30+ fish morning / PB Smallmouth / Potomac River

[camelbird]

Launched at 7am was off the water by 11. Fished Rage tail Craws, tubes, senkos, rapalas and roostertails - everything worked. Non stop catching fish, didn't even get time to eat the sandwich.

Usual targeted spots, eddies behind bolders / obstruction and deeper pools in between rapids.

Ultra light spinning tackle - 6lb test line

I even caught my first pumpkinseed of the year (looks like a cross between a sunfish and pumpkinseed).

At about 10am the sun started to get hot...HOT... I tied on a tube, lost it first cast, damn. Tied another one, lost it first cast. DAMN! Sweat was pouring off my face and the frustration sinking in...

Tied on a senko wacky rigged, first cast.... Stuck.... I give up.. but as soon as I started to lift the rod the line started moving, drag started screaming, nice. It pulled me onto a rock and I was t-boned in the fast current and almost flipped, fish went around the rock and left me stuck on a rock. Rod in one hand, paddle in the other shimmying my way off the rock, fish rippin drag I managed to get pried off the boulder and back out into the current. 3 minutes and a few runs later I pull up my personal best smallie.

Just Shy of 20" - about 3.5-4lbs.

Now to recoup in the AC.

[DanMarino]

Awesome smallie Camelbird!!!! I've never caught a smallie that large.

You need to look into confidence baits draggin' heads. I have stopped using regular tube jigs and gone with these draggin' heads. I have yet to snag one and lose it.

[FRED driver]

Great smallie...where did you launch from?

[Shady]

Thats a really nice Smallmouth! I think the first fish pictured is actually a red-breast sunfish.
Check out JA Veil's post here for a pumpkinseed:

http://www.snaggedline.com/showthrea...0046#post40046

[Cal]

What a fattie bronzeback, nice catch! good thing you didn't give up, he was the reward! I am also curious as to what part of the potomac you launched from.

I would love to tag along on any future potomac trips.

[ictalurus]

Sweet smallie there, Justin. Congrats on the killer day.

[camelbird]

Thanks guys

I'll have to check out the confidence dragon heads.

I launched from River Bend Park, $5 launch, no motors, quiet. But just fair warning, it's taken me years of fishing that place to get that fish.

Maybe put together an MKF trip if it's not too far for everyone.

[jffoley]

NICE smallie!! Congrats. I fish Riverbend occasionally as well. I got one there about that size maybe 10 years ago. On a floating Rapala. The smallest one they make. Go figure. Haven't fished there yet to this year, though. I'm up for a trip soon!

Hey 13, Those Confidence baits draggin' heads look great! Gonna check 'em out for sure. Local product, too. Thanks for the heads up.

[DanMarino]

Those draggin heads come in different sizes and weights and are really snag resistant. I think you'll like them for fishing any sort of soft plastic along the bottom of the river. If it's good enough for Jeff Little, it should work for me.

Saturday I launched from Swains Lock and went up on the MD side. Water was super clear, super low, and super hot. I thought there would be more grass growing in the river, but there wasn't much where I was at.

I might be hitting that area again on Friday.