Rappahannock River Fishing Trip 05-31-13

[HeaveToo]

I spent five hours on the Rappahannock River this morning.  I started at 7 and launched from Motts Run.  I paddled a few miles up stream (exhausting work).  The fishing started off really slow.  I tried various flies.  I caught the first fish on a Shenk's White Streamer in size 4.  It was a small bluegill.  I did get a nice hit earlier in the morning on a Shannon's Streamer but I didn't get a hook set.  Finally, about 10:30 the bite turned on.  I caught several nice smallmouth bass that fought hard.  The best fish was photographed and I will attach a photo.

Streamers:  Shenk's White in size 4:   1 bluegill
                  Shannon's Streamer in 2 ot:  1 Large hit
                  Crayfish Pattern in Size 4:  No hits

Top Water:  Yellow Popper size 4:  Several nice smallmouth and a few nice bluegill.

The fish were tending to hold in the current in the main part of the pool or the tail end of the pool.  I didn't get a single hit at the head of any of the pools that I fished.  These fish didn't seem to mind the sun as most of the fish were caught in the main areas of the river not in the shade.  These fish were definitely looking for current.

The water temp  is in the upper 70s.  It is running clear and at a perfect level.

[TurbineBlade]

Beautiful fish man!  Great catch!  

Gene

[yak...@gmail.com]

Heave Too nice report! Great fish. I had about an hour to kill so I went down to Motts Friday at about 10:30 and wade fished.  I saw a lot more cicadas in the air so even though the sun was pretty high in the sky I put one on my 6 weight.  On my second cast I watched a big smallie rush out from behind a rock and get 2 inches from the fly.  I twitched it and it crushed the cicada, fight on. It was a 3 or 4 pounder and right when I started thinking about where my camera was he jumped, laughed at me, and spit the cicada out.   The lady at Clore brothers saw the whole thing and I think she was more disappointed than I was the fish got off.   For the next hour I continued fishing the cicada catching 3 smallmouth and a bunch of hungry bluegills.  It shut down pretty quickly when the wind picked up.   The Rapp is going to be a zoo this weekend with the canoe races but I'm thinking next week after it clears from the Tstorms they are calling for Sunday/Monday it'll be prime time for a 2 day float.