7/2/10 Apple River

[Ken G]

Funny, no fish pictures. Will think about what I want to write. Wound up with 7 or 8 smallies and a rainbow trout. Awful lot of driving and walking for so little in return. In 2004, last time I was there I think, my notes say I caught about 500 for the year, only I don't remember how many times I went there. I did find that my last trip out there in 2004 was in October and I caught 33 smallies, the fewest of any of the trips. I had one trip in June that got me over 100. Found a note that said in my first 4 trips out there, and the 4th was August 23rd, I was averaging 84 smallies per trip.

I have no clue what went wrong this time. Water level was perfect. Water clarity was about 18 to 24 inches, which is good. Fish just weren't around around. Not even the usual non-stop creek chub action.

I'll give it some thought. In the mean time, pictures.













The following is why you can no longer wade through a long stretch. Takes some explanation, but this didn't used to be here. I don't like it. It raised a pool a good foot, making it impassable and walking around it on shore really sucked.







This used to be almost dry. I've walked through it in the past. Lots of mud, but you could make it through to the pool in the background, which was a good spot. That new channel and the raising of the pool changed all that.





A different section of the river, more bluffs. I guess they all start to look alike.







Thirteen varieties of ferns grow on the walls and other areas supposedly.

[Frank Macikas]

Great pics! I need to get out there again. I went a few weeks ago with my uncle who doesnt really fish and who has never waded and it was a struggle. Barely got any time on the water and only managed 2 dinks. Probably only fished 200yds or so; what a waste it was. It looks like smallie heaven too....

[Special Ed]

Wettest June on record for what 20 some years? I bet a lot of those fish got pushed down river with all the high water and fast current.

Go back next month, I bet it will have improved by then. I would love to have the time to do a trip like this.

[Ken G]

Not sure I'll have the time again soon. This was a bit of a whim. I needed to get away to daydream.

[MattC]

Nice pics Ken, is that the thompson unit? Too bad about the lack of fish, Eds probably right about all the high water we have had this June.

[Ken G]

Up to the picture of the barn is the Salem Thompson unit. I was bummed I couldn't walk the whole thing anymore.

The rest are upstream from the main park. Did a good hike, but not as far as usual. I was pretty burned out by then from the Salem area. That was a good mile and a quarter down the river and the same amount back on the road.

That river will kill your legs.

[Bill C.]

Ken,glad you made it out to the Apple now you have me daydreaming of days gone by.I have been wondering if that river was still producing big numbers but I see from your report it isn't so.Back in 2004 and 2005 catching 50 to 100 smallies was common.I have only had one bad day out there and it came after a severe cold front that dropped the water temps to 49 degrees over night.The bright spot was the fact that we caught a lot of rainbows that day.Fish or no fish I still like the scenery,it's a beautifull place.

[Ken G]

Bill, when was the last time you were out there?
I'm trying to figure something out having to do with drought and floods and rivers and fish.

My mental gymnastics I go through.

[Bill C.]

Fisrt week of May 2006.I only caught about 20 smallies,nothing over 14 inches and a few trout.
My son-in-law caught 10 trout on a bone colored Bandit crankbait.Water levels were perfect but cold.

After I typed the sentence above I remembered going there in the fall.Went with several guys and
didn't do very well fishing a spot outide the park.We did hit one hole that held a ton of small fish between
10-12 inches.Nothing like 2004 when I stood in the middle of the park waiting for my friend to arrive and caught
35 smallies in an hour and a half.

[Ken G]

Because of the dam in Hanover, the Apple is kind of a closed system. Probably not much making it over the dam from the Mississippi.

We had the driest year in history in 2005. I've been told that under conditions like that where the fish get concentrated they'll eat each other up. I know big smallies feast on little smallies. Have to eat something.

Then we've had some pretty major flood events since 2006.

All I know is that when I was there in 2004 you could stand and watch smallies swimming around by the dozens. This was June and July, long after the spawn was over. This time I saw nothing. And, where the hell did all the creek chubs go.

I remember seeing "on another site" a couple of years ago someone reported crappy fishing on the Apple. Of course angler pressure was blamed.

I really don't think so. The average angler won't go 100 yards from a parking lot let alone put up with the leg breaking wades on the Apple.