I was out last Fri the 15th with bait and all. I was loaded for bear (or is it bare?). Didn't matter cause the fish did not cooperate. Saw some fish, but not a lot. Back and forth between Betty's and Becky's and over past the condos, but nothing cooking. Yesterday (Tues) I got out early and was in Betty's by 6:00am. Trolled all the way back looking but saw nothing. Ran over to Becky's and did the same thing. Again nothing. It was overcast then and just a bit foggy.

Back to Betty's at 9:00am and started seeing fish at the gazebo. Stopped and dropped some minnows. In a few minutes I got bit (actually the minnow got bit, I was fine). Had the fish to the boat and grabbed the net and goodbye fish. Seems the hook got slightly bent and the fish pulled free. Strange for a good Gamakatsu circle. Kept seeing fish and was hit again but no hookup. Odd, since these minnows were on the small size. Another bite and this one went in the live well. Nice 27".

By now it was around 10:00 and the fish moved out to the mouth of Betty's. Several boats were working there and as I eased over I was marking many fish in small schools. Could I get one? Noooooooooooooo. Only saw a couple of fish boated out of all the boats that were there. By noon I started across to Becky's and the condos. On the outside of the channel in front of the condos one rod really took off. I was outside the treeline and tracked over a clean bottom but whatever I had was not to be stopped. The rod was bouncing and bucking so I was sure it wasn't a tree. The drag was as tight as I dared and while clearing the other lines, this line went dead. Heartbreaking. I was sure it was a BIG one. Kept trying, kept seeing the fish but couldn't get bit. The other few diehards weren't getting fish either.

Stuck it out til 2:00pm, past my normal quitting time, and headed in. Hot and sunny, remember to wear you sun protection.

Later Joel

Yes, I have been gone for a while. Was busy with Wounded Warriors practice and fishing. And last week was another whole different story. Ok, I'll tell you. I went out on my first night fishing adventure last Wednesday night. Started at 6:30pm and trolled around looking for fish somewhere. Stayed between R28 and R30 cause I'm most familiar with this area. Went and looked up Hales Creek and near sundown saw WHOLE BUNCHES of bait balls. Surely the stripers would follow.

By dark the bait was at the shorelines doing its thing and I could hear them. I cast a bunch of stuff in several places. NOTHING! Never heard any big splashes either. Moonset was 2:30am. Damn, it got dark! Stayed out a little longer and then quit. I think I need lessons on this night stuff. I was wiped-out on Thursday. I was going to get the temps that night until I remembered my unit is solar powered (solar=the sun, get it?). I had also gone out the Friday after WW, thinking the fish were there and I should get more, right? Wrong! Nothing all day. Didn't even mark any on sonar. So, the temps for today. I did them early before the wind blew up.


So today I started just before dawn and checked around the CG area. Nada. Crossed over to the other side and more nada. Came back across and headed up river past Bridgewater and under the bridge. Hung a right in front of CQ and wammo! the first fish at 6:30am. A nice 25". Where's all those 27"-32" when you need them? Saw a dock floating near the bridge but couldn't think of a use for it til I got home. I'll go back for it on Wednesday. (yes, a dock, at least 4' wide and 12' long) Kept working up river til R33. Marked some solo/2/3 fish but no takers. Pulled lines and ran down to Betty's.

Tried the condos first, the outside line and then the inside line but saw nothing. Kept moving into Betty's. Started seeing more fish, and small groups too. No big schools. Saw plenty of fish between the gazebo and the big white house with the stone wall. Yipeee, got the second fish there. Only a 23" and I debated tossing it back for a bigger one. Good thing I kept it, cause that was it. Still marking fish in there but no more takers. Beyond the white house the water got fairly stained and I marked no fish back there. Since I had two in the box I started to experiment with muskie lures. Not real big, just 6". Score for muskie baits = one 12" smallmouth and one 2lb largemouth. I haven't figured that out yet. I made a pass through Becky's and saw nothing til right outside the No Wake markers in back. Marked but no bites. By now the wind was starting to blow so I called it a day.

Later Joel