DNF

 Did Not Fish

I went to bed at 1AM and didn't get up until after 5:30PM today. That is what my not even that long a day on the water yesterday, almost 9 hours fishing total, took out of me. The temps were fantastic, and I was off the water before 1PM on the first trip.  My complete lack of stamina is one reason why I bowed out of fishing at The Bass Nation State Championship at Leech next week. It's like I aged ten years last winter. I am slowly making some progress on my turtle ways, but if I overextend myself, I pay for it. Yesterday, the cost was more than I figured. Dang, that Bidenflation! 

DNF

 I got to the lake place at about 6:45, and it seemed like there were more wasps flying around the boat house door than last night. I didn't think to have Dad pick up some spray when he went into Onamia, so I went and did it; Two trips worth. I didn't notice the guy bagged the bottles separately and left without them and had to drive back to get them. I got back from the second trip at about 8:25. So I waited until the wasps turned in for the evening then Steve came down and sprayed where they were getting into the wall above the inside of the garage door. Hopefully, it did the job, but it's possible this may be a multiple-day project.

Camo was inside the life jacket on my chair at the back of the boat when I arrived, but I never saw him again. It could be that he was hanging out on the side of the boat where I couldn't see him or maybe he went on shore leave and will be back. Or maybe we have now parted company and it is on to a new adventure for my little friend.

DNF

Did Not Fish!

I was in a food coma from Herman's sandwiches yesterday. Actually, I was dead dog tired and went back to bed after eating chicken for dinner. I'll be out Monday Morning.

Snatcher Lake Alex Tourny Recap

Snatcher Herman With The W

 

(2/04 Powerbait Bunker Hawg Texas Rigged)

Conditions: 60-73℉, Partly Cloudy to Cloudy, 4-18mph WNW

Water Temp: Mid 70's 5+ water clarity 

The Day:

We got to our spot, and no other anglers were around. About 10 minutes in, Herman had the first keeper in the boat on a spinnerbait. He then caught a dink, and I got my first keeper in the boat with the Turbo FattyZ. Herman got another keeper on the spinnerbait. I got a keeper on a Big Blade Chatterbait. Herman switched to a jig and got a couple of quality keepers pretty quickly, then filled out his limit with a couple of fish. Herman had his limit by 8:30 AM. We had a short lull, and I suggested we take a quick look in the nearby reeds. They were dead, so we just slid back out to the weedline. Herman got another quality bass and offered me the Powerbait Bunker Hawg he was using; I put it on a Texas rig instead of as a jig trailer like Herman was doing. It wasn't long, and I filled out my limit with keepers by 9:15 AM. My first cull was with the Bunker Hawg and was my big bass (2/04). That was also my last cull with the Bunker Hawg; I think I caught a few more fish on it that didn't help. I think Herman got another quality fish on the jig, so I threw out a jig and got a two-pounder on my first cast. I think I culled up one more time with the jig after lunch. 

We finally left our spot to drift in the wind so Herman could make sandwiches. I lost something on a spinnerbait and caught one that didn't help. We ate our food, and after fishing for another 15 or so minutes, unfruitfully went back to our area. I put my fleece hoodie back on because it clouded up, and I was getting chilled in the wind.  Herman got another quality cull on the first pass. At this point, I thought Herman was definitely in contention for some wood, 1st through 3rd Place finish. I thought one more quality bass would definitely have him in contention for the win. I think I got a couple of fish that didn't help. Maybe one on a jig that did.  We went and tried by an Island. I somehow backlashed my Tatula SV and busted my line, which Herman was able to retrieve. I caught a couple that didn't help on a Dinger. We then headed North, and I got a bass that didn't help on a buzzbait just out from a dock and on the Dinger on a weedline. We ended by fishing some docks just to the West of the Anchor North. It was a good day on the water, and I don't think I ever went longer than about 45 minutes without catching a bass.

24Bass 2Pike 

Results: My fish weighed 11/06 which put me in 7th Place out of 16 anglers. My boater Herman won the thing with 15/11. Second Place went to Snatcher Ludenia with 13/06 and 3rd went to Snatcher Dennis. Snatcher Notsch got Lunker with a 3/15 smallmouth. 

Big Jon Takes Lunker 3/15 SMB

My Thoughts: So cool to be in the boat for Herman's second-ever tournament win. He joined the club before I became a teenager, and this was his second victory in 149 Tournaments. Herman thought his best finish was 3rd Place. Herman just enjoys the fellowship and being on the water. Winning is not a priority. We found a school of the right ones in pre-fish, and Herman, with a swim jig, dredged them up. I don't know why I didn't get one of those better 2.5 to 3lbers in the boat. I should have thrown a jig sooner.

Grade: C

7th Place is better than a sharp stick in the eye, but not having a 2lb average cost me a Top 5 finish. I think the fish were there to do it, I just didn't trigger the bites.

What my scale said I had

Hazy Morning With Todd

Todd glad to get a bass after getting shut out last night

Todd semi-glad to get a pike after getting skunked last night

Todd with one of his biggest ever pike

I got me a bass eventually, a good hour and half plus into the trip

Hazy Morning

5:30-8:15 AM: NW Rice to NW Juice, Chuck's Point through Green Cabin, NPBI

60-70℉, Hazy Sun, 0-5mph SSW

Low 70's Water Low Falling

Started at the NW Rice Bed, and Todd got a bass and pike quickly. I lost a good bass that hit the ToadZ out of the pads right at the boat. It was slow, with an occasional pike. We fished through the NW Juice, then made a move for Chuck's Point. I got my bass there after Todd missed a couple of bites. The bass may have been our last blow-up of the morning as the Point and Green Cabin Bay were dead. We stopped at NPBI on the way back and didn't get a bite. Platte Lake is back on my shit list.

Todd: 1Bass 4Pike, 

Me: 2Bass 4Pike 

 

DNF

 I slept all day. I woke up around 3:30 PM. Put away my Tackle Warehouse order. My energy level never came back up, so I went back to bed by 4:30 PM and slept until dark. The forecast rain never showed.