Snatcher's Farm Island Tournament

Tuma 3rd, DJ 2nd, Arnie 1st

Conditions: 50's to 80'S, Light wind and Sun

The Day:

Herman elected to take us down South to Ludenia's Reed Island. Unfortunately, Herman didn't shut down in time, and fish scattered everywhere on the surface as we arrived. I got one hit on a buzzbait casting out over the break, but it just swiped at it, so it was probably a pike. When we got over by the reeds, I got a pike on a spinnerbait and the skunk out of the boat with a small bass on the Frenzy Popper. On our way back South, I got a 2.5lber  and a pike on the buzzbait. And missed something that bit twice next to the reeds on a frog. I thought the first hit was a bass. The second time, I thought it was a pike. 

After we had circled the Island once, we went to the South Shoreline reeds working West. We passed DJ and Tuma, who were fishing the deep weedline. I didn't get a hit until we got to the cattail point of the Slop Bay, which I missed. Herman wanted to go somewhere else, but I insisted we fish a little farther, telling Herman giants live in this stuff in the Fall. Shortly after, I got a pound and a half fish in the boat. I lost a 2lb plus fish that got off in the slop. Herman didn't convert on a couple of bites. The Western side of the bay was dead. We then went back out to Ludenia's  Reed Island. I got a pike and a dink, and Herman made us sandwiches. 

Next, we headed up to the NW Corner of the lake. Tuma and DJ were there fishing the weedline. It started out dead, but then we got to a slop/reed point. I got a 2lber out of the coontail and 3lber, my lunker, in the reeds on the frog. I missed a good fish on the other side of the reeds on a coontail mat and got a little guy, which I culled.  We worked the shoreline reeds that are farther to the North. Herman got his first bass and I missed several bites. Herman got another keeper. We then returned to the slop/reed area where I first got bit when we came North. When we got to the back side of the reeds, I had a 3lber not get the frog. Bummer! Herman missed a blowup and had me throwback to the spot. I caught a slight upgrade. And I think Herman missed another fish. We tried working the outside reed islands but didn't get any bites. I  suggested we head East and work the slop bay with a steep drop next to the Catails. I missed a few hits. I caught one that didn't help and got a small cull. Herman got a 3lber. This was our final stop.  As we waited for people to get loaded up, Herman made me a giant sandwich with the remaining fixings. Man, it was good after a hard day of fishing. Thanks, Herman!

My Thoughts: Because of the sporadic slow frog bite this Fall, I just was not in top form and probably lost a couple that I probably would have gotten in the boat if I had more practice. It was a fun day, and I had opportunities to make the Top 5, maybe even the Top 3. But it just wasn't my day or my year.

Grade: B- 

My best finish of the year.

Results: 7th Place for me.

 

Snatcher Tournament Lake Osakis

 

Pre-fishing with Darren, his first cast of the morning

Also some pre-fish

Top 3 (Tuma, Sarah, Darren)

Conditions: 50-74℉, Mostly Sunny, 2-9mph WSW

The Day:

I thought I had everything packed and ready to go, nope. Forgot to pack my terminal tackle fanny pack. I also forgot to bring my phone with me to the boat, so I had to walk back to the car and get it. Our Plan A spot in some reeds up the lake was not happening, so after a fruitless hour, we bailed and headed further up the lake and tried a few points and docks getting nothing. We did watch Snatcher Ludenia catch something during that stretch. We went to the smallie area and I got a short smallie on my very first cast with the Stunna. Dennis and Nate joined us in this area, both boats were struggling. I got a 2lb smallie on the Stunna as well as a Rock Bass on the Stunna before we left. It was now about mid-day so we went back to Plan A again; Darren got a keeper in the boat quickly and  I got a ToadZ keeper shortly after. This was the time of day Darren discovered his pattern and it held true. Slow but consistent throwing a jig in the deeper reeds.  Darren then caught the next 4 fish including some really nice ones. He got his fifth fish back where we started the day. I lost two Hack Attack jigs in short order We were just about ready to head South when we got into an active area. I was fishing with my life jacket on anticipating the move. I got my third keeper then lost two good blowups when my jerry-rigged ToadZ because the split ring on the Gami doesn't play well with a Power Clip. Shortly after that trainwreck, we headed South. Darren got a nice one to fill his limit or maybe it was a cull. He was in disbelief he got that bite. The day ended with me being extremely frustrated and angry over the blown opportunity for me near the end.

