Evening Trip With Todd and Mal

6.75" Puddle Jumper (Pink)

8:15-9:15PM Double Ditch or LSB
Conditions: 76℉, Partly Cloudy, Calm, as ideal fishing conditions as I'll ever see.  Man it was nice out.
Water Temp: 80℉

I took little miss sweet thing out for a couple of trips around the big island after dinner.  She decided to stand up on the tube after telling us a dinner that she would never do that, "too scary" she said.  Glad I had the camera in the boat to capture it even if the pics aren't ideal.

7" Puddle Jumper/worm

I took them to Loon Sex Bay.  I lost something small on my first cast.  Todd also missed a hit on his first cast into the slop.  Next cast I got the bluegill in the first pic.  Then Mallory got one (2nd Pic).  I got another small sunny and then this crappie.

7" Puddle Jumper (Pink)

Todd missed another hit in the slop.  I asked Mallory if I should start throwing the frog and she said yes because she wanted to see a big fish get caught.  I had a pike bite on Maxx on about my third cast.  I didn't set the hook and it let go.

17.25"/2.91lbs Mad Maxx Frog (Bluegrass)

I managed to grant Mallory's request. I thought the fish was a a half inch shorter than it turned out to be because there was no body to it.  Todd lost a good one.  I then caught a 12.5".

Mal wanted a picture of it, so we took a selfie.  I think that was the last bass hit of the evening.  Mallory caught one more small sunny.

Mal and Todd ready to head in

2 Bass

1 Pike

1 Crappie

5 or 6 Sunfish

Slow Morning/ Got Into Some In the Evening

17" Mad Maxx (Big Sexy)

6:00-11:00AM East of Jenny's, Across From Platte Access
Conditions: 58-78℉, Sunny, Calm to Light SW Wind

Was a little slow on getting out of the house this gorgeous morning. I headed over East of Jenny's and got smacked on that pad point by this bass.

16.1"/2.62lbs Mad Maxx(Bluegrass)

I then had a pike steal the frog on quite the blow up and it didn't resurface.  While I was looking for the frog a fish revealed itself itself big time in the rice to the East.  But I was an idiot and didn't go and see if I could catch it.  Instead when I got back to fishing I went West.   I lost a fish over by Jenny's when I didn't get a great hookset on the Ish's.  I got a pike on the custom painted Shower Blows knock off.  I then went to West Point. Nothing on Top and had something pick up the jig, but when I set nothing was there.  I was now an hour plus into the morning with just two fish to show for it.  I tied a "Big Sexy" Maxx on the Tatula frog rod and headed to the area across from the Platte public access.

17"/2.88lbs Mad Maxx

A fish mauled something on the end of maidencane point at the end of the big bunch .  I made a mental note and fished the sparse cane and pads.  I got over by where the mauling was, through a cast in and the 17 incher was all over it.  How much of an idiot was I for not going after that other blow up I saw this morning.  I worked my way down the cane then into the reeds.  Not much was happening until I fished this.

A lone rice patch with a cabbage patch as well.

     A big bass smashed me, but got off. Bummer.  I put a few more casts through the area and got a 16.75.

16.75"/2.84lbs Mad Maxx (Big Sexy)

Surprisingly I didn't get any hits on that rice point up farther on the right which also has a bunch of cabbage on it.  This is some fine looking slop. I eventually caught a 12 incher by the cattails.  Then I worked my way back to the isolated rice patch and got another 16 incher off of it.  I also worked the rice point again with no takers.  I drifted back over the isolated rice patch and got 14" bass on a 1oz Hack Attack Jig with Craw Fatty trailer.  I had a 25/27" class pike follow Big Sexy in the reeds.  I caught a small pike on the Hack Jig as a follow up to a miss on Big Sexy.  I worked my way out on the maidencane and caught a 15" bass and a couple of pike on the Hack Jig.  I quit fishing at 11.

