Time for the Sunday Report … We made the last minute decision to go Sunday morning since it looked like the weather was lifting just a little bit - I wasn’t able to get the kids up in the AM (their loss) so it was just Liz and I on the boat today …
Took all the knowledge that had been passed to us (Huge thanks to Chip and others that have helped) and the new gear we picked up (Thanks Corey - the Grayline tank works GREAT - still has bait in her ) and we headed out …
Got to Beaverdam and started fishing planer boards and freelines about 7:45ish … Did a couple of loops - had several pull downs and lost bait, but only pulled in one at 25" …
Left there and went to Black’s and started trolling the shorelines … Few more pull downs and lost bait, but managed to pull in three more - 2 shorts and a 24" …
Left Black’s and went to … someplace at the forks - couldn’t tell ya the name if my life depended on it … pulled in and almost scuttled the boat on some rocks … no joke, it went from 15’ to 1’ in the time it took me to walk from the center console to the trolling motor … got the hell outta there and went up some creek to catch our breath …
We decide to put the boards out and started up again … about this time (12:30ish) it’s misting pretty good and I have no wet weather gear, but we stuck it out anyways … we looped around and were coming out of the creek and we pulled two more - both just over 22-23" … so we decide to loop the mouth of the creek …
As we go to make out turn some idiot in a bright yellow bass boat with a horrifically sounding Mercury buzzed in and literally SAT right where we pulled the last two Striper … I mean as soon as we cleared the spot he came from nowhere and sat right there … We figured he’d leave so as we looped around we kept pulling Striper - we had already decided to not take any more so as we caught them we would simply measure them and throw it back … we caught three more as we looped around the 2nd time with this jackwagon still
Man, that is a great report! Makes me want to go TOMORROW. Planer board setup looked strikingly familiar LOL… How was the water level? Were the shad getting the majority of the strikes opposed to the Herring or didn’t you mix? Did you have any luck on the freeline out the back of the boat? Sounds like a great day.
ONLY had Shad … Better bait was wiped out … I think we took almost all of the bait he had left … that being said, they only charged us for 3.5 dozen … pretty sure we had at least 4.5 … Great place - they are trying to stay open all Winter so use them if you can …
Water level was down at least 5-7’ (hence the almost hitting the “rocks”) … This is our 1st season fishing the top end of the lake so we have nothing to compare it to … So I have no idea what, if any, affect the draw down is having on the fishing …
As for the setup - We admit it - we ripped it off of Chip - but, it works really well on our boat … Plus we have the added advantage of having the deck up front so [if] we can work the fish to the front then all the lines are clear in the back …
I try to keep track of what line gets hit the most …
Beaverdam: Port-side rods to the bank - Starboard rods to the center of the pool - Starboard side saw more action - although there were pulldowns on both sides - Nothing out the back
Black’s: Port-side rods to the bank - Starboard rods to the river - all fish caught on Starboard - although there were pulldowns on both sides - Nothing out the back
Bass-hole Creek: Port-side rods to the center - Starboard rods to the bank - Both sides saw action although slightly more on the Port-side rods - Far less pulldowns at this location (we were started to question our exclusive use of Circle hooks) - Transome line had one swipe, but no hook-up - Freeline had several pulldowns and 2 hook-ups …
Funny moment of the day …
I’m hooked up and pulling in what feels like a little Striper … Liz is like, “Do you need a net” to which I say, “No, I can feel that it’s tiny” … So she goes back to throwing her pencil popper … as the fish gets to the boat and starts splashing, I yell,“IT’S HUGE!!! IT’S HUGE!!! GET THE NET!!! GET THE NET!!!” … You would have thought the boat was on fire, sinking, and struck by lightning - ALL AT THE SAME TI
Same thing will happen whenever I throw back a small perch. If it floats I have to get it out of the water quickly or here come the gulls and then the bird chasers will nearly swamp our boat. They sure can be aggravating.
If they would learn to turn off their big motors and approach quietly with their trolling motors they’d catch a lot more fish out of each striper school. I guess some folks never learn!! Thank goodness for the cracker and popcorn tricks!! I might have to use them soon!!
Great report and sounds like a great day employing lots of the information shared on this forum, in spite of the kamakazies.
pulled in and almost scuttled the boat on some rocks … no joke, it went from 15’ to 1’ in the time it took me to walk from the center console to the trolling motor … got the hell outta there and went up some creek to catch our breath … </font id=“size1”>
Does that mean you haven’t upgraded your fishfinder with gps and hotmaps yet?
Great report and sounds like a great day employing lots of the information shared on this forum, in spite of the kamakazies.
pulled in and almost scuttled the boat on some rocks … no joke, it went from 15’ to 1’ in the time it took me to walk from the center console to the trolling motor … got the hell outta there and went up some creek to catch our breath … </font id=“size1”>
Does that mean you haven’t upgraded your fishfinder with gps and hotmaps yet?
That would be correct … still using the same ol’ Humminbird …
Maybe one day I’ll upgrade, but we’ve already dumped almost $3K into the boat this year between the trolling motor (and everything that goes with that), misc electronics (new radio, amp, etc.,), and fishing gear (Grayline, planer boards, lures, etc.,) soooooooooooooooooooo maybe Santa will be nice to us this year and leave an nice Lowrance 10" Touch Screen under the tree … hummmmmmmmmm, wonder if he likes Striper …
) and we headed out …
