Hit The New River just up past Galax, VA on 09/12. Beautiful day. Waded from apx 9:30 to 5:30. Water was relatively low (I have seen it worse) and pretty clear but not crystal. Both of us started off with poppers and wooly buggers with very little success or size. I think we only landed 1 smallie and 2 brim before lunch. Retired to the truck for lunch. Put the fly rods away and headed back down the hill to the river. Immediately hooked up a nice 12-13 incher on my favorite small river crank... The Big O. A couple more dinks and then it slowed. Went to old reliable Tiny Torpedo and lost a nice 14-15 on a jump. The fish were still somewhat spooky and I missed a few on short strikes, etc. But the size of the fish I was missing was increasing! Fishing buddy went to a white swim bait and proceeded to land fish after fish. Me, being somewhat ugly but not stupid, followed suit and also landed several fish including a very solid 16 inch smallie. I'll take it. Overall, numbers were good at appx 30+ for the day but if you dont count dinks we probably landed 10 or 12.
HOWEVER, the real story comes from what I did not catch..... twice! First I had been popping and pausing the tiny torpedo for awhile then buzzing it back. Well on one particular cast as the TT approached to within 10 feet or so I looked up to select the next casting target and ...... KA-BLOOOOOEY! At about 5 feet from my feet a 34-38 inch MUSKIE absolutely blew up and missed the TT. I watched it calmly swim away. Several casts later I gave up and moved on. Later while fishing a very nice looking run with the swim bait I witnessed the huge swirl and strike of a similar sized muskie. This time I set the hook and held on... for about oh... 10 seconds. The fish gave me a couple head shakes and then exploded upward clearing the water completely. Awesome sight but that was the end as the swim bait was flung back at me. Leaving me once again slack jawed and staring blankly. I am now 0-3 lifetime vs the King of The New.
Good day. Hope to squeeze another wade trip in before too long. Love the smallies on The New!
HOWEVER, the real story comes from what I did not catch..... twice! First I had been popping and pausing the tiny torpedo for awhile then buzzing it back. Well on one particular cast as the TT approached to within 10 feet or so I looked up to select the next casting target and ...... KA-BLOOOOOEY! At about 5 feet from my feet a 34-38 inch MUSKIE absolutely blew up and missed the TT. I watched it calmly swim away. Several casts later I gave up and moved on. Later while fishing a very nice looking run with the swim bait I witnessed the huge swirl and strike of a similar sized muskie. This time I set the hook and held on... for about oh... 10 seconds. The fish gave me a couple head shakes and then exploded upward clearing the water completely. Awesome sight but that was the end as the swim bait was flung back at me. Leaving me once again slack jawed and staring blankly. I am now 0-3 lifetime vs the King of The New.
Good day. Hope to squeeze another wade trip in before too long. Love the smallies on The New!