Best 6 in the morning

7 Bass
6 Pike
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

16.33" Mad Maxx (Big Sexy

7:45-9:15PM Double Cane Point
Conditions: 80-76℉, Mostly Sunny, Light SSW Wind

So I decided to head to double cane point.  I caught 1 small pike in the cane, sad.  I worked my way towards the point and got the 16.33  in a small rice patch just out of the reeds.  I then got two 13 inchers in the sparse rice off the east side of the point in shallow.  I was heading to Big Bass Point when I decided to fish the east side of double cane instead.  Turns out it was a good decision as I landed six 16 inchers in pretty short order.  I think I had a bigger fish miss the frog and not come back for it as well.  Wish I would have taken a picture of the spot I was catching them from, a patch of rice in the reeds.  So basically I caught more bass in 45 minutes in the evening than I caught in 5 hours in the morning. Sad!

Best 6 for the day

9 Bass

1 Pike

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

16 Bass

7 Pike 

For the Day

Quick Trip On A Beautiful Night

Sun Setting at West Point

8:15-9:15PM West Point & F Flat
Conditions: 77-74℉, Sunny, Calm
Water Temp: 79℉

11.25" SBKO

I really should have gotten out on the lake sooner than 8:15PM tonight.  Having to wait for the Schwan's Man and Mom's bad back/leg, so I had to take her to the Chiropractor combined with me not taking the gas tank out of the boat yesterday which led to a late dinner when I took a trip to the lake just to get the gas tank filled.  Then I had to help Dad with the mower deck and take the dogs out.  On my way to the lake J & D's beagle was out wandering around on 8 again.  So I picked the little guy up and brought him to the station for the second time this month.  Finally I got my stuff loaded and headed toward West Point.  I lost a 15-16" bass at the boat on the bone 130 Plopper that bit by the base of the 3rd dock down from our place.  I missed a couple of hits in the juice at west point on Mad Maxx.  I got the 11.25" there on the Shower Blows knock off.  That might explain me missing the hits.  I also lost something that swam toward the boat on a craw tube.

  From there I raced over to F Flat and got this fish on the bone Plopper.

13" Whopper Plopper 130 

I caught another dink on the SBKO.  A couple small pike were my last bites of the night

4 Bass
2 Pike

Frog Fishing With Todd Morning & Evening

4.05lbs Terminator Frog

5:40-9:00AM East Of GOMH & Loon Sex Bay
Conditions: 59-74℉ and Humid, Sunny, Calm
Water Temp: 76℉

15.25" Ish's Frog

So I headed out for SPSI first thing.  Todd missed a hit in the pads at the base of the point. That was the only bite we got there this morning.  We moved off the point and started throwing Ploppers, nothing.  I got close enough to the slop East of GOMH that started throwing the Terminator Frog into it.   He missed the first two or 3 bites.  I got a 12" dink which I weighed on the Ish's Frog.  The toad missed Todd's frog the first time.  He caught the fish about 3 minutes later when it absolutely choked it.  Todd then got a 15.25.  I took us to the pads across from SPSI and Todd missed a bite and I had a pike miss me.  We then went to Loon Sex Point where I got the 15.25.  I think Todd missed one.  I might have missed one as well.  I caught a dink across from the point in some light rice.  Belle caught two nice sunfish and took them off herself when we were out.  The key this morning was being in pads.

We quit fishing at 9.  When we got back to the lake place I elected to go home instead of go back out fishing.  It had warmed up to the point that it was to warm to be wearing jeans.

23.75" Ish's Phat Frog (Brown)

7" Some Jig w/Pink Plastic

I came back at 11:30AM and took Belle out tubing for a while.  We came back in and Belle had lunch.  I caught a 8 inch bass I didn't take a picture of on the Puddle Jumper and the pumpkinseed off the dock.  I got the pike from shore at the neighbors to the West.  At about 2PM I took Belle back out tubing as Sherman our neighbor to the East was taking his grand kids out tubing and swimming on their pontoon.  Two of his grand daughters are about the same age as Belle.  When Belle noticed they had stopped tubing she directed me to go over by them and see if she could go swimming with them.  Not only were they fine with that, but they said they would bring Belle back in with them.  That was OK with me because I needed to get some rest.  So I went and told Todd what was up and went back in and went home.  I didn't think to look and see how much gas was left.  That little error ended up costing me fishing time and one wasted trip the next day.

Todd out fishing in the Trophy when I got back to the cabin

  

 There was enough gas left that I took the 3 girls out tubing and swimming for about 25 minutes.

3.21lbs Mad Max (Bluegrass)

8:45-9:15PM East Of Jenny's
Conditions: 78℉, Sunny, Calm
Water Temp: 80℉
Belle decided not to go out with us.  I headed us over towards the spot East of Jenny's where I got the two bass the other night.  I think I had a pike miss my frog at that spot.  However at a spot a little ways down there was a small school.  I got a 15/16 bass all the way to the boat before it jumped off.  I then got a 17.75" bass and Todd got this 16.5"

2.73" Terminator Frog

I then didn't get much of a hook set into another good fish, I'm thinking 17+, that got off and that was it for the school.  Darn that pontoon boat that distracted me and had me thinking about getting the nav lights on when the fish hit.  Had a couple more bites from pike.  The skeeters came out and we were done.  I left the gas tank in the boat, so Todd could use it in the morning if he wanted.  I should have just went and got more gas right then.

Best 6 Bass for the Day

Those two fish I dropped in the evening really hurt our best 6 weight for the day.

9 Bass
4 Pike
3 Sunfish

One Jumper at the GOMH & Fishin' With Belle

7:35-7:50 GOMH SW
8:45-9:10 Out Front With Belle
Conditions: 80-74℉, Partly Cloudy, Light NW Wind
Water Temp: 77℉

2.29lbs Terminator Poppin' Frog

There were people on the NE side so I almost didn't stop.  The jumper hit right against the wall.

I then went to the lake place and backed down to far and got stuck.  I went up and got the renters and there pushing was enough.  I fished off the dock for a bit.  Then the renters brought their boat down and I helped them get it in the water.  It was now about 8:30PM.  I started putting topwater baits on my rods and then Todd and Isabelle showed up.  I put my topwaters back and went out fishing with Belle.

Darn flash didn't go off for some reason

We didn't get anything and the line got caught up in Belle's spincast reel.  She did really well casting my spinning reel.  To bad there weren't any fish around.

1 Jump

Forgot The Camera and Scale This Morning

5:45-6:40  GOMH NE SW
6:45-6:50 Culvert
6:55-7:15 Inlet
7:25-7:35 Lake Place
Conditions: 64-68℉, Mostly Cloudy, Windy SE

I forgot the camera which is to bad because it was a beautiful sunrise.  I fish missed the Sexy Plopper right in front of me.  Then I had a dink hit it and get off.  A 16" jumper absolutely crushed the SBKO.  Didn't get a hit on the SW side.

Nothing at the Culvert

At the Inlet I got a 22" pike on the Horny Toad (Melon/red flck) after it took the legs off on  an earlier cast.  Also missed a hit, very pike like.

I went to the lake place where there really wasn't any water to get out of the boat.  Didn't have a hit on a frog. Had to have the car back, but really didn't because Safelite didn't have the windshield in yet.

One Quality Bite Anyway

17" Zoom Horny Toad

7:45-9:15PM East Of Jenny's to Jenny's Reeds
Conditions: 72℉, Mostly Cloudy, E wind
Water Temp: 75℉

Because Kaylee bolted I didn't get to the lake by 6PM like I planned.  She eventually came back on her own after about 35 minutes, but then I waited for the parents to get back with some food; Onion rings, YUM!

By the time I was ready to fish I took some casts off the dock. Had something swipe at the frog on the close dock side, that was it.  I then took the Trophy out to the start of the slop East of Jenny's.  I had a good sized something follow the frog out, but it saw me and got skunked.  Eventually I switched up to a Horny Toad and got a couple of pike.  I was working my way on the outside of the slop casting in.  I got a 12" bass and then the 17" off of a point of pads.  I got a couple more pike and that was it.  Not much was going on to give me a clue.