Results:

My 3 fish put me in a dismal 18th Place out of 20 anglers fishing. First Place and Lunker went to Snatcher Tuma 24/3 and 4/3 all smallies. 2nd Place went to Snatcher Sarah "The Senko Queen"with 18/14, all largies, and third went to my boater Snatcher Darren with 16/8.

My Thoughts:

High hopes dashed; I should have double-checked my stuff to make sure I had everything. Learning that Power Clips and those ringed  EWG hooks don't go together well was an unlucky break. Bad taste in my mouth from this one. But I am happy that Darren's pattern held up and was good enough to get some wood. I'm quite surprised nobody caught a 5lb bass. Hopefully, this will be my throw-out tournament for the year. 

Tournament Grade: D

Opportunity called at the end of the day and I missed it, sucks

 

 

2024 MN Opener Evening Trip

 

4lber Dirty Jigs SC Buzzbait/ToadZ

8:15-9:15PM North Channel Inn Bay Platte Lake

66-70℉, PC, 0-3mph W

Water Temp: Low 60's

This trip would not have happened if Steve hadn't taken Mom home from the late hamburger feed. Thanks, Steve! I went to Channel Inn Bay with limited daylight. I got the 4lber at Dogfish Corner, as well as a pike in the hay. I got a quick pike throwing the Swim Jig and a small bass on the first cast with the SBKO. Conditions said I should have gotten plenty of bites. I didn't bring a headlamp or spotlight. I stuck the boat landing, and Todd helped me unload stuff, which was appreciated. I was tired, and it would have taken me quite a while longer without the help.

2Bass 

2Pike 

Bass Snatcher Whitefish Tournament Recap

 

Snatcher Chuck Takes 1st Place And Mr. Bass

2/8 Jackhammer/Goat (Junbug/blk/blue)

This walleye Tim hit just a couple seconds before my big struck

Conditions: 60-70℉, Mostly Cloudy, 3-8mph NE

The Day: When I arrived at the access it was quickly apparent that another bass club, The Gopher Bassmasters, were having a tournament as well.  There was plenty of room at the access and they blasted off at 7AM and weighed in at 3PM. Our times were an hour later so it all worked out. 

We were the last boat out, but easily beat Snatcher Al to Arrowhead Lake. We went to the far end of the lake where a duck hunter announced his presence shortly after we sat down by firing a couple of shots. I never saw where he was at way back up in the slop in the NE of the lake. We stayed on the SE end slop. I had what I believe was a pike miss my buzzbait pretty quickly. No bites after repeated casts. Tim put a nice bass in the boat at the start of a boat channel. We went all the way to the back of this boat channel with us both picking up a pike. While we were just getting started down this boat lane a non-Snatcher boat started fishing along the slop to the North. We fished a little ways to the North of the first boat channel then bounced to the West side of Arrowhead. Tim got two good bass, but it was really slow and I didn't get a bite. About 2 hours in we decided to leave Arrowhead.

We fished along a weedline just to the West of Arrowhead. Tim caught his lunker on a Chicken Jig and a couple of pike. We then moved quite a bit farther West and caught a few pike. Next, we went to Bertha and Tim got a keeper bass on his first cast with a blue Chatterbait. We didn't get a bite at "the dock."  Tim got his limit and I caught a dink bass on a spinnnerbait and a couple of pike.  We moved to Clamshell. Tim got a bass there on his very first cast and offered the front of the boat to me. I didn't take him up on the offer right away, like an idiot. Tim caught several bass over the next twenty minutes that didn't help him when I had finally had enough of being skunked and moved to the front of the boat when he did cull. I had the skunk out of the boat within minutes and had my limit in an hour and a half or so. Tim caught bass at about the same rate as me from the back of the boat by fishing much slower and having a lot of experience on Whitefish to know higher percentage casts. I think I culled one time at the front of the boat and then we came up to a Gopher and left to hit a deep weedline. I got a fish there on a Brovarny/Rage Bug that culled.

We went back to Arrowhead for the final couple of hours. I think Tim got a cull on the West end in the wind. I tried working a frog and a rat, but it wasn't happening. We then went East and Tim got a nice upgrade pretty quickly. I switched to a Toadz and missed a good swirl that never hit again. I got a few pike.  I got my final bass and a solid cull right after Tim missed a fish in the rice. We worked some awesome-looking pig water for our final 20 minutes of fishing, but it was dead.

Results: My fish weighed 10/15 putting me in 6th Place. I was the only Co-Angler to catch a limit, so I won my second Co-Angler Challenge in a row. I also clinched a spot on the Club's Super 6.  Snatcher Chuck won with 15/14 and earned his 14th Mr. Bass title. Younger bro Al got Lunker with a 4/9 fish that gave him the tiebreaker over my boater Snatcher Benson who also had 15/01.

My Thoughts: Weird day. I thought for sure everybody would come in with a limit. I was shocked to see just how tough it was. I am so thankful I drew Tim. I doubt I would have gotten a limit in anybody else's boat. Tim discovered what they wanted and had us in an area that was full of fish. The fact that I got to run the trolling motor for a couple of hours was huge. I didn't need to slow my retrieval speed to catch willing biters because they were seeing my lure first. 

I lucked out that neither Al nor Tim were able to fish at Pokegama. If either one would have fished that tournament I don't think I would have made the Super 6. This is the 3rd time I have made the Super 6, in 2011 I lost the tiebreaker to Snatcher Ludenia and finished in 7th.

Tournament Grade: B+
I had the good sense to come to my senses an go to the front of the boat. 

 

 

OK Trip In THe AM/Pulled the Trophy in the Evening

3.61lbs Buzz/ToadZ (Coppertruse)

Fall Colors

I was discombobulated from the start. The headlamp went out almost immediately. Arrived at the Lake Place about 20 minutes later than I should have. There was water in the boat. I drained it with the deep cycle. Didn't have the boat ready to head out until "I Predict A Riot" so the boat loading was a cluster. I stopped at SPSI. I had a fish dog me on the first cast and not hit the Loon Bubble Walker. Immediately switched to bluegill and banged my first fish of the morning. Had one more miss and spent too long at the PT. Next, I went to the INT. I picked up one pike and had a couple of fish not hook up including a pretty good swirl at the Backstop. Something showed me where it was along the INT Channel. Lost a couple of bites. Caught a pike as I worked to the SW INT. Missed some bites at August Juice. Headed to N INT Rice Point and discovered they wanted the buzzbait. Went up N SPRO and came back S SPRO. I got a couple nice bass as I came back down Rice Point and one over by NE INT. Went to July Juice and saw a blow up out that way but it was dead. I got a couple of bass working my way to Steve's Fall Juice. Had a golden miss the buzz right at the boat there. Pitched a jig and missed the fish when it bit. I lost the power to go against the wind. I motored back to INT and lost two gooden's at INT Rice PT. I hit SPSI and didn't get a bite on my way back.

Should have had a 3lb average my catch was 14.63, with 3.63 big fish.

9Bass 13Pike 

I should have texted Steve to see when he was getting done with his route today because he got done early. I could have had the boat pulled, the motors switched, and the Trophy back in the lake had I known. Only was able to get the boat pulled out.

Snatcher Tournament Pokegama (Grand Rapids)

Snatcher Ludenia Gets the W

Conditions: 55-67℉, Cloudy to Partly Cloudy, 0-7mph SE NE

Water Temp: 66-68℉

The Day:

We got a bit discombobulated on our way to the river. At one point, we lost power on Darren's console GPS. We did eventually find what we were looking for: the Hot Pond Convergence. I suggested we backtrack a bit and fish our way back, seeing how no one followed us into the river. About 20 minutes in, I put a small keeper in the boat that hit a ToadZ. About 10 minutes later, Darren had a pike steal his frog. Darren missed a bite from a good-sized bass along a mat in the rice. I pitched a Turbo FattyZ into the same mat and immediately caught one just shy of 2 lbs. Darren had a pike steal the LiveTarget Frog I gave him with a  huge blow-up. I think Darren had three frogs get bit off in total, along with a couple of jigs and Texas Rigs. I think I got bit off once on a Texas Rig.  Hammer and Jon showed up and fished a bit in the area we were heading for before heading farther upriver. 

Eventually, we got to the Convergence, and I got a nice bass on the ToadZ off of some isolated pads. A couple of minutes later, I lost a similar-sized fish. We then went into the hot, and Darren had his third frog get bit off. It was dead in there other than that. We went back to the convergence to talk to Hammer and Jon. They were catching more fish than us, and Hammer told us what was working for them. We fished back over the area where I had caught my third bass. Darren got bit off a time or two. I started pitching a Turbo FattyZ and got a pike, then a bass over 2 lbs. Darren caught a pike or two more. 

At about 1 PM, we decided to bail on this area just as it was clouding up again.  We fished some slop on our way back to the lake, where I got my final two bass of the day. The first on a swim jig, and my last bass of the day came on a LiveTarget Frog. Darren got a dink that he didn't measure. We got to Tioga Bay with about an hour and a half left. Darren's front mapping wasn't right. Despite that frustration, Darren did put three nice bass in the boat in the final hour. I missed one bite on a jig in Tioga. Turns out it was a tough day.

Results: My fish weighed 11/12, which put me in 5th Place out of 11 Anglers, and I won the Co-Angler Challenge for the first time in a couple of years. Snatcher Ludenia blew the field away with 19/4. Dennis got 2nd with 14/14, and Snatcher Chuck came in 3rd with 14/9. Snatcher Mick had Lunker with a 4/14 brown bass.

My Thoughts: I really thought the largemouth would be on fire, but it seems that was not the case. I also thought there would be multiple fish over 5lbs caught, but it didn't happen. My boater Darren has very little experience on this body of water, and we went in blind, with neither of us getting to pre-fish. That definitely hurt us. I should have fished a swim jig and the Turbo FattyZ more and a Frog less. On the positive side, it was my best finish of the year; I won the Co-Angler Challenge and have a shot at being in the Super 6 going into the last tournament. It could be worse. 

Grade: B 

I was energized and fished hard all day.

4/14

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 

 

Bad Plan Tonight, What Was I Thinking

I eventually put a few in the boat

Almost threw Camo to the sharks tonight

I was in Turtle mode tonight. Spent the first 40 minutes in Platte according to my plan. I should have just sent it to the South end of Sully rather than using docks in Platte for my "trigger" to go as was the plan for tonight. I had one pike hit the jig between docks, and slop in Channel Inn Bay was worthless. As I was done pulling weeds off the motor while preparing to leave Platte, the tree frog jumped on my hand, starting me, and I flipped him into the water. I assisted him in getting back in the boat, which is where he wanted to be. I ended up running to the NW access in Sully and missed my first five or six bites and hit a reed backlashing the reel so badly I had to cut it. I did eventually get my head in the game, putting 5 bass in the boat and losing two more close enough to count. My final two bass came at the NE INT Reed PT tip. 11.11 lbs for my best 6 bass, pretty amazin, seeing as how I only landed 5 bass.

5Bass 2Pike 

Night With Todd Froggin' It

 

6:40-9:40PM SW INT, S SPRO, N SPRO, NE INT Reed PT Tip

72-79℉, Mostly Cloudy, 0-5mph SSE

76-79℉, Low Rising

Getting the boat loaded went smooth, but Todd had gremlins. We started at the SW Channel of the INT. I got a pike and bass on the Terminator Poppin frog on the rice/reed line. We made our way to the eagle sitting on Yertle's Perch. Todd got finally got a bass in the boat casting his frog out onto the rice. He lost a fish at the cat edge. I got a bass or two, missed some bites, and got dogged before Pike Pt. Right before Pike PT was when the eagle finally flew away. I went outside the rice, then back in at Jaimen's School Area. I had a blow-up that didn't go for the craw tube follow-up. We worked inside the rice line and I got a PLS, as did Todd plus a lost fish for Todd. Then that area went dead as we headed North. Todd got a pike and lost something at the Far Boat Lane Delta. He got one bass in the rice as we worked toward the Point, but that was it other than me getting a pike at a boat lane. I took us back to the SW INT Reed/Rice. I missed two bites in short order in the rice. Todd had a pike rip up his frog. I lost a good bite on the TOadZ, then things died. We ended the night with a double at the tip of the NE INT Reed PT. with Todd getting Big Bass (2.75) as the last fish in the boat. Todd got to meet Mr. Tree Frog who jumped in my lap after I raised the motor out front; silly frog. 14.28 lbs for our best 6. A good night on Platte Lake Specials.

Todd: 4Bass 3PIke

Me: 6Bass 5Pike  

Fishing With Pete

 

Pete, with the first of two LMB's
I didn't get any.

