fussy fish

Hi folks, Guided the double yesterday for smallmouth bass.  Spent the morning river fishing for smallies with the fly and in the evening from my boat with spin tackle.  The river we visited yesterday was 64 degrees at 6am and low and clear.  Saw a few #22 trico spinners and sporadic number of #20 micro caddis that were tan bodied.  No rising fish and not that I expected bass to waste energy eating tiny little bugs.  We could sight the smallmouth and there were some very large fish cruising in the pools we visited.  Lots of denials from the bass whether we presented a surface fly or a sub surface fly.  Pretty frustrating to watch a 15" smallmouth come to the fly only to put the brakes on and turn off.  Witnessed it over and over again.  We had five fish eat the fly and we landed none.  In the afternoon under cloudy skies and calm conditions we found some finicky fish that we were able to get to eat.  Surface temperature was 76 degrees and water clarity was good.  We fished 1/8 oz. jigs with 31/2" crawfish colored tubes to some non-aggressive fish.  Working the jig slowly off deep points produced bass.  Really subtle takes.  As the sun set the top water bite turned on we saw larger smallmouth crush floating rapalas.  A jointed a balck and silver rapala and a pumpkin seed rapala worked well.  Most of the takes were while the lure was sitting still or  having just been moved.  We covered a lot of water to catch.  Well, fishing can be tricky at times and occasionally it takes some real determination and persistence to catch fish.  Off to trout fish this afternoon.  Love the morning fog.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy