Fall is halfway gone, and it's safe to say that conditions have been a total contradiction to last fall. Low, clear water and warmer temps have been the rule. At this point, temps have turned seasonal and downright cold on some mornings, but low, clear water is still something we're dealing with. The smallmouth season finished on a strong note, with a 22" giant hitting the net on the last trip of the year. However, looking back on the season, I feel comfortable in saying that

It is generally unwise to state rules in fishing, without qualifiers. I’ve learned so quickly in answering questions from clients on the river. Words like “never” and “always” simply invite instances of “sometimes.” Add a lady to the mix, particularly one with the temporal relevance to hold things over your head for a long time to come, and “never” becomes “usually;” and “always,” “almost never.” For this is the way that Murphy’s Law operates. For instance, if you’re looking