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Date: October 28, 2023 Body of Water: Sebago Lake - Maine Boat: amybaby22 With: Alone Target: Togue (Lake Trout) Time: 9:45 AM - 3:45 PM Moon Phase: Full moon Conditions: Clear and bright, but with some clouds and rain by session's end; calm but with a persistent southwesterly wind developing at 11 AM at about 10 - 15 mph; 60 - 75 degrees. Water temperatures 57 - 59 degrees F (+/-) and thermocline still in place. With a strong southwesterly wind predicted to develop, I decided to run across Sebago to the north end of Frye Island while I could. I figured I could always tuck into the channel between Frye and the mainland if need be, or cross the straits at the south end to the western shore of the lakes' main basin to explore new, but protected waters. By 10 AM, I was set up along Frye's western shore, exploring depths between 50 and 100 feet as I made my way north. My initial spread (which I ended up running all day) was the productive red-eyed white spoon off ten colors of lead; and a white/lemon/lime spoon of the same model off a newly rehabilitated rig with 150 feet of copper line. Theoretically, these were both attaining 45 feet or more of depth, and perhaps even a bit more at my target speed between 1.5 and 2 mph. Since water temperatures were basically stuck and I was still marking the thermocline with some regularity, I thought I'd give these their due time, at least until I'd convinced myself they were not working. The first hit came quickly and was a violent drive-by on the full core. Despite the rod doubling over dramatically and staying pinned down for a moment, somehow this fish was not hooked. Oh well, I continued my path to the north, noting some interesting structural elements worthy of additional inspection in subsequent trolling passes. One such element had some obvious targets hanging about, including a couple suspended about 45 feet down over 75 feet of water. Sure enough, the full core got bit again, and I was happy to slide the net beneath a spunky 21-inch togue. The first goal of the day had been fulfilled; my targeted quarry had been captured! I pulled the copper rig and motored to the south to set for another pass. As I turned into the wind, I noticed that conditions had dramatically deteriorated. The breeze had become a stiff wind, and whitecaps were forming over the main basin. Conditions were still very fishable, though, so I decided to stay in the area. After all, I'd had fish in two new locations and had not yet even made it to the area I expected to fish, hard! Lines reset, I made my way north for the second pass of the morning. The next action occurred almost directly over the waypoint for that last fish. Once again, I was marking some obvious targets on the sonar. This time, the copper rig bounced; nobody seemed to be at home, but a few beats later the rod bent over sharply. My newly-deployed, old-school approach paid off with a fat 23-incher. This rig had the advantages of being more effective at transmitting the actions of the fish, as well as being easier and quicker to deploy. I may have to cannibalize my 300-foot rig into additional, shorter presentations. With baits reset, I continued north through the waypoints from the previous weekend. Nothing happened in these 65 - 90-foot depths, but as I turned out over the deeper water at the end of this sunken bar, the full-core rod doubled over with a heavier fish. This turned out to be a beautifully marked 25-inch togue; my biggest Maine trout to date! Goal No. 2 for the day was now fulfilled, too! The wind was now really howling, and so I decided to hide in the lee of Frye Island. I trolled the picturesque channel between Frye and the mainland with out a bump. As I turned into the wind to get over the bar for another pass, once again the full core rod bent to a heavier fish; this 25-incher ate over 120 feet of water or more, but still near the edge of the break onto the bar extending from Frye's northern point. I circled around the sunken point's end, looking for another edge or deepwater fish, but to no avail. It was now about 2 PM, and I had a decision to make; stay and grind, or seek cover from the wind in unknown water? I decided one more fish would be nice and so I set up for a long pass through the water that had produced the day's action. If I didn't get one in the hour or so left of my fishing time, so be it; at least I knew I was around fish. I set the same spread, but changing out the copper rig's spoon with a "Bloody Nose" alewife spoon. At about 3 PM, the bite picked up nicely with three more fish along this now-familiar stretch. The full core produced two, the copper, one; all fish were the smallest of the day between 18 and 20 inches. Bites came between 75 and 110 feet of water, and at least two of the three were over or adjacent to existing waypoints; the third came from a juicy piece of structure (a feeding shelf in about 85 feet of water, leading to the extensive bar, but flanked by deep water, too). Goal No. 3 was in the bag; I'd landed five or more togue for the day. It was now cloudy, raining a bit, and the wind had a northwesterly component to it. I pounded my way into the harbor, perhaps the last person left on the lake for the day. What do I have to say about this? I left Goal No. 4 on the table; I didn't even attempt to catch a fish by jigging. Oh well, the trolling bite was good enough and it was certainly too windy to try to learn the jigging bite. I spoke with the Park Ranger on my way in this day, and he mentioned that anything "over 20 inches" is a nice togue on Sebago; but that trout to 30 pounds are caught each year. So I guess I am on the right fish, and there's at least a chance of an encounter with a true, quality fish. That's enough to keep me at this. A mounting system and hardware have been secured for a downrigger, so I look forward to adding that presentation to my spread in future trips. Catching fish on a clean downrigger presentation is more fun than dragging full cores! Although I do recognize, that on any given day, any presentation can be more productive than another. The 150 Copper fished pretty easily and showed itself well; I think I will add a 75 Copper to the arsenal, too. By my calculations, that should swim about 20 or 25 feet down and be light enough to be fun, overall. It was a beautiful Indian Summer day; but the weather has turned. Cold temperatures and wind will likely change things up before I can get out there again. Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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