Skunked On A Short Windy Trip GOMh/Rock

 

34℉, PC, 12-15mph SW

I dropped off the garbage then stopped at Rock. Rock Dock is not in. Fished for about 10 minutes then left. The wind at the GOMH was blowing out of the SW at about the same rate as a couple of days ago, but the temps were just above freezing this time. I fished for maybe 15 minutes on both sides of the bridge. No bites. Flying swans, red wings, and a beautiful sunset tonight. It is too bad the wind was blowing straight up the pipe again.

Skunked  

DNF

 It didn't get above freezing. I basically slept all day. This upcoming week's forecast is not a banger.

Not Even A Sunset Pic

Saturday March 16th

 7:25-8:10PM GOMH SW

31-33℉, Cloudy/Flurries, 10mph NW

Water Low and Falling

I thought maybe it would be a wackfest with the light snow flurries. There was nobody at the GOMH when I arrived. I didn't get a bite and when the guides started freezing up I was done. Not sure when I will get out again.

Skunked In the Morning/Some Bullheads In The Evening

 

6:45-8:30 AM GOMH SW

33-34℉, PC, 0-3mph W

Water Low and falling

I got minnows at Bear Trax then headed to the GOMH. I only got one bite that didn't hook up later in the morning. Nice sunrise and the red wings were singing away. Some swan and eagle flybys. Disappointing trip.

6:45-9:15 PM GOMH SW & NE

48℉, Cloudy, 10-15mph SW

I had just arrived when Lantern Man's son and two buddies showed up. The wind was hellacious but fishable. I missed one jumper on a jig. Brett moved over to the SW side with me. His buddy on the SE side got a gator. A couple of minutes after that I got a jumper and then Brett lost a 3 to 4lb jumper. Then a long lull. Lighted bobbers came out. Brett missed one bite. I headed to the NE side just as Lantern Man arrived. I didn't get anything. I put my stuff in the car, then went to talk with the crew. Kyle on the SE side got the first silver. Lantern Man got two and Brett missed a bite or two. I had enough of the wind and left at about 9:40. Those were the only three silvers they got.

2Jump 

Gator And Silver Bullheads

 

14" Cubby/minnow

Choked it

13" Demon/minnow

25.5 Swim Shad

Rock Dock Not In

6:30-7:45 AM GOMH SW

34℉, PC, 0-3mph NE

Water Low Falling

I got a bite in the current that got off. The very next cast was a small gator. I got one more 23" gator a while later. I think I had something pull down the bobber right before Dad called. Because of that, I ended up leaving a little later than planned. I did get the car back in time for Mom to get to her hair appointment in Pierz.

2 Gator

5:00-11:00PM SW NE GOMH, Rock & Bulldog, SW GOMH

48-53℉, PC, 0-3mph

First evening stop at the GOMH. Nobody came around. I got a 25.5" gator on my only bite on the SW side. I briefly fished the NE side and had a small gator swirl on me.

2 Gator

Rock & Bulldog

There was some really small baitfish shallow at Rock. Rock Dock is not in yet. A few swans flying around. I did briefly fish at Bulldog, before heading back to the GOMH. No life at Bulldog.

Back at the GOMH:

Nice pink sunset. I missed three hits on the dogfish tackle. I got out the lighted bobber and quickly caught a 14" Slabber Bullhead. A couple bullhead fishermen showed up and fished the N side. I was just about ready to head out at 9:45 pm when I finally got another bite. From that point on I got a bite every 5 to 10 minutes until I ran out of minnows. I got a 12.5" and a 13" going 3 for 8 on bites. I was a bit rusty.  Also, a bow fishing boat blinded me so I missed my final two hooksets. I could not get a bite on just a glow Cubby. When the Bow Fishing boat came around I put my sunglasses on. They headed back into Platte as I was packing up. I shined two golden bullheads on the Platte side and one bullhead in the rocks on the Sully side.

3 Slabber Bullheads

 

Ice Off Platte & I Got Two Gators @GOMH

 

First of two min-gators

Clicking will show the ice line

ice at the Platte Lake Access

5:10-6:45 PM Rock & GOMH

30-34℉, Sunny, 3-6mph NW

Rock Report: There was still ice on the southern half of the lake. There was very little baitfish activity. I heard eagles but didn't see them. Somebody was pulling out as I came down the hill. Tomorrow will be the day ice goes off Rock.

GOMH Report: I saw a red-wing blackbird in the tree to the East. There were not nearly as many swans around tonight. About 15' of ice is still at the access and a fair amount in Inlet Bay. I would be able to get a boat from the access to Jenny's so I'm calling ice out today. I had a small gator take a swipe at the Swim Shad right by the shore before I pulled it out of the water. A couple of casts later I had a hit across the channel in front of the cattails on the Swim Shad, a small gator. I threw the gator on the far side of the beaver dam. I put Cubby/Minnow out and got hit just to the East of the Beaver Dam flotsam. I'm pretty sure this fish was smaller. It came off as I tried to beach it sending my rig up and around the bridge gating, ridiculous. I got things untangled and called it a night. There was still some ice at the NE Access on Sullivan. The Bonfire Crew was doing a controlled burn as I was leaving. I could feel the heat at the car; I and the car smelled like smoke the whole way home.

2 Gator

Skunked at Rock & GOMH

GOMH

Sullivan Access

Rock Report: Skunked (Ice was off the upper 1/3rd of the lake and moving South. Two eagles flew out from the North. Only saw one baitfish. THe ice was probably 70 yards from the access.)

GOMH Report: Skunked (Ice barely holding on in Inlet, Our, and Access Bay. Should be gone tomorrow. Sullivan was mostly clear as well. It was getting dark by the time I arrived, I didn't get any hits and didn't fish long. My line was slowly icing up at both places.

 

Pike at Rock Lake Tonight

 

Colors were bright and growing dimmer the whole time  I headed West

Platte Public Access

5:40-6:10PM Rock Lake 

33-36℉, PC, 0-2mph NW

Ice is holding on in Platte, but I don't think by much. I stopped at Rock, and while I was stretching I noticed baitfish activity out by the ice line on the surface. I got one pike, and that was my only bite. I stopped at Bulldog, not much progress again. I got to the GOMH a couple of minutes late for peak colors. I then drove to the Platte Public Access where there was still a bit of ice.

1Pike 

Did Not Fish

 

Dock Guy On The Right

Platte Lake Access

It got cold last night and only made it to about 42 without much wind. I walked to the Storage Ranch and back, that was about all my legs could take today. I stopped at Bulldog and Rock, which looked similar to yesterday. I also drove North Platte Lake Drive. Platte is slightly more open than yesterday. Dock Guy was at the GOMH so I didn't fish, just chatted. I heard a red-wing blackbird. He didn't get any bites. I think Platte will probably be ice-free by tomorrow night; It is supposed to be in the high to mid 40's and windy out of the SE.

Skunked at the GOMH On A Beautiful Evening

 

Three of my Fantasy Bass Guys made the cut. Cobb and Walters got 30's. I bought my fishing license at Bear Trax.

Skunked! I toured the lakes before hitting the GOMH. Bulldog had more ice at the access than before the cold, but some of the shorelines are pulling away. The Rock Lake access area ice pulled away from shore right in front of the access. GOMH had ice on what was open water before the cold. It was plenty open for me to fish. Lots of swans flying around tonight, a few geese, and two chirpy eagles even. It was a beautiful day and got to 55.