Good Trip With Jaimen In the Morning/So-So Short Trip in Evening

6/9, 25" 

2/9 Bobby's Perfect (Sparrow)

5:30-11:00AM SPSI, Intersection, Channel Inn Bay
74-70℉, Cloudy, 0-4mph SSW
83℉ Low

In sprinkled just for a second as I was backing the boat out. I went and picked up Jaimen and headed to South Point Small Island. Jaimen caught a pike I think. I missed a bite on the craw tube because I was moving towards the bite. We then headed to the intersection. Didn't get a bite on the point. So we headed to the SW R/R line. Jaimen got the first bass of the morning there on Grapes of Wrath. He lost a couple bass. We got to the juice and commenced to whack 'em on frogs, jigs, and craw tubes. Unfortunately, we didn't convert on the bigger bass. Jaimen caught the big fin in the sparse rice toward the back. When the fish were finally done we worked back around the Intersection. I was totally unprepared when a 17/18 smoked my frog on the backside of the point reeds.  My hand was nowhere near the reel handle. I worked us all the way into the thick reedline.  I don't remember if we caught anything or not. The rain stayed to the South of us.

We went back into Platte and worked the rice in Channel Inn Bay. I got the big bass of the morning before the 1st boat channel.  It was pretty much dead in CIB except for a few pike.  Dad called me and informed me it was Ruby's day, so I dropped Jaimen off and headed in.

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3/1, 17.25" Bobby's Perfect (Sparrow)

8:00-9:45PM NPBI, Access Across
78-84℉, PC, 0-3mph NW
83℉ Low

Due to the rents going to Pierz I got a late start tonight. I missed a couple topwater hits and a couple hits on the craw tube catching one little bass on the Craw Tube. I then went across from the Access in Platte.  There was a net set out there beyond the reeds. I went to the shallow edge of the cane. There was baitfish activity, but I was disappointed in the bite.  I got one dink on the craw tube and a 14-incher and the 17.25" on Bobby's Perfect. I also had a good fish miss the BP where I got the 17-incher.  I threw back with craw tube and had something that felt smaller pick it up that I had on for a few seconds before it came off.  The skeeters get pretty fierce around 9:45PM or so.

OK Evening On Both Lakes

1st Fish and the only picture I took tonight

6:15-9:15PM "THe dock", Rice E of GOMH, Intersection, NW Reeds
78-86℉, Mostly Cloudy, 2-5mph SW
80℉ Low

Tried out front to Jenny's Reeds missing one hit (Pike???) Then East of Jenny's down the lane getting nothing. I went across to the dock and got a dink and a 14-incher there. Not impressed I headed East of GOMH. Had one pike strike on the Sprinker and left for the Intersection. Had some bites where the school was and further down on the R/R line. I then went and tried the NW reeds and didn't get a hit, so I went back to the Intersection. I got a couple pike and bass on the NE R/R Line.  I just ran out of energy after the bites stopped at 9PM and headed in early.

OK Morning/Ok to Trainwreck In the Evening

6:00-10:30AM NPBI, SPSI, Intersection, Channel Inn Bay
80-65℉, PC, 0-2mph S variable
84℉ Low

I started at NPBI, and nothing.  Then I went to the reeds East of SPSI, but nothing.  I went to SPSI and got one small bass there on the craw tube.  With it not happening in Platte I headed to the point at the Intersection. I think I got a pike there. Then I ran the R/R line on the Westside. I got a couple bass in the boat then ran into a small school of 2lbers at the log. I lost a Big Sexy to a small pike in the sparse rice pocket. I doubled back and got a couple more bass over by the log. I then headed to Channel Inn Bay and talked with Jaimen. Shortly after talking with him, I got a dink.  A fish hit me so hard it shocked me up by the boat channel so I didn't get a good hookset, which cost me the best bite of the morning. I did get a couple more fish as I worked the rice to the North. The fish had pretty much shut off by the time I quit.  A good morning trip.


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7:30-9:30PM Channel Inn Bay
80-87℉, PC, Calm
83℉ Low

Started off good with a fish missing the Sprinker on the first cast. A few casts later and I had a bass in the boat on the Sprinker. I switched to the Craw Tube and got another bass and a pike.  Then I missed my next 6 or 7 bites.  Finally, I righted the ship when I hooked the 18-incher the third time it hit.  Then I was back to a train wreck losing my last three bites as I worked the rice to the South culminating in a backlash that cut my line at the spool, but got caught in it somehow.  I didn't get it loose until I brought it home.  The fireworks display was pretty good this year. It freaked me out a little bit as one of the West Point Cabin's was shooting their stuff off over the lake when I drove by. 

