

He did connect with this one on the float n fly:

With the end of the year and the start of a new year, I crunched a few numbers as it pertains to my guide trips.  I keep very accurate records of all my guiding trips dating back to 2005.  2011 looked like this:

28 total trips

7 - 1/2 days trips

21 full day trips

525 smallmouth bass caught and released by clients

20 bass per trip average.

Big Fish of 2011:

18 inches - Sam Harmon - July 26

19 inches - Kerri McKnight - August 20

19 inches - Paul Scordato - September 10 - fly rod fish

18.5 inches - Jason Ormann - September 25

I am now booking trips for 2012.  Hopefully, the mild winter will continue and my rivers will stay ice-free.  If that is the case (which I highly doubt), I will be able to catch smallies throughout the winter.

AS ALWAYS…....................HAIL TO THE SMALLIE

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