Bronzeback Bonanza

This weekend marked the end of the 2009-10 gamefish season and there is no better way to spend it than sitting on some open water.  The weather was supposed to be spectacular for the weekend as I left Fargo in route to the Mississippi River in search of some big bronzebacks.  I arrived early in the morning and was greeted with single digit temps and a light dusting of snow lining the shores of the river.  After walking down the water's edge, the amount of waterfowl that was on the water was absolutely amazing.  Nice big green heads, Goldeneyes, buffleheads, and swans galore.  It made me yearn for the days of fall and knocking holes into the sky.  The plan was to start fishing some deeper holes with a very slow presentation until the fish moved up onto the flats.  I got onto a honey hole early in the day and picked up some good sized fish right off the bat.  I could watch my bait drift right in front of them until they slowly sucked it in.  For some reason I couldn't put the hooks in them with great consistency, but managed to catch quite a few.  Saturday I hit the water again and had a different technique in mind.  I was going to wait until they moved up on the rocky flats and started reeding heavily.  The action was nonstop with the bait of choice being the DHP fluke in a bone or avocado color working the best.  It was awesome to see a smallie come up and miss the twitching fluke 2 or 3 times in a cast and finally slam it when it was a few feet in front of me.  This went on and off for a few hours and they just didn't stop biting.  The trick was to find their schools and follow the movements up and down stream. I can't wait for the water to shed it's winter coat so we can get back on some soft water.  From the 55 degree waters of the Mississippi.....Keep Livin' the Dream!