Busted Off 4 Times, Landed Two Fish

 

The one that I landed

Not many of these around today

3:30-7:30PM Rock 16' My Area

38-43℉, Cloudy, 3-9mph S SE

About half the visibility of yesterday at best, shouldn't have wasted my time with the camera.

It was overcast and I wasted too much time shallow where there wasn't much activity. By the time I got out to 16' visibility was trash and I wasted time with the camera when I would have been better off using the Vex for my eyes. I caught 1 YP. I then had a Demon and a THE jig get bit off bing bang. I did catch a little pike a couple of minutes after THE Jig got bit off. I then missed about 5 good feeling bites and some big marks. Finally got another Demon tied on, which was ignored for over an hour. Finally got a bite and it broke off right away. At the end of the night, I had what I think was baitfish followed by a big mark that missed the Twitch. I packed up and right before I was going to reel the Twitch up a big mark appeared and bit. I was hoping it would be a walleye. It was 4/5lb pike that got tangled in the friggen transducer, which should not happen as I have a separate hole drilled for it. I thought I got the line free, but it turned out it was also wrapped above the Vex Float. The fish broke me off. Easy Come, Easy GO! What a disaster of a trip.

2Pike 

1YP

Rocky Solstice Action

 

23.75" Demon/Minnow

11" Demon/Minnow

6" EBay Blade Bait (Gold)

Famous Rock Lake Bullhead to end  the night

3:00-8:00 PM Rock Lake My Spot 12-16'

37-38℉, MC, 0-5 MPH SE
Visibility was about 5' to start, but by 4PM reduced considerably with the overcast and sediment in the water.

I took Mack out and visited with Belle and Bean. Nobody was out so I just parked where the dock normally sits. I waddled my way out and drilled four sets of holes starting at 12' by the Cane. I immediately had perch down the 12' hole. I caught a couple on a small gold-blade bait. The Perch scattered sure enough I had a pike come through and hit the bait, but it came off quickly. I saw a couple more pike come through. I put a minnow down and had a pike hit it. Unfortunately, the line got caught on the blade bait when I was trying to reel it up. As I was trying to get the line off of the blade bait, the 3lb test down by the Glow Demon broke. Who knows if I would have been able to land the fish if it didn't get caught On the blade bait. It got slow. I left the minnow down and checked my other holes for life, 2 out of 3 did. I got back and my bobber was down. I set the hook and landed the pike which was hooked on the outside of the beak, fortunately.  I saw one or two more pike and caught a few perch on the minnow. It was getting dark and the action shallow stopped, so I worked my way deeper, stopping briefly at the 2nd set and then set up shop at the 3rd set where I was marking something on the bottom. I switched to a glow Tubby Jig and finally got a bite, small crappie. That fired up the school. I got a nice crappie out of the hole that engulfed the Demon/Minnow, but the line broke before I lipped it. I took pics, got the Demon out of the back of its throat, threw it back, then got retied. Put the minnow back down and got hit quickly.  Once again I broke the 3lb test before I lipped the fish. Then I knocked my forceps down a hole when I went to reach for it. I didn't put it back where it belongs. To make it even more of a cluster of a situation I needed to cut myself a fresh leader of 3lb test off of one of my jigging rods to get the minnow back in action. By the time I was back in the action, the fish had gone inactive and it was like pulling teeth the rest of the time. The final fish was a bullhead. I think the crappies started hitting a little before 6PM when I was contemplating giving up for the night.

8Crip 

7YP 

1Pike 

1Bullhead

 

Bulldog, Didn't Impress Me

 

10" Demon/Minnow

3.55-7:50PM SE of the Access, then to Holy Family Hole

31-36℉, PC, 2-10mph NE

Hopefully, I finally got the seat secure. Was sore today so I moved extra slowly. Decided to go to Bulldog. Started out from the reeds just to the S of the access. I didn't think through what I was doing. I should have drilled single holes to look for fish instead of the full 4. I didn't see anything and quickly bailed for the basin. Some guys that were fishing the NE side passed in front of me. There was a wheeler and two guys fishing just to the North of Holy Family I set up about 30 yards to the SE of where they had their portable. Pretty dead until dark. Fish were in the bottom 10 feet. I missed my first 5 or so bites. Finally got one to hook up on the Demon/Minnow. Also caught a couple on T.H.E. Jig. I could call them in with a Northland Buck Shot Spoon. but didn''t convert any on it. The other guys left. I went and checked their holes and didn't mark anything. I caught my last crappie at 7:45. I moved like a turtle on my way to the Access.

5Crip 

Back To The Rip Rap Rocky Way

 

Finally caught 'em

One small crappie

4:00-7:15PM My Spot 16'

27-34℉, MC PC, 0-4mph S

I had to mess with the seat yet again at the access. I got out early enough to give me a little camera time, but visibility was crap due to slight overcast and sediment. I think I saw a couple of bass and a pike along with some sunfish. I couldn't locate the Switch, so I sent down the White Spoon.  The fish moved on about the time I pulled the camera up and never moved back. I did eventually drill three holes by the cane but didn't see anything. I caught the sunfish that had been looking at me for a good hour. I called it quits after that. So much for getting in a groove.

1Crip 

1Sun 

Started Rocky Again, But I Ended Well

 

First Fish

2nd Fish

3rd Fish

I discovered something

Final Fish

4:15-8:00 PM 15-16' My Spot Rock Lake

15-25℉, PC, 0-4mph NW

Not much visibility today.

I was moving like a slow turtle getting the car packed. Once on the ice I didn't have the flexibility to get my left foot ice spikes on and also had to retighten the seat posts moving like a turtle. I drilled four sets of holes and started in the ones the Trap got blown off of last night. I caught a quick perch. I didn't have a camera hole in this set and the sun was setting. I quickly changed to the farthest North set where I did have a camera hole drilled. There was life so I put the camera down but due to sediment visibility was crap. Think I had a pike attack on the Cubby, but I set into nothing. It went dead, so I moved a bit South and spent the rest of the night on this set of holes. The first fish up was a nice sunny on the Cubby. Then I got a couple of crappie on the Cubby. Put a Glow Demon/minnow on a Meat Stick, because I forgot to get the bobber rod re-rigged last night. The crappies seemed to like the minnow tonight. I caught 18 total and missed as many. A bullhead was the last fish of the night. I called it quits at 8 PM. I think I'm close to being in a groove ice fishing after a rocky start to the season. My thought early on tonight was ice fishing for me this year was as smooth as rip rap; things had smoothed down considerably by the time I was done tonight

18 Crip 

1 Perch 

1Sunny 

1Bullhead 

Blown Off Tonight

 

Where the Trap got blown and my walk back

I didn't get skunked, however.

4:45-5:30 PM Rock Lake My Spot 16'

34-38℉, PC to Cloudy some flurries, 5-25mph W

I ate chicken from the corner and watched the Pack lose, so I got out later than I had planned. I drilled 4 sets of holes. Life was down in the first one so I set up camp. I got one crappie in the first set of holes. I decided to check other holes and didn't think about the wind, so I didn't secure the Trap or ensure the cover was as low as possible. I got three crappies in the second set of holes I went to when a gust got hold of the Trap and blew it straight east to the far shoreline. I ended up with the line on the bobber rod getting broken and a nut that holds the left side of the Trap getting lost. I was quite lucky no rods were broken. I did go back and fish for a bit, but gave up pretty quick.

4Crip 

Not Efficient At Rock Lake

 

8.5" Glow Demon/Minnow

6" Glow Demon/Minnow

4" Not Skunked

3:40-6:15PM Rock Lake 15' My Spot

30-36℉, PC, 0-4mph SW

3-4' visibility

I went to my spot and drilled 6 holes in a circle. I then put the camera down in the first hole and there were sunfish swimming around. I then drilled three more holes got the rods out and started fishing. I wish I would have hole-hopped with the Vex instead. I ended up just staying put. There were sunfish, perch, and at least one pike down there. Visibility wasn't great due to sediment in the water. I caught two sunnies and two crappies after I had pulled the camera up. I missed a bunch of opportunities because I wasn't patient. After dark when things slowed down I drilled two more holes at each of the other hole locations then scouted with the Vex and glow Cubby. Didn't mark a thing. I fished about a half hour longer in the Trap marking a couple of fish, probably sunnies. I really should have gone fishing yesterday, but I overslept in the afternoon. Not sure when I'll be able to get out again.

2Crip 

2Sun 

Saw:

1 or 2 Pike, some small perch, and mostly small sunfish but there were a couple nice ones that came through.

First Ice Trip of 23/24

Not Skunked

8:45 AM -12:30 PM Rock Lake

36-40℉, Cloudy, 4-15mph SW

Ice 4-6" Depth fished 6-15'

I finally got my act together and headed out this morning. Stopped at Bear Trax for minnows and waxies. I unloaded while backed down to the ice at the ramp. I went to sit down to put the ice spikes on my boots and the seat was kittywampus. I had to find and tighten down the seat posts on the Fish Trap seat, which probably took Turtle Man 20-plus minutes to accomplish. I headed a short way to the North along the reeds and drilled holes.  NO life in the weeds. A guy showed up about a half hour after I started fishing. He's been out on Platte, Long, and Bulldog this year and not having much luck. He covered a lot of ground from South to North. I finally discovered some life in about 14' of water. I caught the lil pike, saw a bunch of little perch, and maybe a sunfish. I went to one more hole and quit at 12:30. Never put a minnow down. I think I know where I can go to catch some next time.

1 Pike 

 

Skunked @ Eddy's Final Open Water Trip of 2023

Final cast of 2023 resulted in two Zeebs

10:50-11:30 PM Eddy's Jetty

30℉, Cloudy, 13-20mph NNW

I got out late. It was quite windy and 30 degrees. I didn't get a bite and the guides were freezing up so I didn't stay long. I'm kind of surprised I didn't get a bite given the conditions. Should have gotten there at sunset when it was warmer and less windy. Zeebs on the last cast of 2023.

Skunked 

 

Skunked Again At Eddy's

 

8:40-9:00PM Eddy's Jetty

40℉, Cloudy some light rain, 0-5mph SW

Skunked 

No wind, no good! I didn't get out yesterday because I spent too much time on the computer and watching football. Plus, Mom went out for chicken. I wanted some snacks, which I got at Dollar General, so it wasn't a wasted trip. No sign's of life in the water.

Eagles beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead as I was putting the cover on the Trophy.

Skunked @ Mille Lacs, But I Did See Eyeballs

 

10:20-11:20 PM Eddy's Jetty North

No wind, no good. Saw 4 or 5 sets of eyeballs. They were little dudes. They spooked when I brought a lure near them. It was a beautiful day. If I didn't have to take Mom to Brainerd I might have used the Trophy.

Skunked

Last Open Water Fish of 2023

 9:30-11:40PM Eddy's Jetty 

41-56℉, Clear, 1-3mph SW

4' of visibility

Slight ripple on the water, but no wave action to speak of. Eyeballs would follow my lure, but not hit. Only got the one-biter and two bumps; one at Pete's and one at the N Corner on my first cast with a Jerk Shad There was a boat or two at Indian Point. Spotted at least 6 different sets of eyeballs either at the North Corner or N Harbor Mouth.

1Eye 

3 Eyes Laned on 7 Bites.

1st Eye of the Night

Was a keeper 21.33"

It was not as windy as I thought it was going to be. It was still pretty cold though. No action at the Harbor Mouth. There was a couple walking on the North Jetty when I arrived and a boater heading out with his kid as well. I didn't get a bite until 10 to 11 PM at the North Corner. It was a keeper way out on the cast. I then got a 16" on the Old Standing Rock. Only got one of my final bites. Only got bites on the Jerk Shad. None of the bites I missed hooked up. I ended up giving the keeper to the boater who was staying at Eddy's. He was trolling too fast and he didn't catch a thing. Fish wanted a slow pump and pause retrieve with the rod moving the bait rather than the reel.

3Eyes 

 

Fish #3

Fish #2

An Eye And A Pike Tonight

 8:20-10:30 PM North Corner and Harbor Mouth 

38-40℉, Cloudy turning PC, 8-18mph NW

I had something on big Agent E for a few seconds about 5 minutes into fishing at the Harbor Mouth. I think a little over an hour in as the skies were starting to clear I got the eye at the N Corner Standing Boulder. Unfortunately, the headlamp battery was low. I didn't realize I had one in the tackle bag.  I had something hit the Jerk shad and not hook up at Pete's Rock. The wind picked up and I was just about ready to quit when I had the pike hit the X-Rap Shad at the Harbor Mouth. As I was pulling it up on the rocks it pulled off, so I didn't get a picture. It was decent sized, maybe 27, but not a giant. I decided to call it a night.

1Eye 1Pike 

An Hour In, Skunk Avoided

 

Eye 2

Eye 2

Eye 1

10:15-11:45PM North Corner Standing Rock Eddy's Jetty, also fished  N Harbor Mouth

38℉, Cloudy, 3-5mph SE

I thought I was going to get skunked after an hour with no bites. I was contemplating my next lure change when I stumbled upon the retrieve they wanted with the Jerk Shad and quickly caught two. Mom called shortly after I got the second chunkier fish. So I called it a night 15 minutes early. The wind was perfect, so I was perplexed about why I wasn't getting bit.

2 Eyes

Oct. 25th P/S & Eddy's Jetty

Possible Last Bass of 2023
Big Blade/Billy Goat (Gill/Hot Snakes)

Big Blade Chatter/Billy GOAT

Skunk Out Of The Boat

4:40-6:30PM Funnel, Pt./Flat, Jaimen's Corner, F Flat 

50-54℉, Cloudy some light rain, 2-5mph NE

I didn't get a bite for the first half hour plus at the Funnel and on Pt/Flat. I went to Jaimen's and caught 2 pike and 2 bass. It rained for a minute then quit thankfully. I decided to run to F Flat.  My sunglasses flew off my head and into the lake in Platte. I got one pike at F Flat and missed one bite that hit when the Chatterbait landed. I should have just stuck things out in Sully, No surface activity in calm Platte.

