Oct. 25th P/S & Eddy's Jetty

Possible Last Bass of 2023
Big Blade/Billy Goat (Gill/Hot Snakes)

Big Blade Chatter/Billy GOAT

Skunk Out Of The Boat

4:40-6:30PM Funnel, Pt./Flat, Jaimen's Corner, F Flat 

50-54℉, Cloudy some light rain, 2-5mph NE

I didn't get a bite for the first half hour plus at the Funnel and on Pt/Flat. I went to Jaimen's and caught 2 pike and 2 bass. It rained for a minute then quit thankfully. I decided to run to F Flat.  My sunglasses flew off my head and into the lake in Platte. I got one pike at F Flat and missed one bite that hit when the Chatterbait landed. I should have just stuck things out in Sully, No surface activity in calm Platte.

Due to the weather turning cold at the end of October, this was my last trip in the Trophy while I had it docked at the Lake Place on Platte Lake. I pulled the Trophy out of Platte on Halloween. We are getting a warm-up in mid-November so hopefully this will not be my last trip in the Trophy for 2023.

2Bass 4Pike

10:00-Midnight Harbor Mouth, North Corner

50℉, Cloudy, 2-5mph ENE

Ideal conditions: Pre-frontal with light east winds (2-6mph). I got a skinny 23" fish quickly on the Rage Swimmer after I had a bite that didn't hook up on Agent E. I got the 25.5 pretty quickly. Then there was about a 30-minute lull where I lost one hooked fish and had a few bites that didn't hook up, I went to the North Corner and got an under on the first cast with the X Shad Shallow. Lots of weeds in the water. I got the final two bites and lost one other on the NC boulder. I got the final fish of the night on my announced last cast, a 23 incher. No keepers tonight. Had at least 5 hits that didn't hook up. Never did put on a stick bait.

5Eyes 

 

 

Short Sully Trip/Vikes Beat 49ers

 

2lb Big Blade Chatter/Billy Goat (Gill/?)

4:40-6:55 PM Sullivan Pt/Flat and Jaimen's Inside Turn

53-60℉, PC, 2-4mph S

52℉, 2.5' of visibility tanic

I could have gotten out an hour sooner, but I made a bad bet on waiting for the FedEx guy to bring my fishing rods. I started at Steve's Reed Edge, not a bite. Next, I headed to the End of PT/Flat and drifted in with the wind. I got a few pike and missed more than half of my bites. Went to Jaimen's. I lost a 2-3lber at the boat. I got distracted by a phone call from Mom. I lost the Big Blade Bluegill when the leader broke on a backlash cast. I got two bass. Went back to PT/Flat and got a few pike only catching 1/3rd of my bites. Snatcher Chuck called about fishing tomorrow. I unsuccessfully threw a jerkbait for about 5 minutes. Vikes beat the 49ers. I didn't make it home to watch until the 2nd Half started.

3Bass 

6Pike 

4lber Tonight/17lb Bag

 

4:00-7:00 PM SPSI, PT/Flat, SE Reeds, Jaimen's Inside Turn

48-55℉, PC, 2-4mph S

Water Temp: 52℉ moderate visibility

After helping Todd get the pontoon lift to shore I went out. Stopped at SPSI first and had the Misson Spinnerbait get bit off. Then I went to Pt/Flat and got one 2lb bass. Then I went to SE Reeds getting a couple of pike and a 3lber on the back side when I switched to the Big Blade Chatter. Then I went directly to Jaimen's and got a 4lber along the reed edge and good pike at the Inside Turn. I decided to back to the Pt/Flat. Finished with a 4lber (3.75) at the Reed Pt in the dark. Shined one eye and pike at the bridge. Chatter was the deal. 

