still looking up

Hi folks, guided from my canoe yesterday afternoon for smallmouth bass.  The foliage is almost at peak where we fished.  Of course the elevation of this lake is over 1000' so the leaves are a little further along.  Nice muggy afternoon with air temps. in the high 70's.  We did get rained on pretty good for half an hour, but it did not deter us or the fish.  Water temperature was 68 degrees and the surface was pretty calm.  a slight north breeze did kick up half way through the afternoon.  We spin fished with 1 rod rigged with a top water and second rigged with a jig.  We pretty much stuck to the top water.  We cast a fire tiger rapala and a blue and silver popper.  Had 19 fish come to the top to eat.  Pretty damn impressive for September 24.  Water temperatures and weather have been generous enough to allow us to fish top water so late into September.  We landed 5 smallmouth and one good sized pickerel.  Lots of big fish eating of the top as well.  We had one rather large smallmouth come all the way out of the water and back down on the lure.  The lesson of the day is patience on the take by the fish.  When surface fishing for smallmouth you need to give the bass the chance to eat the lure and not respond to the push or splash of water from the take.  We were a little quick striking some of these large fish and subsequently we missed them.  All of our bass were holding off downed wood.  It was theme of the day.  Especially if the wood dropped off into deeper water.  The fish were holding on the outside edge of the structure.  Might not be too many days left in the season for this type of surface feeding and the weather looks good for it over the next couple of days.  Off to guide a smaller stream today for trout.  We had some rain lately so our rivers are up again.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy