9/3 - Fished the Spokane Arm for the first time, mostly around Porcupine Bay. Caught some smallies with a jig rigged V&M 4" chartreuse-pumpkin colored Ringer using a chartreuse colored jig head. I also tried a black Ringer with a pink jig head. Both rigs produced strikes and a number of smallies. The first day and a half of the two day fishing trip was slow and unproductive overall. Other anglers complained that the fishing was slow too, so I didn't take all the blame, being it was my first trip there. Last few hours of my two day fishing trip, I found myself just east of Mill Canyon in the upper reach of the Spokane Arm, desparate to hook into some fish before heading back to the launch. I found lots of fish between 15-18 feet down and about 50 feet out from the grass mats. Despite the annoying 4-stroke mosquitoes and water bugs buzzing all around, I slow trolled a 6" Junebug colored V&M 2-Twist ribbon worm rigged on a lead-head jig. Don't ask me why I thought this would worked, it was just a gut instinct. I rigged a second hook just ahead of the riibbon tail to hook up those short-strikers. The wind was light and the water mostly flat. I set a course parallel to the grass mats and cast out off the back of the boat. I only had 1/4 ounce jig heads, so I let out a lot of line to allow the worm to reach depth, then I would peel off a foot of line every second (using a bait casting reel is suggested). The strikes came right after I let out some line. I caught five smallmouth and one walleye (my one short-striker) in less than an hour with the most exciting hauls occurring when I had about 100-150 feet of line out. All fish were about a 1 to 2 lbs ranging from 12 to 16 inches and all were released. The fight of those smallies made the trip worthwhile -- just wish I had more daylight and time. I won't be wasting much time on the next trip. I suggest using 3/8 or 1/2 ounce jig heads to get the bait to depth more quickly, and despite waterskiers, I hooked up on every trolling pass. I look forward to returning and using this technique in other areas of the Spokane Arm. I plan on experimenting with other dark and natural colors, but I am convinced that the action and scent of the V&M 2-Twist produced the strikes. I hear tubes work well too, so I plan to experiment with some V&M tubes. Hope to hear that my brief success proves itself with others. Good luck and good casting.

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