10/29/2006:  Mike Rappette and I fished the St. Joe River this morning from 7:30 am-12:00 pm.  The water temperature was a frigid 43 degrees and there was a stiff west wind.  The key to our success was finding warm water and current breaks.  We caught at least 20 bass, including 13 keepers using small jigs and light line.  Our best 5 bass weighed just under 14 lbs.  Mike caught the biggest smallie and it weighed 4 pounds 3 ounces.

10/24/2006:  I wish I had a camera tonight on the St. Joe River.  It was the best fall fishing I've ever experienced.  In 1 1/2 hours I caught 14 smallies and they were all quality keepers.  My best five bass weighed an impressive 19 pounds 8 ounces.  I had four cookie cutter 4 pound 2 ounce smallies and one 3 pound  chunk.   I caught all of my bass using a very secret lure!!! :)

10/19/2006:  I took my neighbor fishing for smallmouth on the St. Joe River this afternoon.  It was pretty chilly outside and the water temp was 51 degrees.  The bite was fantastic tonight!!  We caught 13 smallies in one spot and our best five weighed 17.1 pounds.  The biggest smallie I caught was a 4 pound 10 ounce football.  I also landed a nice 4 pounder and multiple 3 pound cookie cutters.  The most exciting event of the evening was when a 12 king salmon demolished my silver buddies.  I faught him for 5 minutes before my neighbor had him in the net.   

10/18/2006:  Kelly and I fished the St. Joe River tonight for 2 hours.  The water was high and muddy with a temerature of 52 degrees.  It was overcast and there was a Northwest wind.  When the river gets high and muddy the key is to find the clearest water possible.  Once Kelly and I found reasonably clear water we started to wack'em.   Using small jigs we brought 2 very nice smallies to the boat.  Kelly caught one that was 3 pounds and I caught one that was 4.5 pounds.  We also caught a few smaller bass but nothing to write home about.

10/7/2006:  What a beautiful day!  Kelly and I got on the St. Joe River at 10:30 am this morning.  It was about 65 degrees with brilliant sunshine.  The fishing wasn't too spectacular but we did manage to catch a couple keepers.  The smallies seem to be going through another transition.  I think it's because of the nice weather. After we fished for an hour or so, we docked our boat at Barney's and ate lunch.  It was a perfect afternoon. 

10/4/2006:  I finally got back on the St. Joe River tonight.  My father and I went out for a couple hours before dark to try and find giant smallies.  The bite was on!!!  We caught 15 smallies including a nice 4 lber and a sickly 3 lber that looked like it was hit by a boat.  My father also lost the biggest smallmouth I've ever seen!  It hit a tube about 20 ft from the boat and he yelled,"I got a Salmon!"  I looked over to see his rod buckled and a giant smallie boil on the surface.  Two tugs later it swam off with my dad's tube.  It had to be over 6 lbs!!