I was the only person out on the lake. My lower back got sorer and sorer as the night wore on. Didn't see any crappies on the camera during the little time I Had it down. I wasn't in the swing of things and missed a bunch of bites on the bobber and jigging rods. At the end of the night, when I was pulling the orange bucket out of the Trap, it got hung for a second, and I injured my back. Multiple trips to the chiropractor and a month plus without fishing resulted from that mishap. Ran out of propane at the end of the night.
I wrenched my back, putting the Fish Trap into the KIA. Got a cool pic of the sunrise before I set up. Had something good on right away take the cubby, but didn't get a good hook set, and it came off. Had a few perch and sunfish swim through. Got the pike on a Blade Bait, and that was it for action. Visibility wasn't very good.
1 Pike
There was a guy out fishing when I arrived. The ice was 4' and cracking when I drilled holes. Just a bit unnerving. Didn't mark anything so I just started fishing my holes. Marked a few towards the bottom. Missed a few bites. I'm rusty, bad hooksets. Landed one crip, and it was time to go. My back was sore all morning.
Went to the same area I was in a couple of days ago. Drilled 5 or 6 holes. Saw a sunfish down the 4th hole I checked, and it had green weeds as well, so I drilled my three and fished the night there. Unfortunately, I had weeds blocking my view of the minnow. Had a small pike that I saw on the camera take the minnow. When I set the hook, my line broke immediately. Had sunfish, crappies, perch, and pike all move through and inspect the minnow. I missed a few bites on the jig rod, or I wasn't patient enough to wait for the bite. The bobber only went down one more time, and it was the crappie that prevented the skunk. Once it was dark, fish stopped coming through. The wind came up about 5PM, and there was a minor and loud icequake as the ice shifted after it had been blowing hard for about 15 minutes. I was a little concerned a crack might have opened up between me and the access, but that wasn't the case.
Forgot to bring the spud, but there were a few people out, and there were old iced-over holes where I was fishing. I did a zig-zag pattern in 10-12' feet of water and spied a gill down in the third hole, so I drilled three more, and that is where I fished. Saw two gills catching one. Saw at least one pike, possibly two. It was about 10 minutes between appearances, and I didn't get a great look at the first one. A few marks came in, and looked, but I didn't detect any bites. Almost nothing as it got dark
1Sun
(This is YT Report I did with the VN Video Editor App, first-ever time using video editing software)
Slow to get out. Had to put the charger on the battery twice. Started off North Reeds Across. Missed a couple of bites on the RC. Lost something halfway in on the Pirahna that I saw but couldn't identify. I got a couple of pike; Then got the call about Dad's fall in the garage, so I headed in with about a half hour of light left. This was my last trip of the year in the Trophy and in open water. It got rainy, then cold. I took the boat out of the lake two days later.
3;30-6:30 PM Cookie Jar to NE Corner Inlet Bay, NPBI, F Flat
38-45℉ , MC, 0-5mph NE
45-46.5℉ Low Falling
Had the XCaliber CS100 get bit off because I carelessly let the pike flop around the boat side instead of making sure it was totally in the boat; Dumb mistake. Then when I put a new clip on, it had pine tar in it, which I got in my mouth; Yuk.
I'm lucky I didn't break a rod after lipping the night's big bass. I ended up going from down on my knees to my bum when I lost my balance as I was starting to stand up.
Hopefully, by this time next year, I will have a log of Vlogs. So simple to do. Why did;t occur to me to start doing them earlier.
(Started at the cookie jar getting two quick pike. Messed around in the reeds without a bite. In the NE Coner of Inlet, I got a pike and a few bass. Stopped at NPBI and didn't get a bite. Caught more bass and pike at F Flat. Fished until dark and made my first BP fishing report video. I knocked the trolling motor wire out of the battery clip when I fell backward, landing what will be my final bass of 2022. caught 13.62lbs. Also lost the XCaliber square bill when I didn't get the pike in the boat immediately. Turns out I forgot I caught a small bass after the 3lber, so that little fish was the last open water bass of 2022)
7 Bass
8 Pike
Update: Due to the weather turning windy, cold, and wet, I was unable to have another successful trip for bass out of the Trophy this year.
