creek fishing - first smallmouth!

Day off today, so I ducked out before lunch for a couple hours on the creek. I haven't had much luck creek fishing in the few times I've tried. Most of those trips, however, were during the winter, so I was hoping the onset of warm weather would bring some catches.

While I didn't catch anything large, I did manage a beautiful green sunfish, a bluegill, and my first ever smallmouth. Catching a smallmouth was actually my goal for the trip, and I'm always thrilled to add a new species to the inventory. 75F and sunny, although the creek water was plenty cold. Glad I brought my muck boots to wade around in the shallows.

I mainly used a Handing Magic L 4'6" UL with a Legalis LT1000. Line choice was disappointing -- I used 2lb Sufix Nanobraid and had repeated issues with knots slipping. Originally I had on a 3lb Sunline fluoro leader, but lost that on the second cast. I then went straight braid, but knots (improved clinch) kept slipping until I started pulling the tag end tight before cinching down on the main line. Lost 6 lures overall to knot slippage and snags. Thankfully just jigs and nothing expensive.

The smallmouth was obviously the highlight of the trip, and I hope the next one is bigger!

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Beautiful fish !
I love creek fishing. Even the little ones fight harder .
Fishing moving water is a challenge.

Good catches. Beautiful colors

Those colors on the first fish are really beautiful.
Bob

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Originally Posted by BobC

Those colors on the first fish are really beautiful.
Bob

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Yeah, he is a pretty one! I thought it was a pumpkinseed at first, but then leaned towards green sunfish in mating coloration.

What I learned on this trip is I prefer a slightly longer rod than the 4'6" Magic L. I could use some more practice time on the short one, but overall I think some around 5' - 5'6" would suit me better. The short rod would be better for smaller, brushier creeks.

Also learned that I have problems with the 2lb Sufix Nanobraid. Using 4lb Xbraid I don't have hardly the knot slippage issues I see with the Nanobraid, and the Xbraid feels more supple. Any suggestions from those folks who have used Nanobraid before?

Glad you got the ones you did and sorry to hear of the line issues. That line is one of my go to for domestic braid. I use a 4lb mono leader religiously and join the two with a double uni with five turns each. I use longer tag ends to help with pulling tight. We spoke of a knot here a while back and it’s that one that I have the best success with. I’ll try to find the knot on YouTube if ya need me to. I can tie it without my glasses. For my tiny jigs I want all the action so I use a no slip loop knot. There’s a few versions but I use the one that Lefty Kreh had his name on at some point. He may not have come up with it but he used it an awful lot.

Beautiful creek bro , knots with braids are a problem sometimes, I would suggest less line on your spool btw , looks overfilled to me by a good bit. About 1/8 below the lip on the spool is considered the maximum on most spinning reels
That one sunfish is not a green sunfish, it kinda looks like a longear sunfish to me , but not sure if they exist up that far north .
Nice smallmouth for sure , love creek ketchn smallmouth, used to do that back when myself
Congratulations and KABOOM :cheers2:cheers2

Congratulations on your first smallie. Hopefully catch even more next time. Beautiful fish !!

Very good variety of fish especially the smallmouth ... too bad we do not have those here in Texas as I have heard that they will give one a good tussle. Thanks for the wonderful pictures.

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Originally Posted by Slabjerkin'

Very good variety of fish especially the smallmouth ... too bad we do not have those here in Texas as I have heard that they will give one a good tussle. Thanks for the wonderful pictures.

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Don’t y’all have a Rio Grande bass that’s similar to the smallie ?
Here in Georgia we do have some smallies that have been stocked up in the northern part of the state, but down mid state where I live, I catch a shoal bass sometimes when I’m creek fishing . That’s close enough for me .

Edit : Googled the fish I was thinking of and it’s called a Guadalupe bass.