GOMH And NSPRO In The Trophy

15.5" Poison/Swim Fluke Jr.

5 for 10.53lbs

5:05-5:50PM GOMH NE SW
8:05-9:25PM NSPRO
11:00-11:30PM GOMH NE

55-59℉, PC, 8-20mph NE
53.5℉ Low falling

The plan was to quickly hit the GOMH then get the boat ready and do the family meeting at Steve's.  I stayed longer than I had planned, so I elected to go home and make sure Mom and Dad were in the meeting.  They weren't so it was good I went home.  I got 1 toothy on the NE side and the fish in the pic on the SW side both on the Poison.

I was back on the lake fishing by 8:00PM.  I got a bite right away on the Piranha 2 by the second buoy.  I had to go quite a ways on the flat before I got my next bass throwing the War Eagle Buzz Toad.  I got three quick Platte Lake Specials (16.25,16.75,15) on the Buzz Toad then tragedy struck.  I had a fish hit by the boat and get off.  I didn't notice that the Buzz Toad was kittywampus on the Powerclip.  I went to make my next cast and off came the Buzz Toad.  I didn't get another bite.  I tried Ploppers and SBKO, nothing.  Nobody was at the bridge on my way in.  I didn't stop to fish.

I did stop at the GOMH on my way home and didn't get a bite.

Slow Steady Morning in the Trophy

17.5" Stanley Phantom

16.25" Teckel Sprinker

This Mornings Sunrise

5:05-5:50AM GOMH
6:30-12:00PM SPRO, Access Across, F Flat
58-54℉, Cloudy some light rain, 2-6mph ENE

I started at the GOMH hoping for some gold. No such luck. Missed one bite late on the SW side. Headed for the Trophy by 6AM.  I went straight to the SPRO over by the Channel Bouys.  The first bite was 16-incher on the Teckel Sprinker, a great start.  I missed a couple of hits and not much was happening so I started throwing the chart firetiger Phantom.  I got a couple of pike and good bass (17.5,16.5) on that around the juice.  I also got some pike on a Horny Toad.  I worked in shallow along the N shoreline getting bites on a variety of baits, but not hooking most of them.  The hay made fishing a pain.  I got one good bass at the river mouth on the Phantom.  I then worked along the W/S shoreline getting pike and mostly small bass in the lily pads on the Wat Eagle Buzz Toad.   I got checked by the C.O.'s and it started to sprinkle.  I decided to move when I got to the intersection.

I went to the cane at Access Across.  I got a couple of pike on the Poison and lost a 3lb bass at the boat.  It started raining a little harder.  I got a couple of more pike and one small bass on the flat as I drifted along.  Missed a few bites as well.  I ended on F Flat getting one pike.

Not My Night

17.9" War Eagle Buzz (Jun/Chart)

24" Craw Tube (Junebug)

7:00-9:30PM F Flat, NE Inlet Bay to Double Cane Pt.
10:10-10:35 GOMH NE

55-65℉, PC, 0-7mph N
56℉ water level low

I didn't fish well on this trip.  I was just off.  I started on F Flat and lost the first bite due to a poor hookset.  I then caught the 24" pike of the craw tube.  I figured out bass were on the docks, but there were people out on most of the docks.  I gave NPBI a try, nothing.   Then I went to the NE of Inlet Bay Didn't get a hit east of the reeds.  I got the one nice bass soon after I entered the reeds.  That had me fishing way to slow figuring I didn't want to run over the fish.  I didn't have many bites.  Saw some fish activity really shallow, but didn't catch anything when I tried that.  The fish just weren't there and I didn't fish fast enough to find them.  The one good topwater hit got off and I hooked myself lightly on my back when the lure came flying back at me.  Lost multiple fish tonight. 

Morning & Evening On Platte

2.79lbs/17" Craw Tube (Junebug)

6:50-11:00AM: NPBI, NPSI, Chuck's Point, SNW Dock, NW Juice, NPBI, West Point
55-63℉, Sunny to Cloudy, 3-8mph West
Water Level High and Rising

