FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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Day 3

It was supposed to be cloudy all day and finally clearing, and that is exactly what the weather did.  The end of 2 days of rain and clouds with clearing does not bode all that well for the day.  I took it easy this morning, the bite has been in the afternoon, and it played out just like it has the last couple of days when I fished the lake.

I started way up lake, and other than one small one pitching, and a couple of small ones on spinnerbait, it was a bust.  The water is quite off-color and it is hard to guess whether that had something to do with the lack of bites up lake, or it is just an afternoon bite.  So after not doing all the much I went back to the Controlled Descent pearl jerk shad and stuck with it the rest of the afternoon.  It was 3 here, 4 there, 1 on this point, 3 in the back end, it was a consistent bite even if they ran smaller today.

               They bit the Controlled Descent pearl jerk shad all afternoon.

The bite really started about 1:00 after I headed down lake to a little clearer water and they were biting when I called it a day at 4:00.  Of course they wanted it differently today.  It was a steady jerk/pause working it sub- surface like you would walk the dog with a Spook.  Remember it is critical that you make sure the jerk shad is on there as straight as possible so it glides and not spin.  I have been using a hook with a keeper and a 1/16oz weight on the shank and it is important to let it sink just a second before working it.  The belly weight on the hook will keep it up right and walking nicely.  It takes a minute to get a good cadence, and it is all about having it on there straight.  Not a one took a pass at it when  I stopped it, they just wanted a nice regular cadence.

                                  I missed the only big fish bite I got all day.

Now using it that way I definitely missed more fish when moving it along today.  Several materialized out of nowhere half way back and just did not get it, or at least I missed them.  Unfortunately I made a big mistake, the kind that drives a tournament fishermen crazy.  A really big fish, the only one I saw in 3 days, came out of an isolated  bush and rolled on the Controlled Descent and did not hook up.  I was ready and tossed a watermelon red senko back on her and she ate, and I did not get a hook in her.  No excuses, should have been a slam dunk.

The lake is definitely clearing and holding steady.  A lot of the water temps over the lake are in the high 70’s.   I have learned a couple of things that are applicable to the lake right now.  First, though I did not pitch much today, that is really the way to go as it has been for me the last couple of summers.  There are multiple banks on the lakes with deep water and heavy cover, the place to be right now.  Second, there are still fish in the coves, but they are getting smaller by the day as the lake heads into a summer pattern.  We are a month early this year and it shows.

I did not fish all that well today.  Got a little to hung up on places that are just done for the spring, at least as far as the big fish go.  And since I only had one bite from a really big fish, obviously I need a change of tactics.  It is apparent that being gone I probably missed the best fishing with the Controlled Descent Lure, a great bait for shallow bass, it sure did put them in the boat the last couple of days.  Funny how when you catch 20+ in a short day and am not really happy with the results.  All in all I could have fished better.

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Get Inhaled!

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Thanks to a couple of Jims, and few others, for your welcome back.  It is good to be back on the old stomping grounds, but I am still feeling like some fish catching travel.  I have a couple of things in the works and we will just have to see how the timing works out with everything else going on around here.

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As soon as I hit publish it is out to the boat and see just why in the hell I have running lights but no brake or turn signals on the Mako trailer.  When I changed both boats over to LEDs a couple of years ago I have not had any problems.  If I were guessing it is either a ground issue or a plug issue.   First I will just back up and hook on to the Carolina Skiff and make sure they work, probably the quickest way to ascertain whether it is a plug problem, ground problem, or a problem with the Mako trailer.  And while I am at it check and grease the hubs and make sure nothing in the compartments is wet from being in the rain a couple of days.   Owning boats is a never ending process that takes time and money.  I really should not complain, when you fish over 150 days a year stuff is going to fail, it always has and always will.

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Not sure what or where is next, but time for some wading.  Our wind has stayed up, it often just turns into putting on your big boy pants and just go.  Occasionally being able to pick your days is a good thing, and other times it is easy to let time pass and then  you wonder why you haven’t been.  The wind usually is just a hassle on the ride, but once in the water can be managed.  Plus, I want to get in some topwater fishing, this is usually the best time of year for it other than late fall.  So off to get some stuff done so it can be back on the water.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines