I fished Billy Clapp for the first time, from 7pm until dark. The swimming hole/boat launch area was so packed you had to park uphill outside of the recreational area. I was staying in Soap Lake, where I was told it hit 106. I don't know if it was that hot, but if it wasn't it was just a few degrees shy. I hiked to the left of the swimming area and pitched a senko for smallmouths along the cliff-like banks. The bite was pretty on. I probably caught about ten fish averaging 3/4 of a pound. On one retrieve I started reeling my line in really fast, assuming the hole was fished out, when a brown water-to-air missile shot into the sky and inhaled my senko. It turned to out to be my personal record for a smallmouth, at just over a pound. And yes, I realize that's a pretty pathetic PR, but please understand I just caught my first smallie ever last year.

One observation worth nothing about the Billy Clap Smallmouth is they strike incredibly hard. At Soda Lake, where I was reeling in similar-sized smallies left and right, I could use the same senko for about five fish. At Billy Clap by the second fight the senko was more-or-less bitten in half.

Also RATTLESNAKE WARNING. I saw three adults crossing the road just after dark when I left. Two of which were within a quarter mile of the boat launch area.

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