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Date: June 24, 2018 Body of Water: Lake St. Clair Boat: Numenon With: Alone Target: Walleye Time: 6:15 AM - 11:30 AM Conditions: Cloudy and 65 degrees with mild SW winds; but wind swinging to NW and persistent rain developing. Mid-lake water was clear, emerald green and about 64 degrees F. Tons of insects hatching (stones, caddis, mayflies.) I decided to take advantage of the change in seasons by doing something different; I chose to target walleye. I'd already caught a few while bass fishing here, and there is obviously a strong year class of "eaters"; many were saying it was the best walleye fishing in the system in years, if not decades. I was greeted at the gas station by a dozen or more tricked-out bass rigs. I then followed them into the park to wait with a dozen more rigs for access to the launch. I was pleased not to be targeting bass; these guys would have been a disruption to my plans. All went smoothly enough, but I was surprised that this launch was hosting such a large tournament. I asked the gent in the adjacent lane what time they would return for weigh-in, and he replied in a Southern drawl that this was not a tournament; they were here to practice for the tournament starting on Thursday! The air was filled with mayflies as I cruised down the channel. At the lake, conditions were gray and calm; I decided to run to the shipping lane and target the area from markers 26 to 28. The flat on the east side of the channel, adjacent to the Canadian border is a well-documented community hole. Even I had caught a couple of walleyes there a year ago! With the mild wind generally from the south, I chose to set up a bit upwind of my 2017 waypoints. My plan was to slowly troll with the electric motor, presenting bottom bouncers off each corner of the stern, and a weighted flat line farther back. My baits of choice were Mack's Smile blades with Gulp! pinched crawlers; or a standard crawler harness in fire-tiger with a real crawler. Once I adjusted my weights to stay on bottom in 19-foot depths at my dialed-in speed of 1.2 - 1.4 mph, the bites started accumulating quickly. The real crawler produced more bites, but the Gulp! seemingly produced slightly larger fish. Using bass casting tackle designed for cranks, detecting bites was easy and the fish were sporty enough. It was relaxing and fun! The first walleye came aboard just after 7 AM, and I secured my virtual limit (eight walleyes over 15 inches; all were released to continue growing) by 8 AM. The walleye ranged from 15 to 17 inches; and by this time, there were dozens of boats fishing this general area. Fortunately, my bites were a bit farther south than the main pack, and so I chose to work this spot with just a couple of companions. By 9 AM, I'd doubled my walleye catch and had also encountered a couple of perch and white bass, too. But the 'eyes were all the same size; I was no longer learning; the bite was slowing, and the lake was pretty calm. So I decided to relocate; and set up in about 14 feet of water outside the 9-Mile Tower. I almost immediately caught two 12-inch smallmouth bass. It was surprisingly weedy here, though, so I moved a bit north. As the weeds thinned out, the skies in front of me darkened. Now fishing in 16 or 17 feet of water north of 12-Mile, the flat-line got slammed! I immediately knew it wasn't a walleye; after a dogged fight including a few nice runs near the boat, it turned out to be a giant drum. Unfortunately, the small hook bent and pulled just before I could coax the fish into the net. At about this time, a persistent rain started; and it didn't look like it was going to stop. When the next fish was another walleye of the same year class, I decided I'd had enough. The boat was back on the trailer by Noon, and I was home by 2 PM or so. That gave me the rest of the day to watch the Sox and get ready for Maine! What do I have to say about this? This was a nice change of pace and let me shift gears from intense bass fishing to the intense striper fishing I will tackle over the week of July 4. The day's mission was certainly accomplished! Next stop - Casco Bay! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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Date: June 17, 2018 Body of Water: East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay Boat: Numenon With: Alone Target: Smallmouth Bass Time: 7:45 AM - 2:30 PM Conditions: Hot! Air temperatures from 75 to 95 degrees; cloudy but clearing. Fairly strong wind from the south at 10 - 15 mph, but calming in very late morning. Water temperatures 64 degrees F and very clear; some bass still spawning, but many empty nests. Up at 4 AM; at the ramp at 7:30 AM; and looking for my first bass of the day by 7:45 AM. Conditions featured flat lighting and too much wind; but I could see that there had been additional bedding activity during the week. Unfortunately, nobody seemed to be home, and in the first hour of fishing I saw only a single bass, missed my bite, and decided to look elsewhere. If only to minimize my exposure to the wind, I headed to the very southern end of the bay. I've heard the stories, and I've seen the crowds searching for bedding bass here. Personally, I've never had much luck. I scouted a large area, located some more (empty) beds and burned up some more time. Most boats seemed to be working depths greater than 10 feet; but I've no experience out there in this area, and could not see well enough to warrant the time exploring. I hit another spawning pocket on the west side of the bay, but still found no fish present. Based on the lack of visible fish and predominantly empty nests, I decided to switch to targeting post-spawn fish. I spent the next hour jerking water from 10 to 22 feet deep; I devoted this time to an area where I've pulled bass up from the depths on jerks before, and which features some scruffy weeds. I located a school of perch; but that was it; no bass showed themselves. By now, it was past 11 AM. I convinced myself that it was less windy and a bit brighter. In fact, it was; and when I returned to the marina/channel area on the east side of the bay, I noted much better sight-fishing conditions. I marked a couple of potential beds with my trusty buoys, and soon the first bass of the day (15 inches) was in the net! It had eaten a Ned Rig (Real Deal) in about 7 feet of water. I quickly caught a 16-incher with the same pattern/presentation. I was hitting my stride! But that was it for this area; I couldn't locate any more bass, despite cruising 5 to 9-foot depths over a widening expanse. At about Noon, I relocated to the sand flats outside my "pet" rocky reef area. I worked over eight or more nests in about 7 feet of water before I connected with 16- and 18-inch bass on consecutive casts. Unable to find more bass, I expanded my search area. I caught a couple of short bass while blind-casting to the rock edge of the reef. These were not the bass I was looking for! Unfortunately, the next group of bass that I found on beds further outside (8 or 9 feet of water) were short, too! I finished my day to the north, fishing transition edges and boulder fields. When the wind came up, I went Big with a spinnerbait, but nothing ever chased or bit. The opportunity cost of this was that I ran out of time to act on The Sure Thing; I never found the last, nest-guarding bass that would have completed my virtual limit for the day. What do I have to say about this? This trip was a bit of a gamble, because I knew it was going to be windy. But I also knew that this might be my last chance at sight-fishing for shallow bass. I also thought the previous week's heat might have flooded the shallows with new bass. Not wanting to miss out on that, or have to wait another 11 months or so to sight-fish smallies again, I decided to throw the dice and go! All in all, I am glad I did so. My catching wasn't great; but, facing a skunk, I worked hard for the bass I did catch. Moreover, I didn't have to think about what I might be missing out on! Sight fishing with Ned Rigs can be super productive, but it does make pursuing other options difficult. In a way, I welcome the change in seasons. The bass will move deeper and I will have to use my imagination a bit more to find them. I welcome the challenge! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways Date: June 9, 2018 Body of Water: East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay Boat: Numenon With: A Target: Smallmouth Bass Time: 10:45 AM - 4:15 PM Conditions: Generally overcast and 65 - 70 degrees with easterly winds at about 10 mph. Water was very clear and 58 - 59 degrees F. A few bass were up on beds on the eastern side of the bay. Flat lighting and a bit of wind made sight-fishing difficult at times. We crossed the bay to the vicinity of the rock reef that had produced my fish during the last trip. With water temperatures still shy of 60 (58 - 59 degrees F), I expected pre-spawn conditions with some fish, perhaps, visible. I stopped short of the reef to prepare a cranking rod for A. I expected to either jerk or drag a Ned Rig, but when I observed the round, blue indications of a spawning bed in about 7.5 feet of water about 100 yards off the reef, I immediately picked up Ned. I almost immediately scored a nice, 17-inch smallie with a "Real Deal" Ned Rig. I didn't sight-fish this bass, but it ate on the very edge of an incipient bed. However, cruising the area presented few additional targets or opportunities; and so I nosed up to the edge of the reef. Soon a scrappy 15-incher ate Ned; again, I hadn't sighted the fish, but was rather fishing the visible rock/sand interface in about 5 feet of water. Neither of us had any further action