Return to the French Broad

This afternoon I fished the French Broad for the 2nd time.  I tried a new put-in closer to the areas I wanted to fish.  I'm guessing the dam was generating because the water was moving pretty quick.

This was the 1st catch of the day.

The fish were biting and I did very well with tube baits - white and copper colored.  Most of the bites coming just behind an island where the current comes back together.

That's about the biggest smallmouth I've ever caught...and 3 in the same day!  I brought a medium weight rod on the water instead of an ultralight and I think it really helped!  I only lost 1 fish, which looked to be a pretty good sized largemouth when it jumped out of the water.

I found a bench with a great view on the opposite side of the river.  After some sitting, two ladies and their dogs came hiking into this spot.  They were surprised to see someone and so was I!

...sun setting over the mountains on the drive home.