A lot of shooting this morning as I was getting loaded up and once I got out. North Point Big Island was my first stop.  I got a 16 and 13 there along with a 20-inch pike on the Jackhammer.  From there I went to B.I. South Point and didn't get anything there.  I then went to NPSI and got a pike there on the Jackhammer.  I got some pike on the Jackhammer at the SPSI (I went up the East side of the Island a little way, not just off the point).  I then went to Chuck's Point and got some hits in the Ish's that didn't hook up.  I broke off a craw tube on a fish in the trash and reeds.  I got a couple of bass (17, 14.25) along the reed/pad edge and a couple of pike.  I made my way toward the NW Bay getting a couple of dinks off the SNW Dock on a Senko Knock Off.  I got a 15-incher there on the reed edge and also lost a fish on the reed edge. From there I headed to the NW Juice.  There was a duck hunter sitting in Todd's Pond.  Got a couple of pike there and a 13-incher on the War Eagle Buzz Toad and missed a couple of bites as well.  I missed bites as I came in at NPBI and West Point.  Made it home with about 15-minutes to spare before kick-off.

Vikes manhandled to Raiders 34 -14

9 Bass
11 Pike   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6:30-8:00PM Starting Spot to Double Cane Point
60℉, Mostly Cloudy, 0-4 WSW

I should have gotten out earlier, but what am I gonna do the Twins were on and won the game 12-8 vs KC.  I headed out to the starting spot.  There was a buzzbait ripple on the water and that was what I was throwing.  Got a bunch of pike and 2 bass on the War Eagle Buzz Toad and missed some hits as well. Also got 1 pike on the Jackhammer.  Had a couple pike swipe at me in the reeds on the Ish's and missed one quality knock on the Ish's.  I got sucked into that beautiful looking stuff yet again.  It's just sad it isn't holding fish this year.  I stopped at the NPBI on the way in.  It was calm and totally peaceful so I just floated for a while before finally heading in.

9 Pike
2 Bass

Good Morning On Platte

3.65lbs/18.5" Shower Blows 105 (Bone)

3.54lbs/18.33" SBKO (KO Firetiger)

3.02lbs/16.66" Jackhammer (PB&J)

 6:50AM-12:10PM West Point, NPBI, SPBI, NPSI, SPBI, SI Flat, GOMH, F Flat
75-65℉, Foggy turning partly Cloudy, 3-8mph SE
Water Level rising

I started off the morning in the fog going to West Point.  I had my craw tube get taken off on the hookset.  I then had two Neko Yum Dingers get taken on hooksets.  What was going on with my plastics getting stolen?  Finally, I caught a 13-incher on the Dinger and a Craw Tube.  Next was NPBI.  I got 22.5" pike there on the Jackhammer and a 13-inch bass on the Craw Tube.  I then went to SPBI.  Was unable to convert bites at the juice.  I then went down the reed point and on to the flat getting some pike on the Jackhammer and losing a couple fish as well.  I then went to NPSI which was protected from the wind.  The morning monster hammered to bone Shower Blows 105.  I also got a pike on the Jackhammer.  I ran down the West side of the island getting on pike on the War Eagle Buzztoad.  The fog broke as I made my way South Point.  I had a quality fish not hook up on the Shower Blows.  I threw the larger Shower Blows Knock Off back to the same area and the 18-incher crushed it.  Not sure if it was the same fish or not.  I got a 14.75-inch fish on the SBKO a few minutes later and got a 16-incher on the bone Shower Blows.  I got another 14.75" fish on the flat throwing the KO.  I then headed to the GOMH and came up empty.  I didn't get anything at the NPBI.  I then went to F Flat and got the final 3lber of the morning there on the Jackhammer along with 15.75"  and a couple of small pike; I also lost a couple of really good feeling fish.  I called it a morning just a little after noon.  Pete called when I was taking stuff out of the boat.  He was going to come up to fish with me tonight but then didn't do to car issues.  I decided not to go out in the evening. 

11 Bass
6 Pike

17.15lbs

Tough Morning In the Trophy

3.08lbs/17" Yum Dinger (GP/Red)

6:50-10:50AM NPBI, SPBI, NPSI,SPBI, West Access Flat/Rice, 6lb Flat to Cane Access Across
75-65℉, Partly Cloudy, 3-8mph SE
WT: 66℉

Nothing at the big Island points.  Don't know if getting out 10 minutes earlier would have made a difference.  I got a small bass on the Jackhammer off fo North Point Big Island.  Nothing off of SPSI.  Just before I was going to take off for the GOMH a car showed up, doh.

