Snatchers Pelican Lake Tournament

Smitty's Bigs

Smitty's Fin

DJ's Bigs

DJ, Arnie, Smitty

2/9

Conditions: 62-82℉, Mostly Sunny, 0-2mph Wind

The Day:

We headed NW to a bay up there with a bunch of slop. Smitty had a bass in the boat in about 5 casts out of the pads. I had something follow my frog but not hit it. Smitty got another bass. I think I had something hit my jig back where the fish followed my frog too. We then came across some docks and Smitty would get a bite or two of off each one it would seem like. His 3rd or 4th fish in the boat was a 4lber. I got the skunk out of the boat with my biggest bass of the day (2.53) on a Livetartget Frog next to some cattails. We fished more slop and docks, with Smitty getting fish off of both. We ended up returning to where we started and I missed a bit in the pads and think Smitty culled with a 2lber. He had 3 quality fish off of the docks I think. Next. we headed NE to another slop bay where there was a lot of activity. I got a 24-inch dogfish on a Mag Fluke. Smitty had a big bass miss his frog. I think He caught one as well. I'm not sure if he culled. I got my second bass on Bobby's Perfect Frog. We fished farther East into another slop bay then fished our way back to the area where there was activity. I got my smallest keeper (1.36) that I was never able to cull on the LiveTarget frog. Smitty got a big dogfish. Next, we fished Smitty's favorite docks and they were productive for him. Smitty had mercy on me and offered me the craw tube he was getting them. I think he added two culls while I was getting my rod rigged with the proper weight while I was getting heckled by a guy on shore for not having my act together while my partner caught fish left and right.. Unfortunately, the best dock was occupied. I got a 1.82lb bass on the craw tube out of some reeds. Smitty got a few that didn't help. We ran South to one of Smitty's favorite holes, but there were not really fish around except on the last dock, where Smitty bird dogged me one (1.69) that I got on the craw tube. We then went North again to more reeds and Smitty pulled a 5lber out of the Cane. I missed a bite in the Cane because I set the hook too quick. Smitty wasn't going to fish until I got my limit. I got a short out of some reeds/pads. Finally, I got a keeper in the boat off of a dock (2.11). We went back to the dogfish bay. I had three bites on my frog, but didn't land any of them; Two never got the frog and I rolled the one that did get it on the pads on the hookset.  I ran out of energy shortly after my last bite on the frog. As we headed out Smitty had motor issues, so we went to the bay where we had the weigh-in and fished the final hour there, not getting any bites.

Results: 

My results, meh! But at least I got a limit. Congrats to Smitty for putting himself in the Snatcher record books with that outstanding bag of fish. Also congrats to Arnie and DJ. Dj was top Co-Angler. 

My Thoughts:  With that 2.50lber in the boat on a frog about 20 minutes in I thought it might be my day. But then Smitty put on a clinic above average size fish in the boat with a craw tube on docks. I tried switching to a popper after some activity in open water. Then we got to more docks and Smitty got more above average size fish and my jig wasn't getting bit. We got to an area with pads and I couldn't get bit on a frog or Jig, but Smitty continued to catch fish. It just seemed like all my choices were wrong in the first spot. I got two keepers in the boat at the second spot, but I don't think it held the numbers and size of bass to produce a great frog bite. When we got back to docks. It became clear the crawtube was the deal. So when Smitty offered what he was using I rigged up my dock fishing rod with a light Texas Rig. I was way too anxious fishing that crawtube. I needed to let it sit and give the fish a chance to eat it instead of immediately pulling the trigger. It was unfortunate our run South wasn't really holding a good school of fish or had already been hit by somebody else. Not getting any of those final frog fish in the boat sucked, but that is frog fishing. Catching one of them would have probably moved me up at least a couple of places.

Watching Smitty wreck 'em is the highlight of my year so far.