2:30-6:50 PM Reeds Across, F Flat, SPSI, SPBI, NPBI, F Flat
48-64℉, PC, 0-4mph SSE
47-50℉, Low Falling
Got a later start than I wanted due to not waking up before noon. I started at South Reeds Across on the inside weedline. There was a lot of activity, but I didn't get a single bite. I missed a couple of bites working the outside reed edge. I then went to F Flat and got some pike and one bass on the Bubble Walker. I then went to SPSI. Got a pike and good bass on the Bubble Walker there; the bass was 3lb plus and had a piece of weed stuck to the lure, so I couldn't see how well it was hooked. I tried lifting it out of the water, and it came off before I was able to get its full weight lifted. If I had known it was skin hooked, I would have netted the fish. Then I went to SPBI, getting the bass that had the BW wedged in its mouth. Then I went to NPBI getting my last bass of the night on the Piranha after I didn't get bit on the BW and Dark Sleeper. I missed a bite or two as I made my way to CPBI. I then beet feet to shallow F Flat, which was dead. Stuff was getting busted over toward Reeds Across. I finally bounced to the active area and had swirls I could cast to, but I didn't get a single bite. I started throwing Chatters and worked my way back to the juice; not a single hit on the return trip to F Flat, huh???. I did an hour of hunting for crappies in the deep hole. Didn't find much and gave up when I started getting cold.
4:00-7:00PM SPSI, SPSI Reeds Across, Pontoon Reeds, CPBI to NPBI, F Flat
50-62℉, PC, 3-10mph SSW
46-49℉ Low Falling
I got out late due to oversleeping and getting sucked in Online. I graded myself with an F for Boat Control and Possistioning at SPSI. The buoy has been removed. I missed bites on my first 4 casts. The wind was tricky, and I ended up running over the top. I missed a couple more bites before I finally got a pike. Spent way too much time at SPSI. Lost a bass on the E side of the point. Got a pike at Reed's Across SPSI. Went to Pontoon Reeds. Got a pike there and missed a bite or two. Then it was up to CPBI to NPBI. Landed my first bass between the two points and missed a couple of other bites. Got 3 bass off the NPBI, including the night's big bass, which was over 3lbs. Ended up not getting to F Flat until 5:45 PM, and the fish weren't going. Got # 5 and 6 on the Big Blade Chatter and one pike. The last bass was after dark. I stayed out a bit longer, but it just wasn't happening. I shouldn't complain about a 15.21lb bag, but I had higher hopes than that for today.
I started us on the outside reed edge of N Reeds Across. I did get a bass on the Toadz on the reed edge. It was slow to start. Steve and I tried to make a topwater bite happen, as there were periodic blow-ups happing. I did miss one bass hit on the Bubble Walker. Only 2 bass in the boat when the sun was setting, then Steve got his first 4lber and went on a tear. We got a double. Steve caught himself a bass on consecutive casts leading to his double because I hadn't weighed his fish yet when he got the hit. Steve got a 3, then another 4lber. I got the big bass of the night on my last cast. Steve also caught a fish on his last cast. Beautiful night. All of Steve's fish were on the Piranha/Billy Goat. I got a couple on the Terminator Jig with Real Deal Craw as well as the Jackhammer/Goat
Was breezy with whitecaps on F Flat when I arrived by the W Reeds. Started the trip with a pike. Got quite a few of those tonight. Fishing wasn't as good as it's been, but I still did excellently. Not as many bites and not as many misses. Big bass (4.21lbs) was on the Big Blade Chatter. The second biggest came on the Terminator Jig, which did work tonight. It slicked off around sunset, and the fish quit. I also had a tackle clown show when I got the Jig and Chatter tied up in one another. Never recovered from that.
19.66lbs for my best 6. Third straight 19lb bag on F flat
Had a hit on the dock on the Fleet Spin as I was waiting for Pete. Took us right to F Flat West Reeds. The wind wasn't too bad, and temps were warm enough to keep us from getting cold. I got two bass lickety-split on the Piranha, so I gave it to Pete, and he pretty much crushed them. I put on the Junebug Jackhammer and caught them as well. Even after the skirt came off. I missed more bites than Pete. I'd say I caught 60% of my bites, and Pete got 75% of his. We had three potential doubles but only managed to get it once. One time I lost the fish, and the other time we both lost the fish. Actually a fun time with Pete. Pete wanted a picture with almost every fish.
