As we winched the boat on the trailer after yesterday’s magnificent musky fishing experience, we made plans to do the same exact float today. Regardless of being a cold November day. But overnight, Josh Hulbert and Brandon Judy had a few beers celebrating Brandon’s mammoth musky and they decided to put in where we took out last night. I didn’t love the idea but I’m pretty easy going. Off we went under a beautiful November sunrise to a new stretch of river none of us had ever floated.
Josh and Brandon’s reasoning was that the muskies we cast to yesterday weren’t going to eat again. They’re muskellunge. They’re far too smart. Ok. But while the boys did our shuttle, instead of taking too many pictures of frosty dead grass, I walked our drift boat upstream to the last hole we fished yesterday. One where we missed two muskies.
When they got back, they laughed and said OK let’s see what happens. Well, both muskies were there and both were hungry. I hooked and lost what appeared to be the exact same one I missed at 4 pm last night. Three casts later the larger one that Josh hooked swirled behind Brandon’s fly. The toothy predator didn’t eat but he came close.
It turns out this was a seven mile float, colder than forecasted and we caught one fish – a mere miracle late season smallmouth bass. This is the latest in the year I’ve ever caught a smallie on fly. Prior to this was a November 6th smallie on Keyhole Reservoir in WY back in 2020 when I was sporting my Covid mullet hairdo. But that bronze back was it. The new water was flat, wide and shallow most of the way. We had two fishy looking areas but nada. The day was a musky bust.
As we put the boat on the trailer, despite being nearly dark, I noticed it was early – 2:59 pm to be exact. I’d just slipped out of my waders. But I had to suggest it, “Let’s go put in where we did yesterday. Remember that musky you missed Brandon in the Figure-8? I bet I can row us down. You guys cast to that bank to where that fish was an then I’ll row us back to the truck.”
Josh gave me a funny look but I could tell he was in. Brandon, once he realized I wasn’t kidding, said sure. Off we went and by 3:30 the boat was back in the water with me behind the oars. I was beyond confident.
It didn’t take long. In nearly the exact same spot Brandon missed yesterday’s musky, another slammed his fly. It was a big fish and it seemed on. But after one twisting spin it was off. Two casts later, while Brandon was still trying to shake off his disappointment, Josh had a follow from a smaller fish. They were here. Two casts later Josh hooked up and landed a musky. The day was saved!
I’d loved to have kept on rowing the boys downstream but if we went too much further, we’d never get back to the truck. I rowed us back up and we called it a day. In fact for me, its probably end of a season. But lesson learned, hungry muskies in November may not be so smart after all!
I’ll keep reminding you not forget that Christmas is around the corner and I sell gifts for “The Angler that has Everything”. Be sure to visit my webstore and see the new whiskey glasses, my famous coffee mugs, frosted beer steins, sun shirts and hoodies. You can also order my durable vinyl decals from my friends at Pescador on the Fly.
Congrats on your smallie, Jeff. That is a remarkable catch for WI this late in the season. Living in WV, with easy access to VA as well, I made it a project during COVID to try to knock out my “missing months” in which I’d never before caught a smallmouth on fly. December was relatively easy (sink tip & streamer) and I already had Jan and Mar because I’d caught nice smallmouths in those months as bycatch while musky fly fishing. February proved to be the toughest nut to crack and I devoted 5 days to the effort. 4 9/10 were fishless but at about 4:40 pm on the last fishable day in Feb, darned if I didn’t land an 11-12″ smallmouth using a sink tip and 1/32 oz jig fly! So I can honestly say I’ve caught a smallie on fly every calendar month of the year.
Bill, that is pretty cool. I’ve thought about trying to do the same. Could be tough though unless I travel. I’d need to look back in my notes, but I may have a February smallie because I used to do shows in AZ in winter and we always smallie fished. December and January however, only through the ice. Thanks for keeping up with my adventures!