Ok Morning at the GOMH and Our Bay

Sunrise Weak

4:45-6:30AM GOMH NE
Conditions: 64℉, Partly Cloudy, 5-10 SE Wind
7:00-10:00AM East of Jenny's Docks and Slop, Our Bay East Docks, Our Bay NE Corner
Conditions: 64-60℉, Cloudy some light rain, Wind from Calm to Blowing SE to W back to SE
Water Temp: 64℉

2.82/17" Arashi Top Walker Jr. (Pearl Shad)

No gold went for the Rippin Raps or anything else today.  Finally got a few jumpers to go on topwater and the Speed shad.  All dinks except for the 17".  The panfish guy showed up around 5:30, so I didn't fish the S side.

The plan in the Trophy was to let the wind blow me from East of Jenny's to wherever fishing the rice then try the reeds across the way.

2.44lbs/17" A.T. Jig/Craw Fatty (Junebug/b/b)

It started out great with a 17" and 15.25" off the 2nd dock and rice edge on the A.T. Jig.  Then a pike stole my jig and had a couple fish miss Maxx as I brought it through the rice.  The wind switched out of the West before I got into the rice.  In the rice, I got a 15-inch fish and missed a hit or two.  On the next dock, I missed a fish and got a 15" on Maxx. It then got calm so I went out and tried in the cabbage getting nothing.  The two dock fish made me change plans and head to the SE corner to run docks.  I was quickly rewarded with 15.5" on the first dock I tried on the Terminator Jig/Craw Fatty.  I got a 16" and a 10" and missed a couple as I worked my way N on the Terminator Jig.  I worked out over the flat about 1/2 way up where there was some baitfish activity, but nothing wanted topwater.  As I got the NE corner it started to sprinkle; I got a 15-incher on bluegill Bubble Walker and a 13-incher on the Terminator Jig. Then it started to rain, so I headed in. 

GOMH, By Myself In The Trophy, With Todd Evening

2.97lb/17.25" Terminator (Yellow)

18" Rippin Rap (Helsinki Shad)

5:00-6:30AM GOMH NE SW
Conditions: 58-63℉, Cloudy, ESE light wind

Surprisingly I was the only person at the GOMH this morning.  The golden choked the Rippin Rap on the second cast.  I also caught  21-inch toothy on the RR, lost a couple quickly after hooking up, and had a couple of bites that didn't hook up.  I got an 11" and 15.5" jumper casting out on a BPS Speed Shad/Outcast Swim Jig Head.  I also got a dink and a couple that didn't hook up on the black Shower Blows knockoff.  On the SW side, I got another dink on the SBKO, a couple on the Poison, and one dink on black/blue craw tube.  I also got a 22.25 toothy on the FishingSir Vixen knockoff.  Both of the fish I got on the Rippin Rap were hooked in the gills, so I took a trip home to get the fish refrigerated.  I also had to switch vehicles so I wasn't on the water again until 7:30.
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15.75" Mad Maxx (Bluegrass)

7:30AM-Noon: West Point, SPSI, Rice East of GOMH
Conditions: 65-70℉, Mostly Cloudy, ESE Wind 3-10MPH
Water Temp: 68-69

I hit up West Point to start and got a dink on the Dinger.  I then went to SPSI.  Nothing was off the tip, but on the weed flat to the west there was baitfish activity.  I got a 14.75" on the Hexa Chinooki which the fish blasted.  That was the only fish I got to rise for a topwater until I got to the rice.  On about my 5th cast to the inside weed edge, 15.5" bass blasted Mad Maxx.  I thought it was going to be AWWWWWWWN, but it was more like slow and steady.  I'd pick have a blow up every 10-15 minutes catching about a third of them.  The one in the picture was a fish that blew up about two good cast lengths away.  I quickly raced towards it on the troller and it blasted Maxx straightaway.  I got 8 bass and 3 pike in the rice East of GOMH.