8Bass 

6Pike 

Snatcher Lake Alex Tourny Recap

Snatcher Herman With The W

 

(2/04 Powerbait Bunker Hawg Texas Rigged)

Conditions: 60-73℉, Partly Cloudy to Cloudy, 4-18mph WNW

Water Temp: Mid 70's 5+ water clarity 

The Day:

We got to our spot, and no other anglers were around. About 10 minutes in, Herman had the first keeper in the boat on a spinnerbait. He then caught a dink, and I got my first keeper in the boat with the Turbo FattyZ. Herman got another keeper on the spinnerbait. I got a keeper on a Big Blade Chatterbait. Herman switched to a jig and got a couple of quality keepers pretty quickly, then filled out his limit with a couple of fish. Herman had his limit by 8:30 AM. We had a short lull, and I suggested we take a quick look in the nearby reeds. They were dead, so we just slid back out to the weedline. Herman got another quality bass and offered me the Powerbait Bunker Hawg he was using; I put it on a Texas rig instead of as a jig trailer like Herman was doing. It wasn't long, and I filled out my limit with keepers by 9:15 AM. My first cull was with the Bunker Hawg and was my big bass (2/04). That was also my last cull with the Bunker Hawg; I think I caught a few more fish on it that didn't help. I think Herman got another quality fish on the jig, so I threw out a jig and got a two-pounder on my first cast. I think I culled up one more time with the jig after lunch. 

We finally left our spot to drift in the wind so Herman could make sandwiches. I lost something on a spinnerbait and caught one that didn't help. We ate our food, and after fishing for another 15 or so minutes, unfruitfully went back to our area. I put my fleece hoodie back on because it clouded up, and I was getting chilled in the wind.  Herman got another quality cull on the first pass. At this point, I thought Herman was definitely in contention for some wood, 1st through 3rd Place finish. I thought one more quality bass would definitely have him in contention for the win. I think I got a couple of fish that didn't help. Maybe one on a jig that did.  We went and tried by an Island. I somehow backlashed my Tatula SV and busted my line, which Herman was able to retrieve. I caught a couple that didn't help on a Dinger. We then headed North, and I got a bass that didn't help on a buzzbait just out from a dock and on the Dinger on a weedline. We ended by fishing some docks just to the West of the Anchor North. It was a good day on the water, and I don't think I ever went longer than about 45 minutes without catching a bass.

24Bass 2Pike 

Results: My fish weighed 11/06 which put me in 7th Place out of 16 anglers. My boater Herman won the thing with 15/11. Second Place went to Snatcher Ludenia with 13/06 and 3rd went to Snatcher Dennis. Snatcher Notsch got Lunker with a 3/15 smallmouth. 

Big Jon Takes Lunker 3/15 SMB

My Thoughts: So cool to be in the boat for Herman's second-ever tournament win. He joined the club before I became a teenager, and this was his second victory in 149 Tournaments. Herman thought his best finish was 3rd Place. Herman just enjoys the fellowship and being on the water. Winning is not a priority. We found a school of the right ones in pre-fish, and Herman, with a swim jig, dredged them up. I don't know why I didn't get one of those better 2.5 to 3lbers in the boat. I should have thrown a jig sooner.

Grade: C

7th Place is better than a sharp stick in the eye, but not having a 2lb average cost me a Top 5 finish. I think the fish were there to do it, I just didn't trigger the bites.

What my scale said I had

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 

Snatcher's North Long Tourny Recap

 

Caught Me A Good Speck on a Dark Sleeper

Tourny Champ Keith Tuma

Conditions: 60-78℉, Cloudy with occasional light rain, 3-15mph SE 

The Day:

We started on the South end of the Lake to the West of where Nate started fishing cabbage beds. We stayed in the same 150-yard or so stretch until about 11 AM. I had my limit in the first hour and forty minutes. Al put the first 3 bass in the boat. I'm pretty sure my first fish was a pike on the Big Blade Chatterbait. That Big Blade Chatter was my hot bite in the morning. I think I lost one quality bass after it buried me in the weeds. After I got my limit. I struggled to get bites from keeper bass, getting pike, and a couple of dinks. I should have thrown the Dark Sleeper as the fish Al was getting on the Craw Tube were better quality on average than my Chatterbait fish, with one or two exceptions.

We then went to 371 Bay when the wind was howling around 11AM. I got my big bass (2/15)  in 371 on the Dark Sleeper on our first pass in 371, I was a bite machine with that Dark Sleeper pulling in small pike, rock bass, dink bass, and I culled up a couple of times and one nice crappie on our second pass. We went back to the starting area. The wind calmed down considerably shortly after we arrived. Nate showed up shortly after and thought we had been there the whole time. Not much was going on until I put on a Neko Rigged Dinger, which caught me 5 bass in about 15 minutes. I culled with  3 of the fish putting all, but one fish over 2lbs on my scale. I could have sworn the second to last fish I got on the Dinger was three plus when it wallowed on the surface, but it buried me in the weeds, and when I got it in, it didn't even help me. Al got us out of there to head to Merrifield Bay. I got a dink on a buzzbait and on a Dark Sleeper, along with a couple of pike in Merrifield. We fished for about 15 minutes in 371 Bay to end things, and I got a pike or two, maybe a rock bass as well. I was hoping my fish would go 14 lbs, and indeed they did, right on the nose.

18Bass 16Pike 3Rock 1Crip 

Results: My fish weighed a respectable 14lbs, but on this day that was only good enough for 13th Place.  The winner was Snatcher Tuma with 18/05; Second Place went to Snatcher Dennis with 17/01 and Lunker (4/08), which edged out Snatcher Fields who also had 17/01. Everybody caught a limit today and the average bag was 14.94lbs.

My Thoughts: Should have gone to the Dark Sleeper at the first stop. A couple of lost fish cost me in this one I think.

Grade: B

Sure 13th Place out of 17 Anglers is C-/D+ territory, but I was just ounces behind my boater on a day when Co-anglers got stomped on and I was only one quality cull away from a Top 10.

  

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 

GOMH Works/Trophy Really Didn't

 

5:00-5:30 AM GOMH NE SW

Water Low Faling

On the way to the lake decided to hedge my bet on the motor firing and head to the GOMH. The current was flowing into Platte, and I thought I had screwed up. I still went to the SW side to keep it honest and got the jumper; it rocked the Big Blade so hard I thought it was a gator.

1Jump 

6:15-8:15 AM Reeds Across to F Flat

60℉, Cloudy hazy, 5-7mph ESE

Was a turtle getting the boat ready. Then the motor didn't eat, so I went across to the reeds. Then the troller needed to be adjusted. I got a gator on my very first cast. I tried a couple of docks, but nothing. I went back to the reeds and had a blow-up that looked bassy, but the fish missed due to the frog being where a pad patch and reed patch met. I threw a jig in there and got bit off instantly; dumb decision. I think I got one more bite along the South bed. I got 3 fish working up the S side of the North bed. Nothing along the outside edge of the N bed. I got a few pike on F-Flat. The sun came out a little bit, so I had good visibility, and I discovered the weeds are trash right now. Very little living cabbage and tons of stringy wuss weed and curly crap. I just gave up and headed in.

6Pike 

Steve had to be in Isle today, and I took a long nap. I ended up doing years work instead of pulling the Trophy and fishing.

Morning And Evening Trips June 1st

8:40-5:00AM GOMH NE

Water level; Normal Falling

Skunked (Skeeters were vicious, I bailed for the Trophy.)

5:30-9:50AM SPSI, GOMH, INT NE, NW INT, SPRO, River Mouth 

I got the boat ready quickly and I was off. A bunch of missed bites yet again. Nothing at SPSI; I got a pike on the Jitterbug on the N side of the GOMH. I missed a bite on a frog on the  S side of the GOMH that left me saying, WTF Dave set the hook. I got bit off several times in a shallow pike fest along the shallow INT reeds.  I got a couple of bass, finally throwing the Turbo FattyZ. Under perfect conditions to score post-spawn girls, I figured out the puzzle and put some fish in the boat, but I really should have landed more. I stayed out longer than I had planned, by an hour.

6Bass 

12Pike 

7:30-9:30PM Channel In Bay S SPRO

75-80℉, PC, 3-6mph SE

Water Temp: 74℉

I got a late start due to a long nap. Headed right to Channel INN Bay. Traded off bass and pike blow-ups, but it was slow, so I headed to the SPRO and got more of the same. Blow-ups were nice, but once every half hour is slow. Nothing at the River Mouth, but it was fairly dark when I arrived. I landed my bites tonight, which was nice.