Due to the weather turning cold at the end of October, this was my last trip in the Trophy while I had it docked at the Lake Place on Platte Lake. I pulled the Trophy out of Platte on Halloween. We are getting a warm-up in mid-November so hopefully this will not be my last trip in the Trophy for 2023.

2Bass 4Pike

10:00-Midnight Harbor Mouth, North Corner

50℉, Cloudy, 2-5mph ENE

Ideal conditions: Pre-frontal with light east winds (2-6mph). I got a skinny 23" fish quickly on the Rage Swimmer after I had a bite that didn't hook up on Agent E. I got the 25.5 pretty quickly. Then there was about a 30-minute lull where I lost one hooked fish and had a few bites that didn't hook up, I went to the North Corner and got an under on the first cast with the X Shad Shallow. Lots of weeds in the water. I got the final two bites and lost one other on the NC boulder. I got the final fish of the night on my announced last cast, a 23 incher. No keepers tonight. Had at least 5 hits that didn't hook up. Never did put on a stick bait.

5Eyes 

 

 

Trip With Chuck & Lois On South Long

1:50-5:50 PM South Long Lake 

44-54℉, Cloudy some light rain, 3-5mph N
53℉ Water Temp Not much visibility

Thankfully it did not rain. There were multiple rigs parked and no dock. We headed to the West reeds. Lois started things off quickly with a spinnerbait bass. I think Chuck had 4 bass before I got my first bite which was a pike. I got a pounda on the swim jig, then had one close to 4lbs pull off as I tried to lift it in. I got one more bass and pike on our first stop. Then we headed up the lake by the North Reed Bed. Chuck got a couple of bass and I got one pike. As we got beyond the reeds I decided to put on a swimbait seeing as how Chuck didn't have a rod rigged with one like usual. Bam, fish on immediately. We headed farther east shortly after that. Nothing at the top of the lake. We returned to the starting spot and I got 6 bass on the Rage Swimmer including the last three of the trip on three consecutive casts. Lois caught a couple of fish as did Chuck on the last stop. We called it a day shortly after. Chuck beat me on numbers, but I don't think by a great deal.

9Bass 

3Pike 

Short Sully Trip/Vikes Beat 49ers

 

2lb Big Blade Chatter/Billy Goat (Gill/?)

4:40-6:55 PM Sullivan Pt/Flat and Jaimen's Inside Turn

53-60℉, PC, 2-4mph S

52℉, 2.5' of visibility tanic

I could have gotten out an hour sooner, but I made a bad bet on waiting for the FedEx guy to bring my fishing rods. I started at Steve's Reed Edge, not a bite. Next, I headed to the End of PT/Flat and drifted in with the wind. I got a few pike and missed more than half of my bites. Went to Jaimen's. I lost a 2-3lber at the boat. I got distracted by a phone call from Mom. I lost the Big Blade Bluegill when the leader broke on a backlash cast. I got two bass. Went back to PT/Flat and got a few pike only catching 1/3rd of my bites. Snatcher Chuck called about fishing tomorrow. I unsuccessfully threw a jerkbait for about 5 minutes. Vikes beat the 49ers. I didn't make it home to watch until the 2nd Half started.

3Bass 

6Pike 

4lber Tonight/17lb Bag

 

4:00-7:00 PM SPSI, PT/Flat, SE Reeds, Jaimen's Inside Turn

48-55℉, PC, 2-4mph S

Water Temp: 52℉ moderate visibility

After helping Todd get the pontoon lift to shore I went out. Stopped at SPSI first and had the Misson Spinnerbait get bit off. Then I went to Pt/Flat and got one 2lb bass. Then I went to SE Reeds getting a couple of pike and a 3lber on the back side when I switched to the Big Blade Chatter. Then I went directly to Jaimen's and got a 4lber along the reed edge and good pike at the Inside Turn. I decided to back to the Pt/Flat. Finished with a 4lber (3.75) at the Reed Pt in the dark. Shined one eye and pike at the bridge. Chatter was the deal. 

8Bass 

6Pike 

One Eye At Eddy's Tonight

Lucky to pull the line snag free

20" X-Rap Shad Shallow (Chart/Org Belly)

9:45-11:50 PM N Jetty Harbor Mouth and S. Jetty

46-55℉, PC, 3-5mph NNW

Not much visibility it was a windy day, but had calmed down considerably by the time I arrived

Lost a bite on the Firetiger X-Rap Shad Shallow at the Harbor Mouth, immediately switched to Hot Steel, and was rewarded with a keeper. I got careless when landing the fish and got really lucky the X-Rap glanced off my jacket rather than stuck me. Lost a fish about 15 minutes later on a Clown X-Rap 10 while standing at Pete's. That was my last bite. Basically, the wind went from 5-10 to 2-5mph and I  think it killed the bite.  I ended at the South Jetty. Sketchy getting to my spot there because it drops so far and my legs down work great.

1 Eye