California Smallmouth

If it were up to me, I’d like to go back in time and keep the DFG from ever planting largemouth and spotted bass in California.

Say what? Am I anti-bass? No way!

I just think smallmouth are the most interesting variety of bass and they, unfortunately, have been overrun by these other types of bass in most of our local waters. Of course, we could debate this until the Chicago Cubs win a World Series, but in my estimation, smallmouth are better fighters (I once mistook a smallie for a steelhead on the Russian River because it was so strong) than their big mouthed and spotted cousins and are pretty cool-looking as well.
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Spring Steelhead on the American River

The mere mention of steelhead fishing often conjures up images of storm-gray skies and furious rain that defies gravity and falls sideways; glacial wind that bores though as many layers of Gore-Tex and Polar Fleece that you care to throw in its path; benumbed digits incapable of tying the most simple fishing knots; long hours spent on the water without a shred of evidence that even a single fish exists in the river and high, turbid water that seems to ooze, rather than flow, along its streambed. Winter steelhead fishing is definitely not for the faint of heart nor the weekend warrior. It’s serious stuff that requires dedication (some may call it stupidity).
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A Quick Round of Golf

Well, I finally had a day off recently and decided that I was going to blow off all responsibility and do something fun. A little fishing perhaps? Nah - I’d been working on the river a lot lately, so I figured it was time to give that sport a little break. And if you’re not going to go wet a line on a warm, early spring day, what’s the next best thing? A trip around the ol’ links, of course!

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