Skunked (Fishing with Pete. Walleyes of various sizes were out there, just not biting. Not a surprise. Pete saved my Shadow Rap by wading in to get it. He snagged it on a big rock about 8 feet out at the center of North Jetty.)
4:30-7:00PM F Flat Platte Lake 36-50℉, PC, 0-3mph SW
46-48℉ Low Falling
Started at W F Flat Reeds. Got a bass and a pike there. Nothing along the slop patch. Started getting bit pretty regularly, but missing bites 3 or 4 to 1, probably pike. I got a 3lb bass by the Indent on a jig. Then a 4lber just past the juice. After I got the 4, I started connecting with the bites, but still missing 50%. Ended up with a good bag (19.59lbs) with two 4lbers and a 3.85 to end the night. The fish quit biting around 6:40 or so. There were only a few blow-ups tonight that I saw. Heard a couple more. There was at least a ripple on the water for most of the time I was out.
7 Bass
5 Pike Maybe 5 hooked fish that got off and 15 that didn't hook up
Skunked (Shined a good fish at the North Corner on my way out. Also, I later shined quality fish at the Harbor Mouth and Standing rock. Had a few fish follow and even get right up on me, but I didn't feel a hit except right away on the Dark Sleeper, and that was just a tail bite. There were quite a few little guys swimming around at the harbor mouth and in the shallow north. Was pretty still. Something got busted beyond casting range at the Harbor mouth and maybe something as well at the North Corner, but it may have been a muskrat or otter. I was up toward the harbor mouth. I decided not to try the South Jetty because a SUV pulled up and parked over there and was shining the water in by shore.)
Pat got the last and biggest pike, The photo was cropped this way for reasons
Pat showing me some of his muskie lures just before I caught the first fish of the day
1:30-6:40PM Lobster Lake
50-67℉, PC, 0-8mph SE
I arrived at Pat's place at about 12:15PM. I talked with his dad and mom. I recognized his dad but not sure if I had ever met his mom before.
Nothing for the first couple of hours fishing in the wind. I finally got pike when we ducked behind an island out of the wind. Missed one and caught a second there. We went and worked some reeds that were out of the wind. Pat got a bass there, and I got the rest of my pike. We then moved back West. The wind had died down. Pat lost a good bass along the north shoreline when it jumped at the boat. I had a good-sized muskie follow just a little after that. We moved farther West and to the south shoreline. I had an even bigger muskie follow. We ended in the Access Bay, and at our very last stop, Pat got a 26" pike on his first cast. Unfortunately, the fish were off today, but the fellowship was good. Hopefully, I'll be able to get out with Pat again. He talked about bringing the Ranger this way to fish with Todd and me next year.
Had a difficult time getting the boat to move with the falling water and me running the boat so far up last trip. Went to F Flat where it was calm and actually almost warm. Got 2 pike there on the Fleet Farm Spin. Went to NPBI a little after 6PM. No dice, so I ran back to F Flat. No surface activity, but I did get one more gator. Loons were calling and it was a nice sunset, but temps dropped quickly. Froze my face heading in.
My report at IDO: Got out for just under an hour and a half on Wed. night. The highest water temp was 41. I didn’t get any bass, not a surprise, but I didn’t get skunked either. I got two hammer handles and a 30-inch pike on a black single Indiana blade spinnerbait with fire craw Z-Man Goat trailer. With the way the big pike hit and fought at first, I thought maybe I had a big bass on for about 15 seconds. I set the hook, and it was just solid, and then it slowly bulldogged me. With the amount of pressure I was putting on the fish, I knew it was good, whatever it was. I also threw a big Blade Chatterbait, Dark Swimmer, and suspending jerk bait. I think I might have gotten a hit on the jerkbait, but I’m not totally sure as I was fishing where there is cabbage which I did get hung in on that cast. I didn’t throw any jigs other than the Sleeper, and that was on a point, not in the cabbage where the pike were. Hopefully, the warm-up will activate a few bass.