I headed for the docks on Platte Access Point.  Nothing there, so I continued on to the West Flat.  I had a good fish miss the War Eagle Buzztoad.  Couldn't tell if it was a pike or a bass.  I got a small bass in the rice. I went across to 6lb flat and got a better there on the War Eagle.  I drifted my way down non-existent Big Rice Point.  Had the 17-incher not hook up on the Buzztoad.  I anchored and got the fish on the Dinger.  I was leary about drifting further in even though it looked good so I didn't.  Hit up NPBI and then made my way to 3 Loon Flat where I got a dink and a pike on the Jackhammer.  The fish just weren't going very well.  I covered a ton of water.

2 Pike
5 Bass

Got A Dog, No Bass

23" War Eagle Buzz Toad/ZHT (Black/Chart)

6:00-8:00PM Melon Patch, 6lb Flat, Starting Spot
73-63℉, Partly Cloudy, 2-6mph NW
WT: 66℉

Mom forgot her phone so I had to drive into Onamia to bring it to her.  I was not pleased with losing a half-hour of fishing as I was already getting a late start.  I figured the fish would be snapping.  They weren't.  I went 45 minutes without a fish in the boat.  Finally, I managed to get the dogfish.  It swiped at a Brovarney Jig first. Then at a Yum Dinger and Blitz Frog.  I got it on the War Eagle Buzz Toad.  I then got a few pike on the WEBT and the Blitz Frog.  I possibly lost one bass on the Blitz Frog.  I ran to the Starting Spot and got 1 pike there on the Blitz Frog.  Not sure what the bass were up to tonight.

1 Dog
7 Pike

Slow Morning On Platte/Evening Thunderstorm at Mille Lacs

3.19lbs/17.75" War Eagle Buzz Toad

6:30-9:30AM NPBI, SPSI, GOMH, 6lb Flat, Melon Patch
68-58℉, Partly to Mostly Cloudy, 3-6mph SE
67-65℉

I didn't get a hit at NPBI or SPSI.  Finally got on the board with a 15.25" jumpin' bullhead at the GOMH on the full-size orange Shower Blows Knock Off.  I then fished 6lb Flat to the Melon Patch.  I lost several hits on the Buzz Toad but did manage to catch the one 3lber and some dinks.  The sun came out so I quit.

5 Bass
7 Pike

I went to Mille Lacs around 8PM.  The thunderstorm was on me a lot faster than expected so I only threw a few casts.

Slow Night On the Water

14.5" Ish's (Ballin'/Brown)

6:20-8:30PM N Flat Across, F Flat, Access Across Pt.
68-66℉, Mostly Cloudy, 0-3mph SW
68-65℉

I forgot to put the red tackle bag in the car before I left, doh! I started at the split in the Reeds Across and got a pike on the first cast on the Whopper Plopper.  That was the only fish I landed from there to F Flat.  I did have several strikes that didn't hook up. And I had a pretty good size pike 23/24 jump about 3 feet in the air and miss the Stanley Phantom.  I was just dumbfounded that the fish were so shut down.

I then headed for the reeds across from the Platte Public Access. I got a couple of 14" bass there and a few pike swirls.  As I was heading out I had a few pike swirls on the War Eagle buzzbait. Disappointing trip.  When are the fish going to turn on for fall?

Across the Way

A bass! They do exist!
14.75" Stanley Phantom (Chart/Org)

6:15-9:40PM Reeds across the Way
77-70℉, Partly Cloudy, 0-4mph SW

I started on Sherman's dock working my way West picking up nothing but one pike follow off of Sherman's.  I then headed to the reeds across the way.  Nothing was going on along the reed edge. In the reeds, I started getting pike on a Strike King double willow spinnerbait.  No sign of bass.  It got calm so I started throwing the Stanley Phantom. Still no sign of bass.  That same pontoon as yesterday came out.  I made a quick run to the North edge of the reeds getting one small pike on a War Eagle Buzzbait.  I got a couple of pike on the Phantom and a number of boils.  I finally got into some small bass after the sun had set there in the NE corner and next to shore along the new landscaping.  A few more boils and it was time for me to head in.

Todd Morning/Me Evening Across the Way

10.5" Hack Jig/Paca Slim

8.5" Pink/White Hair Jig

No Motor Day 2

Todd and I headed for the reeds across the way.  With the wind blowing in the reed edge had fish up and active for the first hour or so, but we weren't hooking into them with the Sprinker Frogs.  Todd ended up losing two Sprinker Tails, then in some freak mishap, the whole Sprinker came off when a fish buried him in the reeds.  We were getting a few pike on the Poison and a Rage Swimmer.  Todd had to be back in by 9AM, so I brought us in by way of West Point where I got a crappie and Todd got a pike.  I caught a few nice sunnies off the dock and had one small bass jump me off.

