Weather: Cloudy w/scattered showers
Wind: SE 5-10mph
Water Temp: 81F
Tide: Falling near low
Had a big fish fry last night, so decided to try for some topwater trout this morning to put a few fish back in the freezer. I was racing the falling tide and storm clouds. Third cast with the BodonkaDonk and I boated a 16" trout and I thought it would be a big number day. But I was wrong. Landed a couple blues and had no more trout takers.
Next location was an oyster point with a long 2’ deep flat extended to a deeper 10’ channel. Began drizzling and skies to the Southwest threatening. Tide had slowed to a crawl across the point but plenty of bait on the flat. Made about 50 casts to one side of the point a was dejected there were no takers. I thought sure there had to be some good fish there. Tide was barely moving by now so I relocated to the shallower, more sloping side of the point. Made an extremely long cast and something finally gulped my plug. Big bend in rod and mud trail as fish screamed around the shallows. I was sure it was a red and was hoping it was inside the slot. When I saw the white belly and specks on the side the adrenalin rush really kicked in! I’m always amazed to discover this size fish in such shallow water.
At 25", not sure if it’s my PB but it’s dang close and certainly the biggest since I started this topwater adventure.
Fished until dead low flat water but rain was moving in and I had no more takers. Didn’t matter, this fat girl made my day but ruined my BodonkaDonk.
if you’re really a geek on those things, pick up the DNR booklet on trout. alot of biology, but some fishing stuff too. the larger fish are nearly always females. and they’re prolific breeders. opti will tell ya - put her back. and he’s right. one of the big ones outspawns many smaller ones
Got the booklet and have read and re-read. Guess I’ve had it backwards. I do CPR the majority of my catches especially in the smaller range. In fact my family gives me hell for not bringing more home. But will sometimes keep a fish on the larger size reasoning that it’ll feed the same amount as 2 or three smaller fish and is nearing the end of the lifespan anyway. Kept this one and feel a bit guilty but will enjoy the family dinner table and will give appropriate thanks for the harvest.
It’s all good PeaPod, I always feel a bit guilty about killing creatures that give me so much enjoyment but it fades a bit when I tuck into a fish dinner.
