Exploring the River

[Bud Kennedy]

This morning was a perfect morning on the river.  We launched on the outgoing tide about an hour after high tide.  We had a couple of spots we wanted to hit first before heading on an exploration trip up river.  After about an hour in a known spot we were able to confirm the true location of a channel system in that section of the river just to confirm what we had found during our last visit to that location.  We got on the big motor and headed up river to explore some areas that had been suggested to me by some local anglers and also to check out some spots I was looking at on my folding map.  We ran about 12 miles stoping a couple of times to check out some spots and really just to get my bearings for this part of the river.  We found some great locations that were holding a lot of fish but only got one bass up that was along with a mudfish and a catfish.  So nothing fantastic but for sure the sonars were loaded with fish holding fairly deep and nothing up on the flats chasing anything.  We explored many of the outside bends of the river and could always mark fish but they just were not in the eating mode for today.  For sure this is being tucked away in our minds for a future trip.  Water temp today was 75 with a NNE breeze less than 10mph.  Like always the water is stained with visibility of about 1 foot.  On the river the channels run anywhere from 15 to 30 feet deep with the deepest areas basically large holes about 75 yards wide or so.  That indeed are were the fish were suspended at about the 20 ft mark.  Fish could be found and debts of 5 ft and down but only in areas where the total depth was over 20 ft.  For the most part the weapon of choice today was a 1/2 oz jig with a trailer.  All fish came on the jig.  On a side note I used mostly my Daiwa TWSV103 reels and over the four hours on the water no backlashes.  I really am loving these reels.  For sure you gotta be careful near the shoreline because the distance of these reels can get one in the trees real easily. 

The boat is now beck in storage until next week.  Temps returning to the 90s tomorrow with blue bird skies and that is not fun to fish in.  Cooler weather moving in this weekend with temps expected to be in the 70s next week.  Hopefully we can get a couple more outings on the river before heading to Santee on October 10th and then on to Guntersville October October25th.

[Pacific NW Ron]

Bud, around here we really enjoy fishing in 90 degree temps and blue bird sky's if and when we get them.  It's better then mid to upper 30's and rain
Ron

[Lipripper]

Bud sounds like you had a great time out on the river even if you didn't catch but a few fish. Maybe next time you will find some that want to bite. I know your looking forward to your two trips next month.

[Donald Garner]

Tks for sharing the trip with us.  Glad you didn't have any motor issues this trip.

[Bud Kennedy]

Tks for sharing the trip with us.  Glad you didn't have any motor issues this trip.

Pleased to report the ol girl ran like a youngster.  No issues, No problems just great performance.  No other problems.  Whats not to Like ?  Heck, even the tide was light today and the trolling motor had no issues doing what it does.  From time to time the tides can stress the trolling motor pretty much.