Pacemaker Fishing Forum

This post will not be able to fully explain just how crazy it was on Monday, hands down my most exciting day fishing.  Between the number of hits in a small stretch of river and the intensity of some.strikes, it waa on of those magical days on the river.

I had high expectations with temps in low 70:'s and overcast conditions all day for some.topwater action.  Went to a shalkower stretch of river where there is more ledge.rock.exposed or just at surface creating lots of push water, riffles, faster chutes, etc.  Gauge was 2.2 which I think is ideal.  I launch off the bank just above the last rapid, work upstream beaching on rocks and then float back down to the ramp.

About 15 minutes in, I for what i.realized later waa the clue for how the day would he. Threw the Choppo (whopper plooper) in a shallow corner next to a faster riffle and one hit as soon as it hit the water.  Threw back and got a another blow up quick but didn't connect.  So moved on and caught a nice little catfish on the crank shortly after.

Then in a little bit, mayhem started when I started working the right side of river where it waa shallower with chute of fast water and some adjacent eddy, no matter how big or small. Picked up a couple like that were hitting the Choppo with MALICE sending water flying.

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I continued working the right half of the river catching some smaller fish and getting more misses on the choppo from smaller fish.  Sometimes 2-3 hits on a cast with all misses.  Few fish were coming out of the water slightly with how shallow it waa.

Got to a spot and made a cast when one blew up on it as soon as it hit the water, somehow he managed to hook himself and had a nervous few seconds as UT went around an emerged rock but did get this almost 18" in.


Continued upstream from rock area to rock area getting vicious hits and catching a few more and missing more on the choppo.  Even the misses were fun but frustrating with water spraying and seeing the fish hit it.  Picked up a few on the fluke. Tried a swim bait and crank but they wanted the loud toowater, so I obliged. A couple more this size and smaller.



Got to another bigger shallow eddy area and threw the choppo. Started the retrieve and saw the wake coming. Somehow managed to wait to feel the weight on the blow up and was rewarded with this solid 18"



I got upstream to where i.generally turn around and start floating back that has that same faster chute and small adjacent eddy area. I have caught a couple of 18"s in the last there.  Threw the Choppo in the shallow eddy and the water exploded when it hit the water. Fish missed it but then came right back to.smIack it again and then shot off like a rocket when it realized it was hooked.  it felt like a good one and then unfortunately it jumped and I didn't have time to.avoid it.  I.got.a.real good look when it cleared the water 4' from me and sent the mute flying.  Pushing 20" with a good possibility it was over that..  But that's the name of the game sometimes. 

Floated back down to the ramp and picked up a few more little guys.  I ended up.landing 24 with several missed fish.  20 on the chopping and 4 on a fluke for am all top water bite all day.  Two right at 18" and another half a dozen 15-16" and that is a great day on the water from 10:30-4:30.  The type of day on the river you live for.