I fished with Spoonmaster and friend Kelly today in Ballentine Cove. Though a cold, raw start, it turned out to be a pretty day. We pulled 2 areas and spoon jerked 2 spots to end up with 3 keepers, 11 throwbacks, 2 cats, a yellow perch, a 3 pound largie(thanks to Spoon for letting a good eating fish slip back into the lake:smiley:), and 100+ white perch. We kept 86 of the perch and many were over pound! A great day wetting hooks with friends!
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
Fog, Thanks for a really fun fishing trip. Kelly and yours truly had a great time! Iām not sure which one of us enjoyed it more. Iāll call it a tie.
Nowā¦ about that largemouthā¦ I always talk to the largies and ask if they want to be one of my āpet fishā. Usually whisper to them if someone else is in the boat, donāt want to look crazy after all. I explain that largies have the option either to get fried or be released and bite again for me in catch and release tournaments. All they need to do is wiggle if they agree to be one of my pet fish. This one agreed/wiggledā¦so I let her go. Iāve got pet fish scattered all over Murray and a few other lakes. I tell them a secret signal and bait so they can know for sure that its me fishing and some do bite again, some donāt. I guess some largies just canāt be trusted. Sorry, canāt post the secret signal hereā¦ Might cause a shortage of my pet fish if everyone knew the signal.
On a serious note, I have released a bunch of big largies. Mostly because they arenāt stocked and I want them to have the chance to spawn and create more fish for the future.
Oh yeah, how did my VANISH LINE and 3/4 CC spoons work yesterday? Seemed to work pretty well to me. Do I remember correctly, nice largie, nice striper, yellow perch, catfish, bunch of white perch and a big ole gizzard shad, all on the CC? The chief fishing director, that being you, definitely put us on some fish yesterday. How much time do you think we actually fished for the perch? Iām guessing maybe 2 hours or slightly more total.
I think together we tried 7 different spoons and caught fish on all but the big Hopkins that Kelly tried for a while. Speaking of Kelly, Iām almost certain weāve converted him into a spoon fisherman. What a super nice person he is.
The only way it could have been a better day is if your Dad had been there. We both know how much he enjoys fishing the spoons. Thanks again for a great fishing trip. No, Iām wrong, I should say thanks for a great catching trip!!
James, do you ever throw any perch into the spread when you are pulling for stripers?
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Yes he does. Been there, saw that yesterday. He covers all of the bases.
We put the yellow perch behind a planer board yesterday and pulled it for an hour without a sniff. There are some keepers to be had in Ballentine, but I think Iām going back up-lake next week.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
Spoon, it turns out Diddy had stuff to do yesterday that would have prevented him coming anyway. Youāre right. Kelly is a super great guy who is always welcome on the Hardcore Xpress anytime I have room.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
Iāll be sure to give Kelly your compliments and let him know. As youāre aware, Iāll be out of action again next weekend. If you want someone with you while youāre prefishing give Kelly a call. I think heād like to go if he isnāt obligated to do something else.
Between yesterdayās fishing and the chemo I was pretty tired last night. I took it pretty easy all day today. One thingās certain, being tired from working the spoons and catching fish like we did is about the best tired there is. It was really good to see some clear water for a change. Iād almost forgotten what clear water looks like. I might get out with the toonboat, TM only, later this week. Iāll let you know if a see anything that looks good in the muddy water.