Tragedy Averted 

I had a pike blow up on Maxx and instantly cut the line.  I didn't have the trolling motor in the water at the time.  I was extremely lucky to get the bluegrass Maxx back.  I'm not sure if I have any left or not.  Shortly after that, I went to try Channel Inn Bay, but as I started my drift Todd called me to come help with the pontoon boat lift, which they were putting in the water.  I had a picture, but the file was fubar.
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16" Terminator Frog

8:00-10:00PM Starting Spot to Double Cane Point
Conditions: 70's, Partly Cloudy, ENE Wind 5-10MPH
Water Temp: 69℉

Steve had other stuff to do so it was just Todd and me tonight.  I decided to head North rather than South.  Todd made that decision seem ingenious when he quickly landed the 3lber.  The biggest bass f the day.  But it was a struggle for a while as the fish didn't seem to be in the rice like I thought they would be.  We picked off a fish here and there and ended up with it being a pretty good night, just no big fish.  Todd got 6 Bass and 1 Pike and I got 5 Bass 2 Pike, we also missed some fish of coarse.

6 Best Bass for the day

For the Day
28 Bass
10 Pike
1 Gold   

Long Slow Day On The Water

17.5" Bobby's Perfect Frog

7:30-8:00AM GOMH
8:30AM-6:00PM NW Bay, Big Bass Point, Double Cane to Inlet Bay, Across from P.A.
Conditions: 48-66℉, Sunny to Cloudy, Light WSW to WNW Wind, water level rising
Water Temp: 63℉

15.5" Craw Tube (Brown/GP)

When I arrived at the GOMH the panfish guy was there fishing the SW side.  I told him what I had been catching here lately.  I then went down on the NE side.  Missed my first 4 bites, then had my white Pure Poison get bit off.  I did manage to catch the one jumper on the craw tube.

   Conditions seemed favorable, but the bass didn't agree as I struggled to catch 'em.  I caught pike though. I had a true monster gator miss the Rat Ta Tat Plopper twice on Double Cane Point, thinking it was 36-38".  I was a knuckle head and didn't think to throw the Mag Fluke after it.

16" Bobby's Perfect

I didn't feel like taking a break, so I didn't.  I should have put some sunscreen on as I got a little burnt.  I also got a bit mentally and physically fatigued.  I missed several bites that I really should have landed after 4PM.

16.25" Outkast Swim Jig/Swim Fluke Jr. 

I kept hoping I was going to run into a concentration of bass.  That didn't happen until I made my last move of the day and then I only caught 1 of the 6 or so that bit.

I actually probably had a little more weight than this, but I forgot to put the 17.5" on the scale before I put it back.  The 2.53 was the weight I put on the scale for it.  If I could have the day over I would throw a lot more sim jig and a spinnerbait, which I didn't throw at all.

22 Pike
7 Bass

Slow Morning Under Good Conditions

16.25" Hack Attack Jig/Craw Fatty

7:30AM-1:30PM GOMH, Pad Point, SPSI, East of GOMH, Channel Inn Bay
Conditions: 53-71℉, Cloudy to Partly Cloudy, Calm to Light ESE ENE Wind
Water Temp: 69-71℉

17" SBKO (Black/herring bone)

Due to it raining this morning I got a later start than normal.  I stopped at the Grumpy Old Man Hole first.  I got the toothy bullhead on the Shower Blows knock off and had 15/16" class jumper jump me off on the Mad Maxx frog.

I then went and got water pumped out of the Trophy and headed to "Pad Point".  I got an 18" pike on the Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil.  There was some fish activity in the shallow slop, but I couldn't get anything.  I went to West Point and didn't get anything there.

8.5" Whopper Plopper 130

Next stop was the South point of the small island.  I got that dink on the Plopper.  As you can see conditions were ideal for a topwater bite to be going on.  There was ever baitfish activity all over the place, but bigger fish just weren't active probably due to the drop in water temp. Even though I wasn't catching anything I liked the weather I was fishing in, so I persisted.  Finally towards the back of a pocket East of GOMH I got a 16" bass on an Outkast Swim Jig with Swim Shad.  I also had a 17" jump me off at the boat on Maxx and a fish of similar size missed the Horny Toad; Couldn't get that sucker to hit anything else.

 I then moved into Channel Inn Bay and had a 15.75" bass annihilate the Horny Toad on my very first cast.  I quickly caught 3 more on the Toad and got the one on the Hack Jig/Craw Fatty combo.  I missed a couple off hits on the Hack Jig and eventually had the Craw Fatty get pulled off.  A fish that I thought was a bass missed the Horny Toad in a clump of rice.  I threw back with Max Maxx the fish bit and I promptly got bit off.  On my way out I had a small pike take a shot at the Whopper Plopper.  When I got back to the lake place there was a pontoon at our dock who's motor had quit.  Sherman was almost ready to leave to tow the people back, so I didn't have too.

