FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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It was about noon when the boat slid off the trailer.  Air temp was 50 degrees and the wind was about 5 mph out of the east, and the lake was dead calm.  The water color still sucks, but at least up lake it looked like it might be thinking about clearing a little.

Weather

66/42  Cloudy becoming partly cloudy as the day wears on.  Wind ESE 5 – 10.  0% chance of rain.

Solunar Times

Best  1:47 pm to 3:47 pm.  Good  7:33 am to 9:33 am.

Lake Level

Today  96.94 msl   Last Trip 12/20  97.04 msl.

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The plan today with the obvious falling water temp was to stick with 3 baits, a jerk bait, a big swim bait, and the old standby, the swim jig.  First up was a deep channel bank in the plant arm with the jerk bait.  After an hour with no bites, disaster struck.  I picked up the swim bait.

I was happy to catch a fish, for a little bit.

It was good to catch the first one of the year, and only throwing the swim bait for 5 minutes when this guy jumped on made me think things were looking up.  The only problem?  This fish is the dreaded “Fish Who Tells You Nothing”.  I hate these guys, especially when I am doing something different.  For the next 2 hours I fished it deep, slow, shallow, points, and did not have another bite.  As I was doing that I would occasionally pick up the jerk bait, which they were not having.  I was starting to get nervous it was really going to suck.

At this point, after staying down lake and fishing deeper for a good 3 hours, it was time to head up lake and see what it was like.  The Skiff does not have a temp gauge. so while I couldn’t tell you the temp, sticking your hand in the water it was cold everywhere.

A nice one.  Things were looking up.

The last couple of hours 5 jumped on the bluegill looking swim jig.  Like the few I caught last trip they wanted it reeled off the bank and then hopped up and letting it fall as I took up the slack.  The ones that bit hit it pretty good.  I might have had 2 bites straight reeling it, the rest seemed to be following it with the water so cold, and hopping it at the perfect time, whatever that was, would generate a bite.  It was not fast by any means, then I started my 2018 with a bang!

I tried to get her to fit in the picture.  This was one solid fish!

The pictures do not do this girl justice.  It has been a while since I used the net but this was to big a fish to mess with.  Though I do not have a scale I did measure her, 24 1/2″.  You could easily put your fist in her mouth!  And it was actually the last bite of the day.  To finish the afternoon, it was 5:00, I hit another couple of deep banks, seems logical, but could not get another bite.  The only thing I learned today is I still do not have a good pattern.  But with warmer weather on the way the pre-spawn season will begin, and I can not wait.  So happy with a real big girl it was time to put it on the trailer and call it a good day.

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And our resident Head banger dropped me a note after I posted the other day about what might be next.

As to where to fish for now. One word for you: RIVER, RIVER, RIVER!!!

BTW, did I mention the river?

Huh.  Maybe I should go to the river.

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 It was good to be back on the water.  One thing I will say about the 50h Merc on the Skiff is it is a strong running motor.  Touch the key and off you go, not bad for the last of the carbureted 2 strokes.  Hope it lasts.  And the new trailer  for the LTS is being made as I write this.  It will probably be 6 weeks give or take a week, but it is needed.  Plus the Boss has banned me from a long trip until the trailer is under the boat, so the clock is ticking.

The weather looks great next week and I will be hard at it.  The Boss is on her rotation and I am basically a free man this week.  So this weekend I will be doing the total check of all my stuff, just get organized for the spring fishing to come.  And with the tackle room a complete mess and a couple of dirty boats it is time to get organized.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines