September 17, 2009
A few years ago, the man who taught me everything I know about fishing, passed away. For the last ten years of his life, he struggled desperately with his weight, a disability that, sadly, prevented him from doing the one thing he enjoyed most in life-fishing. He finally opted to have gastric-bypass surgery. But despite losing almost 150 pounds as a result of the procedure, the years of neglect and abuse of his body had taken its toll and he suffered a stroke and died shortly thereafter. 
To this day, I miss his counsel and laughter and I still want to reach for the phone every time I get back from a fishing trip to share stories about the lunker I caught or “the one that got away”.
So, “The Healthy Angler” will be forever dedicated to my friend and mentor, Ergo Majors III, in hopes that the adventures, insights and recipes will inspire those who may find themselves struggling with the same battles that took my friend away from me too soon.
This is for you, Ergo . . .
Smallmouth Creek Fishing
-or-
How I Became a Believer in Brown Fish
One of the challenges of moving away from southern California, after living within it’s near perfect weather and sunny confines for almost twenty years, is that there are few places in the world that can match it’s bounty of fishing opportunities and adventures, both fresh and saltwater. Whether it’s fishing for yellowtail, dorado or albacore off the coast of San Diego, targeting marlin, sailfish or roosterfish in Baja or hunting for world record largemouth bass in the many lakes and reservoirs that dot the southland, the prospect (for this angler) of leaving that all behind to fish farm ponds and the heavily pressured lakes of central Tennessee was sketchy at best.
Thankfully, a few months after arriving in Nashville, I was introduced to a whole new kind of fishing completely foreign to SoCal, and a species of fish that is as mean, stealthy and as game as anything I’d ever caught in all my years on the water: smallmouth bass.
Relatively rare in southern California, I had heard about the pound for pound “toughest fighting freshwater fish of all” and had even hooked a couple on one of the local Nashville lakes, Frankly, I wasn’t impressed. That was until I hooked a three-pound creek 
smallmouth on light tackle early one spring morning on a pristine, flowing creek that nearly ripped the rod out my hand. And after jumping two feet in the air and pointedly spitting the hook in front of my face, I quickly became a believer in the muscle and mystique of “the brown fish.”
There is a legion of devoted smallmouth anglers in Tennessee (Dale Hollow Lake holds the world record at 11lbs.15 oz.). You can even get a custom smallmouth license plate, and many smallmouth fans become downright annoyed when they hook a largemouth instead of a smallie, jokingly referring them as “green carp”. While I still love catching bucketmouths, I am beginning to understand the way they feel. With hundreds of creeks in both Tennessee and Kentucky, the smallmouth bass that live in current year-round are all shoulders and muscle and according to many, pull harder than most lake-based smallies. It is easy to get addicted to that style of fishing.
Finding the Fish
I have found that finding access to the creeks that hold the best fish is relatively easy, with many bridges and overpasses providing a good way to get on the water. Also, whenever possible, I like to introduce myself to any landowners or farmers whose properties run adjacent to the creek. Most, I have found, are very friendly and generous in sharing their portions of the creek with responsible and respectful anglers. A good reference for creek locations in Tennessee is the Gazetteer, which can be found at most department stores. It’s an excellent source for researching roads and creeks throughout the state -- a must have when looking for new water to fish. There are also online resources, most importantly the USGS WaterWatch website that gives up to the hour creek and river flow reports.
Gear for Creek Fishing
In keeping with the viewpoint that fishing is one of the most affordable forms of recreation, creek fishing for smallmouth is no different. It requires nothing more than a good pair of wading shoes (you can get a great pair for around $50) a backpack, fishing vest or fanny pack for baits, hooks, water and snacks, and in winter (which is one of the best times to fish for big creek smallmouth) a pair of breathable waders (I found a nice pair for under $100).
Rod and reel setup is just as easy. I prefer a 6’6”-6’9” medium weight spinning rod (although I’ve been know to break out my vintage 5’6” Shimano Jimmy Houston series just to make things interesting). Lately, I’ve been using a 6’9” Carrot Stick and a 6’6” Gary Yamamoto Tournament Rod, which both provide good sensitivity but are stout enough to 
handle those slam, bang, no nonsense hooksets that are so common with smallies. Small or midsize spinning reels like the Shimano 1000 or 1500 series are just perfect.
Regarding line, I learned my lesson the hard way by losing too many fish on 4, 5 and 6# test line in the current, rocks and weeds that line the bigger creeks. Eight pound test line seems to be the best choice with 8# Sugoi Grey Flippin’ Fluorocarbon and 8# XXX Moss Green P-Line at the top of my list.
While small spinnerbaits, topwater plugs and buzzbaits can be very productive in catching quality creek smallmouth bass, there is nothing more fun and effective than using soft plastics. What works best? Well, like most things fishing, it’s whatever you feel most comfortable and confidant throwing. But here are some guidelines that might narrow down your selection.
I have friends that throw nothing but 4” single tail grubs on 1/8 oz jig heads all day long, and they consistently catch big fish. But while that setup may be one of the most effective and dependable ways to catch creek smallmouth, I have found that fishing a 4” Senko or 5” Kut-tail worm on 1/8 oz Shaky Head is just as effective, particularly if I’m targeting bigger fish. I like the extra weight of those baits -- I can throw them extremely long distances which is a big plus when the water is clear and the fish are extra-spooky (I can also target some of the big three pound plus largemouths that live in the deeper holes!).
I’ve also had success with the Yamamoto 3 3/4” Fat Baby Craw and a Texas-rigged Shad Shape worm. And on a recent trip when the water was down a bit and extra clear, GYCB Promotions Director Chief George Braswell enticed some quality fish out of the current by using 3” Tiny Ikas rigged on a small Roadrunner head. Great fun!
While the pumpkins and watermelon colors work as good as any color in the creeks, my first choice is any combination of black and blue. I have caught more 15” plus fish on that combo than any other with the 904 Blue and Black Laminate 4” Senko leading the way followed closely by the 900 Red Shad laminate Kuttail worm in the 4” and 5” sizes. My advice? When nothing else works, throw black.
Next month, I’ll talk about specific strategies for catching big winter creek smallmouth and explore the world of the float and fly fisherman. ‘Til then, remember this: Fishing won’t make time for you, only you can make time to go fishing!
This month’s healthy recipe is brought to you courtesy of the Sporting Chef, Scott Leysath. For more great recipes, visit his website at www.sportingchef.com
Do I Look Fat in This Float Tube?
That new pair of Frogg Togg waders aren’t going to do you much good if you can’t fit into them. I know, “They’re sure making these things smaller than they used to.” Alright, big fella, take a look in the mirror. Sure, you’re wearing the same pants you wore in high school, only now the belt line sits just above your privates. Take it from a guy who’s weight has bounced up and down for decades, it’s always a good time to watch what you eat, but you don’t have to sacrifice flavor. For many people, salt equals flavor. Unfortunately, salt can also equal heart failure. The recipe below substitutes salt with a variation of a Japanese Ponzu sauce. Ponzu is a very tart, thin liquid used for dressing and dipping sauces. It’s been my experience that most folks prefer a variation that is blended with low-sodium soy sauce. Kikkoman makes one that they claim, “has the perfect balance of salty, sweet and tangy” and I couldn’t agree more. Their ponzu has less salt and more flavor than their regular low-sodium soy sauce. I’ve done comparative samplings with saltaholics. I’ll start them with a taste of ponzu, then low-sodium soy sauce, then regular soy sauce. It’s amazing how much everyone prefers ponzu. Once they work up to full-strength soy sauce, it tastes like a salt lick. Be warned that all bottled ponzu sauces are not created equal. Some brands have a sodium content that rivals standard soy sauce. Check the label. If you can’t find ponzu on your grocery shelves, it’s available from a number of online markets. In a pinch, you can add 1/4 cup orange juice and a big squeeze of both lemon and lime juices to a cup of low-sodium soy sauce. Just before I serve fish, I always top it with a sprinkling of fresh lemon or lime juice. This will stimulate the palate like a natural MSG, add life to the flavors of the dish and reduce the need for salt. Don’t just garnish the plate with a lemon wedge, use it on the fish. Spicy Ponzu Vinaigrette 1/3 cup Kikkoman Ponzu sauce In a medium bowl, whisk together first 5 ingredients. While whisking, add olive oil until emulsified. |
By Scott Leysath, the Sporting Chef