Morning And Evening With Todd

8" Craw Tube (Junebug)

18.5" Craw Tube (JUnebug)

5:30-9:00AM SPSI, Intersection
80-74℉, Mostly Sunny, Calm
76℉ Low

The Loons were fishing in front of the dock this morning

Started at the NPBI didn't get a thing. Then we went to SPBI and we missed some bites. I lost a decent fish that blew up something over the flat letting me know it was there. It took the SBKO, but I didn't get a good hookset. I rolled the fish and it got off, bummer.  Finally, I got us on the board with a 13-incher at the SPSI on the orange SBKO. I then caught that dinner plate pumpkinseed; I could not believe it was only 8-inches. Then I got the 18-incher on the craw tube as well.  That was it for the SPSI. I tried my honey hole East of GOMH and wouldn't you know the fish had abandoned it.  With that, I made the call to go to Sullivan to the Intersection. I think Todd got a pike and a bass off of the Point and I got a bass in the reeds. Then we worked down the SW side reed/rice line then went in shallow working South. Todd missed a couple of good bites when we were on the R/R line and missed a couple bites in the shallow rice as well. I think I got a couple of bass in the reeds as we worked South.  I got the final bite of the morning as we entered the boat line along the reed line.
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7:00-9:30PM Melon Patch (Dud), West Access Flat, Intersection
78-87℉, Mostly Sunny, Calm

Tried the Melon Patch and it was a dud. No activity. At the west Access Flat Todd jumped off a small bass and got a pike on the Sprinker. I had a pike hit the Horny Toad and the SBKO.  We decided to head to the Intersection. I couldn't go where I wanted because there was a pontoon with people swimming there.  So we went to the point. Todd got a pike there. The pontoon left so we went to where I wanted to start. I had a bass miss my frog.  It missed Todd's several times, but finally got it. I think I got two bass running that rice line and two in the reeds off of the East Point of the Intersection.

Slow Warm Night With Todd

14.25" Big Sexy

15.5" BD Frog (Brown)

7:30-9:30PM Double Cane to Starting Spot
87-77℉, Mostly Sunny, Calm
79℉ Very Low

I planned to go out before Todd got here tonight, but the motor wouldn't start.  After changing batteries I lifted the hood and it turns out the turner thing was stuck and couldn't reach the flywheel. By the time I figured it out Todd arrived.   We started around Double Cane.  I lost a bass on the Sprinker beyond the reeds.  I missed a bite when we came back around to the Cane. I lost a bite on the rice/reed line. Finally I put the 15-incher in the boat on the rice edge in front of the starting spot on the BD Frog. I got a couple more 14-inchers along the rice edge on the SBKO.  I was lucky the first one didn't put a hook in my hand. It came off as I was lifting it in and the lure hit my hand at speed, but luckily it was the front of the lure that hit my hand. Todd got a pike on the Sprinker.  We moved to the NW juice. Todd got a small pike. I lost a 14-incher on the Craw Tube. Todd eventually got a couple bass on Big Sexy.

Todd: 2 Bass 3 Pike
Me: 5 Bass

Solid Morning/Evening Frog Fishing

18.33" Craw Tube (Junebug)

The Wall Cloud

5:30-6:00AM NPBI
7:00-11:00AM SPSI, East of GOMH Rice, East of SP Reeds
74℉, Cloudy to PC some light rain, 0-6mph SE S SW

I went to NPBI first.  Unbeknownst to me, a front was moving in and I moved like a turtle catching one small bass on the Craw Tube. I decided to head back in rather than get poured on. It didn't really pour, but I'm glad I didn't stay out.

I headed to SPSI and nothing took topwater. I did get 4 bass on the Junebug craw tube (18.33, 16.5,14, 13.75) I then went to explore the rice East of GOMH.  I caught 2 bass (14.5,16.5) in 6 casts and left the area heading back along the rice toward SPSI. I wanted to leave the juice for Todd and me this weekend. I hit the SPSI one more time getting the 13.75" already referenced. I then went to the reeds and had a blowup that didn't hook up. I converted the 15.5" on the craw tube. I also got a pike in the reeds. Not a fast morning by any means, but the quality was OK.
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16.5" Sprinker

7:30-9:30PM Channel Inn Bay
78-84℉, Mostly Sunny, 0-3 SW
79℉ LOw

There was a lot of activity in the CIB tonight.

I missed the first bite when a big fish jumped over the BD Big. Think it was a bass, but could have been anything even a carp, probably not a carp.  I then missed my next two bites in boat lanes. I then got bass (14.5, 16) on two consecutive casts out in the isolated pads and rice on the Sprinker. I got 3 more bass (16.5,15.5,13.75) on the Sprinker and 2 bass (16.5, 13.5) on the black/red Terminator Frog.  I also got a pike on the Sprinker as I was coming out. I had worked my way just past the last boat channel which is way back in there. Not a bad night, no giants, and I missed a few. The hooking percentage on the Sprinker was very good I maybe missed one fish that committed.

Nothing to Start, Got a Few By the End

17.25" 3lbs SBKO (Orange)

7:30-9:30PM Loon Sex Bay,  SPSI
80-86℉, Mostly Cloudy, 6-9mph SE
77-79℉ Water level low and rising

I got the motor back on the boat with Steve's help then went home to get my rods and tackle. I started on Loon Sex Point and didn't get a sniff.  Finally, I had a pike miss me in the boat channel. I worked my way North and got a pike on a Junebug craw tube after it missed the frog.  I missed a couple bites in the pads along the north shoreline.  The second time it was a good-sized bass 3+??? maybe. I ended up getting one 15-inch bass on the Craw Tube. It looked like it might rain, but it didn't.  I headed to the South point of the small island.  Didn't get a hit on the Rat Plopper.  Got hit immediately by 16.5" larry on the other side of the marker jug.  I put the next cast by the reeds and had the 17-incher pop it.  I then got a 15" and 15.5" over by the reeds. I did miss a fish that hit the Vet Chatter. I tried the NPSI and didn't get a hit.  It was pleasant out and the breeze kept the bugs at bay, so I took my time before I headed in.

5 Bass
3 Pike

Bass Snatcher Serpent Lake Tournament

2/8ozs Z-Man TRD

Boater: Chuck Steinbauer
Conditions: 65-84℉, Mostly Sunny, 0-3mph Various directions

The Day: We blasted off for this one at around 6:40AM which is nice.  It became quickly apparent to me with Chuck getting bites almost immediately on a stick worm and nothing going on topwater that finesse fishing would have to be a bigger part of the program than I wanted it to be.  I switched to a Z-Man TRD on an Outkast Perfect Ned Head and caught me a 9" dink and a rock bass.  I didn't get a hit on anything on the next two spots we tried.  I finally got my first keeper in the boat on the Ned Rig at Darrin's Point. The fish was 14.5" long and in my haste to get back fishing I didn't weigh it till later.  It ended up being the smallest fish in my bag at 1/7. I then caught a line burner followed by my big fish of the day at 2/8.  We then went to the spot Chuck got a nice smallie and a couple of good lmb's on in pre-fish.  I caught a 2lber and Chuck got bupkiss.  We then went to the public access where I got a couple of small topwater fish that would take forever and a day for me to cull out.  I did manage to get rid of the line burner and the one I replaced him with on our next stop before we hit a long dry spell.  We came back to that weedline spot later in the day and I got an upgrade that stuck along with some dinks and a multitude of rockies.  In the final hour, we hit one of Chuck's old spots, and both upgraded a couple more fish.  We spent the final 20-minutes down by the landing where there was a chop on the water. I had two fish hit at the Whopper Plopper and not hook up.

Results: My fish weighed 11lbs 15ozs which put me in 6th Place. Chuck's weighed 14/10 and put him in 2nd Place. Hammer took 1st with 16/5 and lunker with a 4/02 smallie. Tyler Czech was the first Co-Angler Challenge Winner of 2020 with 13/05.

The 6th Place finish is my 3rd best finish in the 1st tournament of the year.  It looks like we are going to have small fields this year and there is a possibility we won't make up the first tournament which was postponed.  Every point counts and this finish gives me a leg up in finishing in the Club Super 6 at the end of the year.

My Thoughts:  Pre-fishing is a big deal for my confidence level. Last year the late June tournament was held on Alexander under similar circumstances, but I was unable to pre-fish that one.  The report coming in last year was that the bite was on fire.  When it wasn't on tournament day I got caught flat-footed and never got comfortable with what I was throwing.  I only brought in 3 fish that day.  This year I was prepared for what I was going to throw if the fish didn't cooperate and the plan worked out pretty well.

I should probably pick up some more of those Outkast Perfect Ned Heads.  I only have 3 of them.


Final Standings:

My Scale Weight:

Jaimen In the Morning/Slow Evening With A Great Conclusion

Pre-Fishing Serpent With Snatcher Chuck

Evening Trip, Broke Off S.B.'s

Trophy Back, Fished the River Mouth

Todd Schooled Me Tonight

2/6 17" Big Sexy

11.97lbs Uff Dah!

4:15-9:15PM Our Place to East Of Jenny's, Loon Sex Bay
70-77℉, PC, 5-12mph WNW
72℉ Very Low

I was hoping it was going to be calm, but no such luck.  By the time I arrived the wind was blowing from 5 to 10mph.  We started out front and worked our way East.  I got a 13-inch bass pretty quickly. Todd got a dink and the big fish of the night in Jenny's reeds.  We got into a little flurry East of Jenny's.  With me getting 2 and Todd catching 6 with both of us missing about 3 or 4 bites apiece. We then went to Loon Sex Bay.  I missed the first blow-up.  It was quite a while before we got another hit. The Northside of the Bay was completely dead. I lost a couple fish on the Poison and Todd had a good one hang him in some pads.  I missed a blow up on LSP.  We went deep in the Bay. Nothing. We then saw something get crushed in an area we didn't fish yesterday.  Todd lost a good one there.  I think I had a doggy follow and Todd landed our only bite in the Bay. I lost one I should have had and that was it.

Todd
8 Bass
Me
3 Bass

LSB in the Morning/Fishing with Kane and Todd In the Evening

5:30-9:00AM Loon Sex Bay
65-55℉, Sunny to Cloudy,  0-3mph SE
72℉ Very Low


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17" Snagproof Jr.

5:00-6:00PM Starting Spot Rice
7:30-9:15PM Todd's Pond Double Cane Point
68-73℉. PC, 0-4mph SE

Motor Issue Morning/Reeds Across & F Flat with Todd

7:30-9:30PM Reeds Across, F Flat
65-73℉, PC, 0-3mph NW
74℉ Very Low

The Motor Story:
So I was at the Lake Place a little after 5AM with new gas in the tank. I noticed a bunch of gas in the filter that I failed to get out of the line yesterday. I got that taken care of.  I then decided it would be best to put my stuff in the boat, and I try running the boat with the new gas.  That didn't solve the problem.  I called Prince's Marine. He told me to flush the line with air and check the spark plugs. If that didn't resolve the issue, he would look at it as soon as I could bring it in.  I went home and got dad and the tools we needed. We blew out the line.  I went out in the boat, and well ah, it worked full power.  I quickly turned around and brought it back in. Dad said, go out and run it some more.  I got up to full speed for about 15 seconds ad then it bogged down again. Drats!

I came in, and Dad thought the issue was the quick connect fitting that attaches to the gas tank.  Unfortunately, Bear Trax was out of them.  They did have them at Hardware Hank in Onamia, but I would have to buy the $50 hose to get the $12 part. Oh well.  So we went back to the lake. Issue not resolved.  We then checked the spark plugs. They seemed to be fine.  By this point, it was too late for me to make it to Prince's. Todd and Mallory showed up as we were finishing up. I went home for a little bit.

The Trip:
Todd and I got out at 7:30PM.  We headed to the Reeds across.  I lost something that hit Mann's Buzzbait right away.  Todd put a quick bass in the boat on the Sprinker and then caught a pike.  We thought things were looking good.  Then nothing for quite a while.  I had a small bass jump me off and got a pike at the boat path.  We didn't get a hit in the North bed at all. Maybe Todd missed one bite. It sucked. I eventually beat feet for the F Flat juice. I got a decent bass at the Brown Boat House dock, and Todd got the big fish of the day there on the Sprinker. Todd and I both lost quality fish to the West of Brown Boat House.  There were baitfish jumping all over the place, but they didn't seem to be getting busted on by anything.

Not a great trip, but not horrible either.