Best 6 Bass

7 Bass
3 Pike

OK Morning GOMH & In the Trophy

BAM! 4.38lber Chigger Craw/Strike King Swing Football Head

5:30AM-11:30AM GOMH NE SW, SPSI, Out From Jenny's Reeds and Out Front
Conditions: 58-68℉, Partly to Mostly Cloudy, Light ESE Wind
Water Temp: 76℉

There was activity in the tube and I got one to go on the Shower Blows knock off to start things off.

16.25" SBKO

I then got a 15" on the Armor Tube Worm and missed a couple of bites. I then went to the SW side.  No topwater hits there.  I had a good size ? jump and break off the Armor Tube Worm/Wacky Head Jig.  I then had a good jumper jump and get off on the Chigger Craw/Strike King Swing Football Head.  I also caught a 15".  All this took about an hour.

18.75" Chigger Craw/Swing Head

I then headed to the Trophy and SPSI. Nothing going on topwater.  I put on the Swing head and got a 14" and then the big one.  I got one last 14.75" on that and the Chigger Craw was toast.  I put on a Craw Fatty and lost a good one on that.  That shut the school down.  I got 2 dinks on the 90 size Whopper Plopper.  I went over and checked a few docks on the South shore getting one pike on the Outkast/Craw Fatty combo.  I went back to the point ad got a pike on the Craw Fatty.

I then went to the slop East of Jenny's and the fish just weren't going.  I then went out side the slop and started casting the LiveTarget Bluegill Wakebait just like last year and caught a bunch of pike and a couple of bass (15.5x2).

14.21lbs Best 6 Bass

12 Bass (18.75, 16.25, 15.5, 15.5, 15, 15)
13 Pike  

Nothing In the Morning, A Few In the Evening

15.66" SBKO

5:30-6:45 GOMH NE, Culvert, INlet
Conditions: 41-49℉, Sunny, Light Wind, Water Level Low

I was greeted by a red wing blackbird this morning.  Didn't get a hit anywhere and somebody showed up and took both sides of the South side, so I was SOL.

I did get a bobber though, so there is that.
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Evening Trip

16" SBKO

7:30-10:00PM West of Fall Flat and Fall Flat along the docks
Conditions: 68-60℉, Partly Cloudy, Light NW Wind turning calm by 9PM
Water Temp: 66℉

15.5" SBKO

The wind was blowing a bit to much for me to go into the reeds across the way like I wanted to, so I headed to calm water by the Dogs House.  I got a small pike  off the first dock on an Outkast Jig with Craw Fatty trailer.  I was going to fish docks, but I couldn't resist throwing topwater for the most part.  I did miss a couple bites on the jig.  I got the first bass (15.5) of the evening on the SBKO to the East of the Cabin Dad and I looked at.  I got the second bass (12.75) on my very next cast back towards the Cabin we looked at.  I got a pike on the Bobby's Perfect Frog

 I then had a pike attempt to steal my SBKO.  Fortunately it didn't get the hooks.  A pike then did proceed to steal the Bobby's Perfect I had on the Tatula Frog Rod.  I ended up choosing to not go to the reeds when the biggest bass of the night to the SBKO in front of the Flag Place.  I also caught a dink and a pike there.  I ended by running the Double Plopper Buzzbait and having 3 fish swirl at it.

 Not a stellar night, but not a total bust either.  It needs to warm up.

4 Bass (6.19lbs)
8 Pike

Tough Conditions Caught A Few

14.5" Mad Maxx (Sweet Revenge)

6:00-9:30PM NW, Green Cabin Bay, Chuck's Point
Conditions: 62-50℉, Partly to Cloudy with some sprinkles, Very Windy WNW
Water Temp: 68-66℉

17" Outkast Swim Jig/Speed Shad

I started in the NW Juice and nothing was going on.  I took a picture of the pike because I wasn't sure if I was gonna catch a bass or not.  At about 7:30 I tried the rice field in the reeds and I got a 16.66" on Mad Maxx that I forgot to take a picture of after weighing it (2.53lbs).  I caught the 14.5" next ,a couple of casts later pretty close to the same spot.  I got one more small pike, before I bailed for Green Cabin Bay.