4Bass 

4Pike

 10:50-11:30PM GOMH NE

I decided to hit the GOMH on the way home. Skeeters weren't terrible. I got gold on my very first cast and thought this would be good, but all I got was one more jumper, and that was it. Tried a few different lures and left.

1Jump

1Gold

I didn't weigh fish for some reason.
 

Nice Day, Tough Bite

 

2:30-6:50 PM Reeds Across, F Flat, SPSI, SPBI, NPBI, F Flat

48-64℉, PC, 0-4mph SSE

47-50℉, Low Falling

Got a later start than I wanted due to not waking up before noon. I started at South Reeds Across on the inside weedline. There was a lot of activity, but I didn't get a single bite. I missed a couple of bites working the outside reed edge. I then went to F Flat and got some pike and one bass on the Bubble Walker. I then went to SPSI. Got a pike and good bass on the Bubble Walker there; the bass was 3lb plus and had a piece of weed stuck to the lure, so I couldn't see how well it was hooked. I tried lifting it out of the water, and it came off before I was able to get its full weight lifted. If I had known it was skin hooked, I would have netted the fish. Then I went to SPBI, getting the bass that had the BW wedged in its mouth. Then I  went to NPBI getting my last bass of the night on the Piranha after I didn't get bit on the BW and Dark Sleeper. I missed a bite or two as I made my way to CPBI. I then beet feet to shallow F Flat, which was dead. Stuff was getting busted over toward Reeds Across. I finally bounced to the active area and had swirls I could cast to, but I didn't get a single bite. I started throwing Chatters and worked my way back to the juice; not a single hit on the return trip to F Flat, huh???. I did an hour of hunting for crappies in the deep hole. Didn't find much and gave up when I started getting cold.

4Bass 

6Pike 

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

Another 19lb Bag On F Flat

 

4.21lbs Big Blade Chatter/Billy Goat (Gill)

3.85lbs Terminator Jig/RD Craw

3.13lbs Terminator Jig/RD Craw

4:20-7:00PM F Flat

54-63℉, PC, 0-10mph SW

46-47.5 Low Falling

Was breezy with whitecaps on F Flat when I arrived by the W Reeds. Started the trip with a pike. Got quite a few of those tonight. Fishing wasn't as good as it's been, but I still did excellently. Not as many bites and not as many misses. Big bass (4.21lbs) was on the Big Blade Chatter. The second biggest came on the Terminator Jig, which did work tonight. It slicked off around sunset, and the fish quit. I also had a tackle clown show when I got the Jig and Chatter tied up in one another. Never recovered from that. 

19.66lbs for my best 6. Third straight 19lb bag on F flat

13Bass 10Pike 

A Fun Night In The Trophy with Pete, But Skunked At Mille Lacs

 

Pete's first fish

3lber

Another 3

3.30lbs Piranha/Billy Goat (June/Blk/Blue)

3.54lbs Jackhammer/Goat (June/Blk/Blue)

5:15-7:00PM F Flat

52-60℉, PC,  3-8mph S

46-47.5℉

Had a hit on the dock on the Fleet Spin as I was waiting for Pete.  Took us right to F Flat West Reeds. The wind wasn't too bad, and temps were warm enough to keep us from getting cold. I got two bass lickety-split on the Piranha, so I gave it to Pete, and he pretty much crushed them. I put on the Junebug Jackhammer and caught them as well. Even after the skirt came off. I missed more bites than Pete. I'd say I caught 60% of my bites, and Pete got 75% of his. We had three potential doubles but only managed to get it once. One time I lost the fish, and the other time we both lost the fish. Actually a fun time with Pete. Pete wanted a picture with almost every fish.

18.98lbs

Pete: 14Bass 1Pike 

Me: 7Bass 3Pike

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

9:00-10:30PM Eddys Jetty North

Skunked (Fishing with Pete. Walleyes of various sizes were out there, just not biting. Not a surprise. Pete saved my Shadow Rap by wading in to get it. He snagged it on a big rock about 8 feet out at the center of North Jetty.)