What other people say aboutr Jerry's Flies and Lures

For anyone up for the challenge, this Smallmouth is now swimming free for any angler who is lucky enough to hook and attempt to land this magnificent fish.

Thanks to the authenticity of this reproduction and the artisanship of Craig Andrews of FishTales Taxidermy email address is: http://www.fishtalestaxidermy.com. I now have a physical reminiscence of this whole experience captured not only in my mind, but also now in this wonderful display of artisanship in my home.

Content knowing this large breeding adult is still able to reproduce and contribute to the habitat. To catch a smallmouth of this competence on a fly rod made it even more extraordinary to me. It was not the typical day you would think a bruiser like this would be biting during, the sky was clear blue, the sun was bright it was around 7:00 AM in the morning.

After already logging in some two in a half hours on the water with some very good results things were about to improve dramatically for the better. I was approaching a known piece of heavy structure under the water having a history of inviting fish to its cover. With the existing water flow and stage, I position myself in the currents where the fly would have its greatest impact on the presentation sweeping across and in front of any hidden predator to ambush my fly.

On my very first cast, boom she bit hard, jolting the rod nearly out of my hand literally, catching me totally off guard. I was able to get a good solid strip strike with my left hand burying the hook deep into the left side of her mouth and immediately she jump high out of the water and I said to myself, OH MY LORD big fish! The fish did not hesitate to blast off like a rocket ship into deep water; I can still see the thick fly line right now in my mind, tracking across the surface creating a wake and splash at the surface of the water.

If the fish had never jump at all, you could still estimate instantaneously this fish was big, from the aggressive strike and now I could feel her headshakes. Normally headshakes are a significant indication the fish is larger than most when you can feel that rod pounding from the back and forth motion from my adversary attempting to free her self. Trying not to draw more attention for now up river, I could see a big group of canoeist on a float trip that was heading directly towards me. I buried my rod tip deep in the water to control the fish from any further acrobatic leaps upper into an aerial display of escape. After the battle, I was able to grab the fish by the lip and quietly wave briefly at the passers bye without anyone noticing my trophy in my right hand submersed just under the water.

I stepped up on shore, took some quick video, then some measurements, and released the fish unharmed. You to can also catch a fish the next time you are in my area good luck! Yours in Fishing, Bob Kankakee River Valley Fishing Guide