Grade: C+

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

Todd Morning Trip/Just Me In the Evening Short Trip

4.10lbs/18.25" Terminator Frog (Yellow)

6:00-8:30AM Double Cane/Green Cabin Bay
Conditions: 65-70℉, Sunny, Wind DNR
Water Temp: 72℉

2.91lbs/17.9" Livetarget Frog

Todd In the Trophy waiting for me to show up.

It was my first-night house/pet sitting with Mac and I didn't bring an alarm clock with me when I went to get my stuff last night, so Todd gave me a wake up call at about 5:10am.  I got down front about a half hour later.  Todd was out fishing in the boat as the picture shows.  I think we were fishing by 6AM on double cane point.  We had been fishing for about 20 minutes before Todd broke the ice.

2.20lbs/16.25" Terminator Frog (Yellow)

I then caught a dink and Todd got another 16 plus inch chunk.

2.40lbs/16.75" Terminator Frog (Yellow)

As I was working us out of the reeds/rice where they meet Todd lost a good blowup, then I got the skinny 17.9".  We worked the rice from the outside for a while without a bite, so I took us back to Green Cabin.  I should note that Double Cane was alive with activity just not much for bass, 6 blowups in a good hour and half plus.

Todd's 4 Pounda

I had barely gotten the trolling motor down when Todd got blown up.  I think we both missed a blowup a piece and that was it for bites in the morning. I went back to bed when we got back.  I woke up at about 2:15PM.  Todd and the girls came back in the pontoon at about 2:40PM.  They were gone by 4PM.  I went back to bed.
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7:30-8:30PM From all the fishing and my weird sleep schedule and lack of bringing 5-Hour Energy when I went home last night I was really dragging after I got up this evening.  I gave Big Bass Point a shot, but as per usual nothing was going on.  This area used to be money.  Now I'm lucky if I even get a bite.  It pretty much looks the same to me.  I don't get it what happened?

I then scooted across to Double Cane.  Once again activity, but not so much bass.  I got a 13.25" on the Terminator Frog and a couple of pike.  I was pretty discouraged by the lack of activity and my back was sore.  A fire got started to the SE of me.  I was a bit concerned because the lake cabin is in that direction.  I missed a blowup and conditions were getting right, but my heart wasn't in it so I took off.  Turns out the fire was on North Platte Lake Drive.

13.82lbs Best 6Bass for the Day

GOMH & Long Day On the Water

5:00-6:00AM GOMH NE SW
Conditions: 58℉, Mostly Cloudy, Light E wind when not calm
Water Temp: 64℉

11" Rippin Rap (Sexy shad)

Nothing but a very minor dinkfest at the GOMH this morning.  Got them on the Rippin Rap, Jerk Shad, and a couple on the FishingSir Vixen.

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3.04/17" Craw Tube (Black/Blue)

6:30AM-5:00PM SPSI, River, SPRO, Intersection, Starting Spot, Double Cane Point

Conditions: 63-73℉, Partly Cloudy, Wind light to  blowing pretty good SE E NE

Water Temp: 64-72℉

Longest day I have spent on the water in years, but I never got tired.   I had enough water to drink and temps were comfortable so I just kept at it.  First stop was the South Point of the Small Island.  I got one dink there on the Pompadour.  Then it was on to the river mouth.  I just got done telling myself to be ready for a hit.  When a fish did indeed hit and I wasn't ready for it.  Putz move for sure.  Nothing beyond that was going on in the river mouth until  I got a little way in.  I traded off small pike and 14-inch bass along the southern shoreline on the Sparrow Bobby's Perfect Frog.  I then got a couple bass and had some spectacular misses on the FishingSir Vixen knock off along the northern shoreline.  That was about it until I got to the bulrushes where I developed a case of the misses on the Bobby's Frog.  Finally, I got 15-incher, then got on to missing fish again.  When I got down by the dam I got a couple on the FishingSir.  I missed a couple fish coming back out on the Bobby's.  I got a 15-incher on the craw tube which I didn't stick with because I wanted those frog blow ups which came, but I missed again.  