inside, over or around this small reef, and so we relocated several miles to the north. This area has provided good fishing in the past, and offers a mix of depths, sand, gravel and boulders. Cruising and looking, the shallows seemed barren of fish or fish activity, while depths of 11 to 15 feet seemed to offer targets including boulders and possible bass nests. While A cranked or dragged a jig/crawler combo about, I alternated a rattle bait and a jerk bait with Ned. This proved to be a frustrating hour or more, as we connected with zero fish. I felt seriously out of synch, as I wanted to feed my confidence by seeing fish and targets; but without having received any positive feedback, here. I also found that I was fishing the jerk and rattle baits without confidence; and so I resolved to find more visible targets to fish! We moved farther south to the vicinity of a maintained channel, around which, in the past, I have observed bedding bass. I also believe this channel might provide the means for the bass to travel from the depths, across the huge flat, to their spawning locations. It didn't take long to find a few targets in about 7 feet of water; but these beds seemed to be barren, and I was struggling with the wind a bit, too. I decided to go as shallow as I'd ever been on the bay and drift out, across the flat and through these targets. Perhaps that stealthier and more comfortable approach would yield better results. I was pleased to see a glowing blue nest in about 4.5 feet of water, with a blackened bass visibly on post as we proceeded into the shallows. I was super pleased to find out that this nest was just one of several in this immediate area. Having marked the first nest with a buoy to let it rest, I slowly identified a handful of additional targets within easy reach. Thus commenced the easiest and best fishing of the day; the next hour or so produced a half dozen bass between 15 and 19 inches. All ate my trusty Ned Rig; I didn't even bother trying anything else! Now, the day was even a fishing success; and so I went searching for additional bass. Expanding our area, I identified several more bedding areas; but with diminishing returns. There were definitely more beds closer to the channel than further away; and these beds were more likely to be near 5 feet of water than 7 or 8. We finally relocated to our original starting point. Again expanding my search area, I confirmed a few more targets. But not many; with the upcoming new moon and another week of warming temperatures forecast, perhaps the bass will arrive en mass, soon. I hope to be there, too! What do I have to say about this? This was a pretty big day-trip, including more drive-time than fish-time (which I am typically against), but this was the only way we could share this experience together, this weekend. We both decided it was better to squeeze it into one day than to forgo the opportunity, altogether. A has not seen the bay really shine, nor has she been able to share much sight-fishing for smallies. We returned home tired, but content. I'd caught some nice fish, she'd relaxed and enjoyed the day on the water, we'd experienced no problems at all, and Oliver was super happy to see me return home! But most importantly, we'd shared yet another nice day together! The fish were just an excuse to build the day around. I should really know that by now. I have to admit, this realization still kind of surprises me, every time! Over the course of the day, A and I had plenty of time to discuss (among other things) my ill-formed ways of thinking. For instance, I voiced my concern about not being sure I liked bed fishing. I enjoyed seeing and catching the fish, but it seemed to damage my ability to trust and enjoy myself. Plus, it was hard to be happy with just two, five, eight or twenty fish. I always wanted to be certain I could find the next one! That next one might be the impetus for my next trip. Or, I could admit to myself that the next trip is actually about being outside, enjoying the beautiful settings and scenery, and perhaps holding another beautifully large smallmouth. I only know one thing for certain; given the chance, I'm gonna go! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways Date: June 2, 2018 Body of Water: Crystal Lake (Benzie County) Boat: DS' Bass Cat With: DS Target: Smallmouth Bass Time: 8:30 AM - 4 PM Conditions: Water conditions were very clear and 60 - 64 degrees F; the bass were seemingly in initial stages of the spawn. Northerly to easterly winds were generally < 10 mph, skies were clear, air temperatures were 55 - 75 degrees F. The early morning drive north featured more wind and rain than I'd have liked or predicted, but by the time DS and I met in Manistee, skies were mostly clear and the northeasterly wind didn't seem too strong. I still had concerns for the day (Crystal Lake is big water, and wind would likely not help our search for shallow bass), but by the time I stepped aboard DS' bass boat, most of my concerns were gone. The day's tournament was small, conditions were great, and DS had a couple of hundred waypoints from years of experience on this water. With water temperatures registering at 60 degrees and likely to climb with the day's sunshine, we thought we just might find some bass in the shallows. With a little bit of wind-driven chop and the low sun angle, sight fishing conditions weren't perfect; but they were good enough! Some bass were in; perhaps not the main push (to come with the approaching new moon?), but enough to hunt and track down. While we had to share them a little bit with tournament boats, for most of the day we settled into sight-fishing these bass. Some were on active nests, a couple were paired with potential mates, and many were simply adjacent to visible objects on the sand flats. We saw some cruisers, too, but cranking and jerking did not produce any bites for me. For the very most part, I presented Ned Rigs to objects and bass while DS relied on a pale chartreuse tube and a pale chartreuse drop shot worm. DS also scored a couple of fish slow-crawling a sand-colored grub on a light darter head. Our action was rarely on fire, but we were "on" bass or targets just about the entire day. Some bass succumbed incredibly easily, while others simply refused to bite. The density of available bass was fairly low, but it was also striking how reliable DS' waypoints were from previous years. Even if a bass was not present at the designated location, typically we'd encounter an object, an incipient nest, or a vacant nest. The bass do seem to be faithful to these locations! With an easy, virtual "limit" approximated at 13 pounds boated by 10 AM or so, we continued the fishing. Over the course of the day we landed approximately 18 legal-sized bass and lost at least half a dozen others. I accounted for most of the losses (at one point I realized that my Ned jig was bent. Replacing it, I regained my stroke, at least until I inexplicably broke off a nice fish on the hookset), but this was just fun fishing, there were no consequences to lost fish, and DS actually caught several of the fish I'd lost, so we got to see them, anyway! By my reckoning, our final "limit" would have weighed a conservative 15.5 pounds, featuring fish of 20.5, 18, 17, 17 and 16.5 inches. The apparent winning tournament weight was reportedly "almost 20" pounds, so somebody found some bigger fish. I'd bet they weren't all bedding fish! What do I have to say about this? I'd intentionally worn my C's hat, as this day was, in part, a celebration of my friendship with DS. We met and worked together at C's, but have only fished together a couple of times. We both knew the bass should be there; why not make it happen? I didn't have any legitimate excuse to not be there! So many good things came out of my time at C's; a little bit of money, a fair amount of discounted tackle, muskie fever, a tremendous uptick in my overall enjoyment of fishing; and a couple of good friendships with good guys. Sharing the day, the boat and a meal with DS (all while being relieved of having to tow my boat, find my fish, etc.) was a welcomed break and a great way to spend my time! And then, of course, there was the fishing and the setting. The fishing wasn't Earth-shattering (it should just get better in the next 10 days or so), but it was pretty darn good, and in a world-class setting! In fact, I was so focused on the fishing all day that I didn't stop to truly appreciate the beauty of this area and this waterbody. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon occurrence for me. Fortunately, I know I am at least smart enough to appreciate the setting and opportunities afforded deep in my bones. Somehow, that appreciation was only further cemented during my drives, both by the scenery and wildlife I encountered, but also by the available Classic Rock that seems to prominently feature Kid Rock and Ted Nugent on every trip Up North! Finally, it's probably just as well that the opportunity to target bedding smallies only presents itself a couple of times a year. It's certainly addictive, but I also think it might lead to regression of one's angling skills and confidence in other techniques (even if they are likely to produce larger bass.) When one can bag a four-pounder on a two-foot cast, or casually lose a fish to carelessness because one knows there are more bites to be had, one might not be working towards self-improvement. But, it's just so darn fun! And the bass are big (enough) and beautiful! There are so many other days to turn this into work; I'll accept this style of fishing as an occasional guilty pleasure! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways |
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