7:00-9:30PM SPBI, SPSI, E of GOMH, SW Channel INN Bay, N CIB Reeds, Loon Bay

70-73℉, Mostly Cloudy, 3-6mph ESE

Water Temp: Low 70's

Started at SPBI. Pete got a bass of all things on the Junebug Hammer. Pete chose his own rod, not the two I had for him rigged up with chatters; Pete. He caught a couple of pike as we worked our way toward the point. Pete thought Jackhammers were a rip-off when I told him what I paid. I don't think I mentioned they retail for $17, and when they were in short supply sold for $50 to $75. Why? Because they are a superior rat trap. I got a few pike as we rounded the point. Next, we went to SPSI. Wuss Weed is where cabbage and fish were last year. Pete wanted to go to Reeds across the way, where submerged weeds are always an issue. I missed a bite at SPSI, and that was it. We drifted a little to the West on the flat. No bites. Headed to 16 Hole. Pete wasn't feeling it like not even two minutes in. What? Perfect conditions for slow drifting through the rice with a history of holding fish, this year even. A couple of minutes later, our frogs nearly landed on one another, and a PLS busted on his frog. Other than one pike chasing my ToadZ, it was dead. We moved to SW CIB but too much wind. I did miss a blow-up that hit when I was reaching for the troller. Went to N CIB Reeds. Pete got a couple of pike follows, and I lost a couple of hits. We ended in Loon Bay. I lost a bite because the hook was buried in the ToadZ; if that isn't my 2023 season, I don't know what is. It was dead other than that one bite.

We stopped at the bridge on the way home. Peter W. Matt W. were just getting set up. We didn't fish, which was fine with me.

Pete: 2Bass 7Pike, 

Me:5 Pike 

I Pretty Much Sucked Tonight

 

Gotcha Sucka!

The fish after the phone call

Taken while contemplating sucking

2.68lbs Terminator Double Buzzer/ToadZ (Wht/Hot Snakes)

Three for 6.15lbs is a heck of a lot better than two for 3.46

Later start than I was hoping for, but my first wake-up today didn't take, and after being up for an hour went back to bed. I woke up at 5 PM. I made the rents some pizza and had some myself. Man, it was smoky out there to start. I think the guys out fishing tonight were pre-fishing rather than it being a league. There was no mad dash to exits around 9:30. I started at NW INT Rice PT, but it was lifeless. So I headed to NE INT and missed my first bite because I reached down for the troller. I still got a wicked hookset, but the fish was moving towards me and probably a pike by the speed it exited the rice; the frog just popped free. I think the next two bites buried me in the reeds. Caught a pike. And a fish gave away its position. I moved within casting range, and Bam. I was lifting the PLS into the boat, and it came off about a foot out of the water. I missed three or four more bites toward the cattails. A lot of poor luck with fish hitting while I was moving or the frog was in a bad position upon landing. I headed East. I had a few fish nips and did not get the frog. Not sure if they were sunfish, doggy's, or bass. Did have a bowfin nip and follow all the way to the boat. Signs of life stopped, so I cruised through the reeds and found SIL where I expected. I missed 3 or 4 more bites; ridiculous. Sat for a couple of minutes and took stock. I got my first bass in the boat soon afterward. Missed another opportunity on a high percentage spot. The wave runner guy started doing his thing, making me contemplate moving. Then Snatcher Al called, and the WR Guy went South. Toward the end of the call, a fish gave away its position. We ended the call, and I caught the fish. I think I missed one more than booked it out toward Steve's Fall Juice, nothing going on. I decided to end the night by throwing a double buzzer in the reeds and was rewarded with a Platte Lake Special that was the best fish of the night. I ended before I got back to the intersection. Slowed down at the bridge. I got up to about 16mph in Platte, then lost power. Unlike previous occasions was unable to get her back up and going. I ended up limping home at about six mph. When I went to take the troller off, I couldn't get the thingamabob to loosen at first. It took me about 10 minutes to get it free. I will just have to see if the motor runs better in the morning; not especially concerned right now.

Calm Night On F Flat with Steve

Steve's Double

Double

2.79lbs

3.06lbs 

4.03lbs

4.23lbs Piranha/Billy Goat (June/Blk/Blue)

4.67lbs Jackhamer/Goat (June/Blk/Blue)

4:30-7:00PM F Flat

48-60℉, PC, 0-2mph N

47-48℉ Low Falling

 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 

21.56lbs for our 6 Best

Steve: 8Bass 1Pike, 

Me: 6Bass 1Pike