In the evening I started at the GOMH which had a family and a bass fisherman already there.  I had a pike break off a craw tube on the NE side.  The wind was light so I made the decision to head to the Trophy while keeping a close eye on the sky for approaching thunderstorms.  Thankfully none came and there was a bottle of water at the lake place.  Across the way, I lost a pretty good bass right away when it buried the Phantom in the reeds.  It was pretty much a pikefest after that.  I did get one bass down by the cane patch.  Had a lot of boils that didn't get the Phantom.  Hard to know if they were bass or pike.  I was off the water by 9:30PM.

Nice Pike Morning, Ok Evening Trip

5.97lbs/31" Grassmaster Jig/Craw Fatty

7:00-10:30AM Reeds Across, F Flat
42-65℉, Sunny some fog to start, 0-3MPH SE
69-68℉

I stopped at the GOMH to start.  Panfish Guy was there.  Threw a few casts on the SW side and left.  I headed over to the north bed of the reeds across the way.  The fog was really thick over some of the reed patch.  I had what I believe was a small pike not get the Terminator Frog by the Cane.  There started to be some activity in the reeds.  I started pitching the jig around and the big pike trucked it. Luckily it was hooked in the side of the mouth.  That was it for bites in the reeds.

There was some surface activity over F Flat.  I got nothing until I got over by "the dock" and I had a good bass blow up on the Bubble Walker, but get off.  Eventually, I put on the War Eagle Buzz Toad.  Got a small bass on the very first cast.  Got a couple more bass and pike bites on that.  Fishing was slow so I went in at 10:30AM.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.54lbs/17.25" Horny Toad (Black/White)

6:30-8:45PM 17" Hole Flat, Melon Patch
69-66℉, Mostly Sunny, 0-3mph SE
73℉

3.17lbs/17" Horny Toad (Black/White)

Instead of going straight to the Melon Patch I decided to set down out on the flat out from the Melon Hole. I immediately had 17ish and 15ish bass not hook up on the War Eagle Buzzbait.  I switched to a Zoom Horny Toad and had the 17.25-incher take that.  I caught a pike and had a couple fish miss the Horny Toad, then the bite stopped.  I proceeded on to the Melon Patch.  I lost what I believe was a good bass right away on the Horny Toad.  There wasn't much for activity and all I got was a small pike.  I bolted out of there to head for Big Rice Point.  Nothing going on there.  So I turned out back onto the flat and I caught a 16-icher on the War Eagle Buzzbait and that last 17" on the Horny Toad.  There were no skeeters so I fished until it was quite dark outside.

Bass With Pike

Just the Bass

Morning GOMH Dud, Some Fish Around Big Rice

As I pulled up the boathouse door then turned around and took this picture.

6:00-6:30AM GOMH
7:00AM-12:30PM Big Rice Point & the Flat, 3 Loon Flat
73℉, Sunny to Cloudy, Light Wind from S to NW
72℉

15.25" Terminator Frog (Green)

Didn't even get a hit at the GOMH.  Headed out to Big Rice Point.  Didn't get anything off the tip, but stuff was getting smoked out on the flat and in the junk towards the 17" Hole.  I headed toward the stuff in the junk.  I got a 12.75-inch bass on the Bobby's Perfect then lost a bigger one a couple casts later.  That was it except for a couple of pike.   I then started throwing a buzzbait on the flat and got a few pike doing that.  Also lost a couple that might have been bass.  I worked my way back to Big Rice and was throwing the Sprinker along the East side when I got a 13.9-inch bass.  I wasn't ready and missed a fish on the very next cast.  I kept working down the East side of the point where it turns to pads and scrub weeds.  I got the 15-incher there.  I also missed some fish.  I got stuck in a rut.  Eventually, I got out of there.  I stopped at 3-Loon.  I got a dink by some pads along the docks on the perch Plopper and a couple of small pike on the junebug Jackhammer.

Calm Morning No GOMH, Docks in the Evening As Well

7:30-11:00AM Reeds Across, F Flat Docks
Conditions: 64-74℉, Sunny, Calm to 7mph SSW
Water Temp: 70-72℉

2.40lb Terminator Jig Craw Fatty (Black/Red)

So started in the reeds across the way.  I got a small pike on the War Eagle Buzz Toad.  I missed several blowups that buried me in the reeds as well as getting a couple of pike on the Sprinker.  Finally, I gave up in the reeds and headed to the docks.  I got 8 bass doing that, but no size to speak of.

