Hi Folks, Nice hearing the sound of rain hitting the metal roof this morning. We really need the rain and this fast moving weather front will cool things off. I guiding a spin trip yesterday on the lower Lamoille. Another hot and muggy day on the river. The water temperature was 77 to 78 degrees, ouch. The fishing was very good and it appeared that the bigger smallmouth were feeding. The first cast of the day resulted in an 18" smallmouth that hammered a fire tiger popper. Due to warmer than average water temperatures even the bass seemed a bit lethargic in coming to the surface. We caught and missed another fish on a black and silver Rapala and then the top water bite slowed. We dead drifted and swung 4" Baby Bass, Crawfish, and Red magic Senkos with great success. We landed almost 40 smallmouth with several 17" to 18" fish being hooked. The fish were holding close to heavy water. The warm water temperatures forced many of the bass from slower sections into the faster water. We had one pocket that was a small eddy next to a heavy run that was 5' to 8' deep. They were stacked like cord wood in the small pocket. Interestingly, we a number of fish that chased a retrieved Senko and even had fish come up to eat them as they swung up in the current. The icing on the cake was having two walleye eat Senkos. I thought that we would catch fish yesterday, I just did not know that we land so many. The previous day of lake fishing with the fly rods for smallmouth was frustrating. Lots of fish coming to the fly but not committing to eat it. I think the Lamoille was a good set up yesterday after all of the higher water all week. The water level had dropped and it seemed the fish were making up for lost time. Will be small stream fishing today once the thunderstorms blow through. Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home. Have Fun, Willy
