July 4th - Happy Holiday

[bill1wts]

The conditions were less than desirable. Between the boat traffic and wind the lake was rolling. All the banks were muddy from rain and the boat wake. Water temps were down a couple of degrees about 82 to 84. This was a rare day where I got to fish alone - I had a game plan and I put 28 spots in my gps and I was going to run and gun points with deep drops with the pop-r. I hoped to do this from 4:00 am till about 11:00 am.

So I shut the alarm off at 1:30 am without getting up. Not good - Got up at 5:00 am and made it on the water at 7:00 am. Between sleeping in and the wind the plan was not going to well. I missed a few fish early and didn't boat 1 till 9:30.

I stayed with the pop-r all day. I threw it when no one would throw a top water. Full sun - large waves - middle of the day. Sometimes I would pop it on top of the wave and the fish would hit it when it came down. I missed quite a few that way.

I caught 8 total - two real nice fish and the rest were mostly dinks. The 16+ inch fish came off a point near dike 2 in about 1 1/2 foot waves - stained water - I don't know what that fish was thinking but it killed the pop-r. This was about 11:00 am. Big fish was the last 1 of the day. On a point in a cove - not so wavy in there but it was still choppy and in full sun. It was 3:30 pm, the fish was 18+ inches and the line broke as I pulled it up into the boat - it landed on the carpet in the middle of the boat. YEA !

Overall it was a good day with just the dog. I was amazed that they hit the pop r all day long. Next time and am going to get up on time and try the run and gun.

Now for the pics ...



16 + inches and fat



big fish - 18+ inches

[scaryaaron]

Bill, I don't know how you do it. Even when you wake up late and throw the wrong lure you still catch all the fish. Good job man.
This past Sunday (the 8th) My wife and I went out. We were on the water early. Water temp was about 84. I was able to locate the fish, but just couldn't get anything going. I threw everything I had at them. At about 9:30 I was anchored up near the swimming area at the state park. There is a fallen over tree not far off the point. I literally had fish coming out of the water all around me and couldn't buy a bite. I ended up catching two little (and I mean little) bass. After the second one my wife asked me if I was trying to catch the small ones.

[bill1wts]

I was wondering if anyone went fishing this weekend. I took the weekend off to rest the back and get some of the work around the house done. Kids come home Fri the 13th and we will be on the lake Sat am. Will let you know how we make out. It has been awhile since I have fished the state park area. But we used to catch fish from the bank around there before we had a boat.

I just read an article in an old bassmasters mag about hard insect baits. Grass hoppers, grubs, crickets and dragon flies - I am going to find some and try them out.

Tight lines - Bill