9/7/11 Good days are here. Lots of action on local rivers and lakes. Smallies are hot on the top area and crawfish. Muskys love the crawfish also. Water temps are still warm but evenings bring the temps down and then the fishing starts to turn on. 
   Hot useless days laying around do not be so!! Get out around 7:00 PM and chase feeders. They are out and pissed off!! Their hanging in the rocks looking for chow. Toss a bug in the rock riot and expect some resisdence. They will crush your fly when you barely notice. Step ups before riffles and drop offs are the places to see cruisers. Look for wakes as usual and get to the spot as quick as possible, they will hang around. Dahlbergs in chartreuse or bright orange,  are the ticket due to shallow water requirements, dont want to hang your beauty on the bottom do you? Some hits can be violent so take shelter if need be. Smallies have no mercy for 5 weights or 6 weights so put up the light stuff and bring along the big 8's and head down to your local establishment (no bars) and chuck a bug for feeders, explain that one to your spouse. Cheers. "Drink good beer and fight Fish a Second time"
If you have'nt gone out in your canoe or tube yet casting for our local smallies, you are missing a bunch. Most big rivers such as the St. Louis have become to high to float comfortably so now is prime time to hit area lakes. Try Island Lake and Fish Lake. These are great lakes with big smallmouth and largemouth, big largemouth. Island lake has great size Musky aslo!!!. You can find lakes way out in the middle of no where and do very good. Hell who would'nt mind tangling with a 4 to 6 lb bass. They crush top water flys now and later on in the day black streamers are the ticket. These are not fish to contend with on a 5 wt fly rod, break out the 8's for these guys. Most lakes are in the mixed area now, with rains and then sun it seems the bass cannot make up their minds. I find great pleasure in persuing these fish, mostly because your getting into water that no many people fish, so you have most of lake to yourself. When things settle down on the rivers you can expect bass to be very hungry, very hungry. And the St. Louis has alot on its dinner tray, so go prepared. I'll keep you posted!!! Do yourself a favor and get out!!! Fight Fish and drink good beer" Cheers. John