It was now 11AM and I was finally out of the river into the SPRO.  I got a 16-incher on the Bobby's then lost an even bigger fish on the next cast.  That got me sucked into the rice where I caught a couple more on the Bobby's and a fish a piece on the black Mad Maxx, bluegrass Mad Maxx, LiveTarget Frog. At about 1:30 I had to get out of that rice.  I decided to hit the SW corner of the intersection and missed a couple of hits on a frog.  I got a dink over by the reeds and cattails and got 15.5" in the reeds over by the log in the rice on the Terminator Frog Jr.  Lucky to get that fish.  I backlashed the cast and was just about to start pulling it out when the fish blasted the frog. I immediately clicked the reel in gear and laid the wood to the fish.  The NE intersection is the most beautiful bassy looking water on the lake, but there was nothing in it that wanted my topwaters today.  Saw a lot of fry swimming around though.

15.5" Toadrunner (Sunburn)

It was now about 3PM and I was headed in when I decided to head to the North End.  There I beat my head against a wall with frogs from East of the Starting Spot all the way to Double Cane.  A lot of fry in the rice here as well.  I had a good fish bury me in the reeds off of Double Cane Point on the Toadrunner and I got a 15.5-incher on it there as well.  I finally put the topwater down and caught my biggest fish of the day out of the reeds and cabbage on the back side of Double Cane on a craw tube.  I missed one solid bite that I never set on and finished the day when pike destroyed the craw tube.  Amazingly, I wasn't totally fried yet and could have easily fish a couple more hours before I got to that point.  Must be that Mocha coffee Dad got at Rubies Pantry.

13.31lbs for my 6 Best

Not exactly a stellar day on the water, but I had fun.

For the Day

26 Bass

9 Pike    

    

Got Out For A Bit Tonight

15.25" LiveTarget Frog

8:00-9:45PM Loon Sex Bay, SPSI
Conditions: 76-70℉, Mostly Sunny, Wind ESE
Water Temp: 76℉

The setting sun as it came visible off the South point of the big island while I was running to the South Point of the small island.

When I arrived at SPSI, then the camera stopped working

I was pretty worn out today from the beating I took on North Long yesterday.  I did manage to take the girls (Belle, Mallory, and Natalie) out to knee board for a little while in the afternoon. I went home after that and just kind of sat around.  The weather is supposed to get really warm tomorrow so I thought I should get out and fish.  I didn't get to the lake place until about 7:40 . Per usual I had to get all my gear in the boat and also get the battery in the boat for the trolling motor.

With the East wind I decided on Loon Sex Bay with the plan to hit SPSI to end the night.  I was quickly rewarded in LSB with the 15.25 in the picture. I then had a pike bite off the LiveTarget Frog: Thankfully I was able to find and retrieve it.  I didn't retie it on, but went with the brown Ish's.  That got a couple of boils, but nothing getting the lure.  I switched to the Bobby's perfect.  I had a couple of pike hit at that and I didn't hook up with a fish that just smashed it.

Then it was off to SPSI.  I started by throwing the Pompadour and was just about to quit throwing it when a fish hit it, but didn't hook up.  A couple casts later I got a 16" bass on it.  That was it for the Pompadour.  I got three quick small pike on the yellow head Whopper Plopper 90.  Then I got an 11", 15", 9.5" and 13.5" bass on the yellow head.

Last fish of the night was an 11.5" bass on the SBKO black herring bone.

8.70lbs Best 6 Bass of the NIght

 Not a great night by any means, but I was catching them on topwater.

Good Morning at the GOMH/Lost the Plot in the Evening in the Trophy

17.5" Chigger Craw breen

6:30-7:40AM GOMH SW
Conditions: 60-50 degrees, Mostly sunny, Calm

Didn't get a hit on the NE side.  I got this 12" on the LiveTarget Frog on the SW side.

12" LiveTarget Frog

I then got 3 jumpers on the Chigger Craw (17.5", 15.25, 12).  I decided not to fish out of the Trophy desite the fact it was dead calm.  Fish just didn't seem active this morning.

"Sunburn" Pad Chasers

The Booyah Pad Crashers I got on Ebay finally came in the mail today.  I tied one on the Tatula Rod.

6:00-8:30PM Trophy at the Lake PLace
Conditions: 60's, Mostly sunny, Light NW Wind.

I started by throwing the Pad Crasher off the dock for no bites.  I then got in the Trophy and got 3 bass (11, 9, 16.33) throwing the Yum Dinger around Sherman's dock.

11" Yum Dinger

16.33" Yum Dinger

Got some bites between Sherman's and Beaver Point Dock on the Dinger that didn't hook up and I also missed the first strike on the Pad Crasher.  I landed the second hit on the Pad Crasher in the rice on our side of the Beaver Point Dock.

14.5" Pad Crasher Sunburn

Four fish in the first hour of fishing, not bad.  I missed a hit on the Pad Crasher on the other side of Beaver Point out towards the lake.  I then followed through on my plan to fish out in the reeds.  There was some fish activity, but they just wouldn't hit the Crasher.  I did miss a couple of fish that halfheartedly went after it.  I should have stayed shallow.  I'm going to put a rattle in the Pad Crasher.

Two 14's In the Trophy Tonight

14.5" LiveTarget Frog

7:20-8:25PM Trophy at the Lake Place
Conditions: Mid to high 60's, Mostly sunny, Light NW wind turning calm

I started out fishing off the dock.  Had two eagles fly by, pretty cool.  Didn't get any bites so I headed out in the Trophy.  There were a couple of deer up the hill at Beaver Point Dock.  I got the bass in the picture just off the East end of the dock.  I had a fish strike hard at the LIveTarget Frog but not get it in the first opening to the SE of the point.  It was getting dark when I decided to throw the Yum Dinger in a smaller open area that pretty much goes up to shore.  Sure enough a 14" bass picked it up.  The skeeters got bad so I headed in.  I should have thrown the Dinger a little more.

Three 15"ers at GOMH This Morning

15.25" Yum Dinger

9:00-11:30AM GOMH NE SW, Jenny's, Dock at Lake Place
Conditions: 74-70 degrees, Wind out of the SW calming down by the time I stopped, Cloudy to mostly sunny, some sprinkles.

15.5" Yum Dinger

Due to thunderstorms and a short power outage I didn't get out when I wanted.  Tried a few baits with nothing, then I went to the Yum Dinger and caught 4 jumpers (15.25, 14, 15.5, 10).  Basically fish I would never have caught otherwise.  I cast to the far side of the tube then let it drift back.  Got the bites when it got to the near wall just letting it sit.  There was a parade of various side grass clumps going under the bridge.  I went to the SW side and had a fish miss the small Plopper.  I went back on the NE side and got a 15.5" on Mad Maxx.

I then went to Jenny's and had Mad Maxx get bit off by a pike.  I went to the lake place and had a small pike go airborne after the LiveTarget Frog.  The sun came out and I decided to leave rather than go out in the trophy and fish in the calm conditions.

Caught Me a Toad Off the Dock Tonight

19.9" LiveTarget Frog

8:30-9:15PM Dock, Jenny's, GOMH
Conditions: 70 degrees, light N wind, Mostly sunny

Caught a big girl off the dock tonight, 19.9".  I thought it was gonna be close to 21", because it's such a brute. I didn't bring the camera because I wasn't sure if I was going to get to fish tonight or not with the brothers coming tomorrow and work needing to be done.  I forgot I had the one on the selfie stick in the car in the tackle bag, duh.  But we have a submersible livewell that I put the fish in, so I will get pictures of it tomorrow and show it off to the nieces.

Had something hit me at Jenny's but not get the frog at Jenny's.  Nothing at the GOMH but skeeters.

Golden Bullhead at the GOMH This Morning

15.5" Jerk Shad Crackle

5:30-9:00AM GOMH NE, Slop Slip Lake Place
Conditions: 68-64 degrees, calm to light W wind, Mostly cloudy, Cloudy, some light rain, water up a little bit from last night. skeeters were terrible.

I had a fish nail the black Sexy Dawg not once but twice and not hook up either time.  Then I was throwing the jerk shad and caught a bullhead that didn't fight much.  I was surprised when it turned out to be a golden bullhead.

15.5" Jerk Shad

 I then missed a bite on the b/b Chigger Craw.  Felt like a good fish.

I didn't get anything on the SW side.

Didn't get anything off the dock.  I paddled West to start.  Had a small pike come out of the rice after the LiveTarget Frog. Missed another fish that boiled on the LT when I cast over a dock.  Threw the Whopper Plopper quite a bit without a single hit.  Had a couple of 20" plus pike come out of the water after the LiveTarget at the Beaver Point and not get it thankfully.  Not a single bass hit.  The wind came up and it started to rain so I headed in.

Post Storm Puzzled Until POW!

Unfortunately my best pics weren't in focus

7:45-9:15PM GOMH NE SW, Culvert, Bulldog, Jenny's
Conditions: 74-64 degrees, Light rain and sun pretty much post thunderstorm, Windy out of the SW diminishing, Water Level up a little higher

Not much going at the GOMH.  Had a little toothy hit the Jerk Shad on the SW side.  Tried the culvert, got nothing.  Back to the GOMH NE, nothing.  Went to Bulldog. Had something swirl on the LIveTarget Frog, but not get it.

I went to Jenny's and was just about to quit thinking I don't have a clue what the fish are up to right now when a bass smashed the LiveTarget Frog.

At least this picture is in focus

17?? LiveTarget Frog

 Hopefully that fish clued me in on where I can get some nice bass right now.

Morning at GOMH & Slop Slip/Evening Skunked at the GOMH

14.5" Chigger Craw b/b

5:30-8:30AM GOMH SW, Slop Slip at Lake Place
Conditions: 70-60 degrees, Light W wind, Mostly Sunny, Water Level as high as it's been.

The skeeters were out big time this morning at both the GOMH and the lake place.  Didn't get any hits on the NE side.   Got the 14.5" and had a 12 incher throw the Chigger Craw back at me.  I left for the Lake Place at 6:30.  Didn't get any bites off the dock.  Had a good fish miss the LiveTarget Frog off the Beaver Dam Point.  Had a small pike come out of the water after the LiveTarget as well, but much farther out.  That was it for action.  The bright sun was annoying.

8:15-9:15PM
Conditions: 80 degrees, Calm, Sunny

I had a pike bite off the Chigger Craw on the SW side.  Nothing on the NE side. Bah.  I know there were bullheads in the tunnel.  I heard them hit things a couple of times.  The water is to high for me to be able to cover much of the tunnel.

Not a Total Loss This Morning

5:30-7:30AM GOMH NE SE, Culvert, Inlet
Conditions: Low 70's, Wind W, Mostly Sunny

Ran through my baits.  Didn't get anything.  The weekend guy was there and got a few oranges on the NW side.  There were some younger guys that beat him to the SW side this morning.  I got a toothy out of the slop on the NE side on the LiveTarget Frog and also had something swirl at me close in.  The weekend guy got a big dogfish this weekend at the GOMH.

Nothing at the Culvert and Inlet

Slop Slip @ Lake Place

15" LiveTarget Frog

8:00-9:30PM Slop Slip Lake Place
Conditions: 70's, Calm, Partly Cloudy

(Auto Focus no longer works right)

I got out for an hour and a half tonight in the Slop Slip.  I had 3 bites and landed 2 of them.

14" LiveTarget Frog