I made a cast up by shore in the junk and scattered bulrushes and a good fish showed itself.  Casting to it proved difficult.  It snapped at Maxx twice without getting it.  Bowfin maybe?  It finally got it on the 3rd hit but got off about 1/3 of the way to the boat.  Bummer it was a good fish whatever it was.  Had a few pike bites, but not much was going on.  I did get an 11" dink out of some pads on a Bobby's Perfect Frog.  I got over to Chuck's Point and got 14.75"(2.11lbs) largie on the Bobby's Perfect as well.  Clouds moved in and it started sprinkling, so I headed in.   With the wind at my back I got to 24 MPH headed back.

4 Bass (7.25lbs for the 4 I caught because I count every fish, no minimum length)
7 Pike

Cyberfish shows at the GOMH

Before I get into the report I had a surprise visit at the GOMH tonight when Mike "Cyberfish" "Shake" "MT Bucket" Thompson showed up in his little red car. Man was I surprised to see him. He was on his way back from his annual family outing at Woman Lake and decided to drop on by the "Grumpy Old Man Hole" to see what all the fuss is about.

Cyb arrived a little after 8:30 and decided to join me for a little bullhead or dogfish action on the pallets (SW side). He met GOM Willard and was talking smack about "sewer trout" and how great dogfish are because they are so much harder to catch than a bass. Cyb put on a Cabela's AquaGlow™ Hoochie Koochie Swim™ Shad on a plain jig head and was trying for toothy bullheads, doggies, and walters. He ended up catching quite a few of the famous GOMH jumpin bullheads and he missed quite a few strikes.
While we were fishing together I nailed the Toad in the pictures. Obviously a very ripe 19.5" jumpin bullhead. While we were fishing together I also missed either a nice toothy bullhead or a dogfish (I think it was a toothy) and also caught a few small jumpers. It got dark and Cyb and I called it quits. One downer was that Cyb and I had to listen to this foul mouthed and bigoted dad who was fishing with his son, that baitcaster kid, and making an ass of himself while catching some nice silver bullheads.

As for how the night progressed, I decided I liked fishing the GOMH in my waders and decided to give that another go. When I put the waders on I noticed that the feet were wet from before and there were a couple of obvious cracks in both of the boots. Before heading out I put a new skirt on the "lost jig". I left around 6:40 and when I arrived there was a group of young adults fishing the SE, SW, and NE sides, but by the time I got geared up the NE side was open so I headed down there with a white Booyah Spinnerbait. I had zero luck on the spinnerbait and went up and switched to the "lost jig." I missed a couple of bites, then I tied into a solid 23" toothy bullhead. Willard was no where to be found and another guy there fishing didn't want it, so back it went. I think I might have then caught a couple of small jumpers than I switched to the SE side. While fishing the SE side I got hung up on a limb of the Beaver Dam and things were not looking good for the "lost jig". GOM Bud suggested I walk up on the road and try and get it from the other side. That did not work but I could see the jig was on a single branch up off the water. I played around with it and by some stroke of luck, the jig popped loose and the "lost jig" was not lost again. I got some jumpers on the SE side. Bud commented that I better not have the lost jig on if CO Kuske shows up, but Willard set him straight that the "lost jig" is an effective pike lure. Things slowed down so I went back to the truck and got out a white Outkast swim jig with white grub. I started out on the NE side, and missed a couple of hits than nothing. I went to the SE side and got one jumper. I moved to the SW side and started getting jumpers with a slower retrieve and I was also missing quite a few hits. I had the grub tail completely stolen once. While I was fishing the white jig, the foul mouthed dad and his son "the baitcaster kid" showed up. The Dad started fishing behind me in the bullhead sweet spot and he started getting into the silver and jumpin bullheads right away. The white jig dropped off and so I went to get the "lost jig" again. I hit the NE then the SW side on the pallets getting a few jumpers. I missed a toothy that struck right up close and shortly after that is when Cyberfish showed up.

So on the day 1 Toothy (a couple of missed toothy's) and 19 jumpin bullheads. The foul mouthed dad had 10 nice silver bullheads when we left. Lantern Man was just getting there as me and Cyb left.