15.75" Vet ChatterJig

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15.5" Terminator Jig/Fight'n Frog (B/R/WR)

  7:30-9:30PM Docks Across, Rice East of GOMH
Conditions: 80-74℉, Mostly Sunny, 3-15MPH
Water Temp: 74℉

It was blowing pretty good when I arrived out of the ENE.  I got a bass right away at the first dock on the Vet Chatterjig.  I then went on to catch a couple small bass and pike.  I dumped a couple ok size bass as well, before landing the 15.5" on "The Dock".  I had just dumped it's twin sister a few casts previous.  The wind calmed down and I headed for the rice East of GOMH to see if the warming water headed the fishing up.  Other than a few pike and one ? blow up the move was a bust.

11.19lbs Best 6 Bass for the Day

For the Day:
12 Bass
12 Pike

Very Good Night For Me, Not So Much For Steve

3.26lbs/18" Yum Dinger 5" (W/R)

5:00-10:00PM Docks Across the Bay & 3 Loon, NW Shore with Steve
Conditions: 73-67℉, Partly Cloudy, Wind WSW WNW 4-10MPH

16.5" Terminator Jig (Black/Red) Craw Fatty (b/b)

So I started out fishing docks across from our cabin starting at "The Dock".  Actually, I started at the pine tree and got snagged.  I was lucky to get my jig back.  I then got a little pike off of the dock before "The Dock."   I got a 12" off of "The Dock" immediately.  I then had a fish hang me on the jet ski lift on my next cast.  I let the lure stay snagged and cast underneath with a Hack Jig and had a fish pick it up, but drop it before I set the hook.  That was it for "The Dock". I worked my way West and could pretty much call my shot as bass were on the docks tonight.  I came to that realization after not planning my casts properly and missing a couple.  Not every dock had a fish and I put on a minor clown show, but I was catching fish and not getting too frustrated.  It seemed like I would catch a fish and lose a claw off the Craw Fatty.  I had a pike steal my jig by the willow tree.  Then hung the Buzz Toad Buzzbait on the point dock.  I then ran to the point at 3 Loon Flat.  I messed around in the reeds not getting a bite.  I caught a 12 incher off the first dock.  There was a boat coming towards me from just West of F Flat with 3 guys in it.  Apparently, there was a league out tonight, but they were the only bite I saw.  I caught 3 and missed 3 fish before we passed each other.  I don't think I got a fish after I passed them, but I did miss one I think. 

17" Mad Maxx (Bluegrass)

Steve called me back and I went to pick him up.  His report from Jenny's Reeds in the kayak yesterday had me taking us to the NW Bay.  I started out by the big rice patch.  Steve had a bite right away and his line broke.  We got the Bobby's Perfect frog back, fortunately.  It wasn't until we got up by shore that we got another bite.  The 17-incher hit my frog then swim toward me while I had the boat moving towards it.  Finally, I got caught up and was able to turn the motor off.  I then caught a 14.25" and I think Steve missed a fish.  I asked him if we should proceed North or South.  He chose North.  I got 16.25 in the reeds and 17" over by the Pike Bullrushes on the Maxx.  I also got a small pike in the PB. Over by "The Juice" I got 16.25" in the rice on Maxx.  I had a fish wake up to Maxx very dogfish like on dogfish point.  It just nipped at the frog like a doggy as well.  I threw back to the spot with a Yum Dinger and I was pleasantly surprised that the dogfish was actually an 18.25" bass.

3.35lbs/18.25" Yum Dinger 5" (W/R)

I threw back to the spot and immediately picked up another 18-inch fish.  Steve had a fish miss his frog while I was getting the 18's.  I had him throw out a craw tube, but he didn't get any hits on that.  I caught a 16.5" on Maxx out of the rice of The Juice.  Steve was pretty frustrated at this point as I was up on him 10 fish to none.  He had fish knock his frog up in the air, but after repeated casts and nothing he gave up.  I threw over and 17.75-incher blew Maxx Up.  Sometimes that's the way fishing goes.  Steve was skunked for the trip.

3.10lbs/17.75" Mad Maxx (Bluegrass)

   

17.94lbs Best 6 Bass of the Night

21 Bass

6 Pike

My thoughts:  I am encouraged to see multiple 3 plus fish in one trip.  Maybe the post-spawn funk is over.