2 Bass
4 Pike

Slow Again This Morning

As I arrived this morning

5:45-10:00AM West Point, GOMHIT, EoGOMH, Channel Inn Bay
Conditions: 60-68℉, Mostly to Partly Cloudy, Wind NNW, Water level still rising
Water Temp: 75℉

10.75" SBKO

I got this dink and a pike on the craw tube off of west point.  Also missed a couple of pick ups on the CT.  I then went to SPSI and got nothing.  I then went to the GOMH. I got a 20" toothy right away on the SBKO.  I got a couple of dink jumpers on the craw tube and Jerk Shad.  Missed a couple of pick ups on the CT as well.  The panfish guy was there fishing the SW side.  He hasn't been getting any silvers.  I wasted to much time fishing here.  I then fished my way out.

16" Whopper Plopper 130 (Sexy Shad)

I decided to try East of GOMH along the wind transition and I had this 16" smack the Whopper Plopper. I then had a fish miss it and got a 14.75" pretty quickly.

16" Horny Toad (Pumpkin/red fleck)

I then had another 16" jump all over the Horny Toad and I thought I was in business.  That was my last hit for at least an hour.

The kind of water I was fishing

I really could use a few of those Sprinker Frogs as they are perfect for the type of cover we've got here now.  I got one last 14" in the general area this picture was taken in.

As I was taking my tackle out of the boat this morning, I stepped up onto the casting deck while grabbing the tub of plastics with the green bag in my right hand and red bag over my back. I lost my balance and fell out of the boat where the red bag is sitting. Lucky because I wasn't injured in the least. Lucky because the water is up about 10 inches in the past week and without that I would have definitely landed in the water instead. And lucky because normally there are between two and five rods sitting where the black bag is when I take my tackle out.

That is the story of how my day ended.

9.52lbs for my 6 Best

Not a particularly productive morning.  Oh well.
7 Bass
2 Pike

Slow Night, But A Couple Good One's

18.75" Mad Maxx Frog (Bluegrass)
Looks like it's time for me to go to a different camera, doggone it.

7:45-9:25PM Loon Sex Bay, Jenny's Reeds
Conditions: 80℉, Mostly Sunny, NW Wind
Water Temp: 79℉

I wasn't in a big hurry to get on the lake tonight and I had to get some water out of the boat, so that kept me from being on the lake at 7:30.  I would guess with the storm we got last night I would say the lake level is now up to what I consider the normal range.  With the two warm days in a row water temp on Platte is now flirting with 80 degrees.

17.75"

I went to Loon Sex Bay and was in there for maybe 20+ minutes without a bite when the 17.75" toad bit the Bluegrass Maxx in the NW corner.  That was one well fed fish.  That was the only bite I got until I was fishing Loon Sex Point.  The 18.75" missed the frog the first time, but got it the second.  It had a full belly as well, but not the shoulders to make it a 4lb fish apparently.

I did have a shot at one last bass in the rice off the end of Jenny's reeds, but it got off.  Don't think it was in the class of the two I got tonight.  I also had a small pike bite in LSB and in Jenny's reeds.   Hope the fish are biting a little better tomorrow morning.

2 Bass
2 Pike

The Struggle Was Real, But Worth It!

3.50lbs Ish's Phat Frog (Brown)

6:00-11:00AM SPSI, East of GOMH, Loon Sex Bay
Conditions: 64-77℉, Partly Cloudy, Calm to blowing pretty good out of the SE
Water Temp: 75℉

I should have been on the water by 5:30, but I was putzing around and didn't get to the lake until about 5:40.  It looked and felt beautiful with it being glass calm, but there was no surface activity going on, just nothing.  I stopped at West Point for about 15 minutes and didn't get hit except for one quick swipe by a pike on the SBKO.  I next went to the South point of the small island. I immediately noticed a bass boat fishing across the way in Channel Inn Bay.  As I was working the reeds he moved to the NW point of the small island and started working his way south covering water fast.  I wasn't having any luck, just nothing going on.  When he got within about 50 yards of me.  He caught a quality bass a ways out there on the weed flat.  He said he had gotten a few so far just randomly fishing a Whopper Plopper 130 and covering water.  He continued on around the point to the East.  I finally caught an 11" dink on a craw tube on the point.

28" Whopper Plopper  90 (Yellow Head)

I started noticing some baitfish activity out where he caught the bass so I headed that way throwing the small Whopper Plopper.  Just before I was going to pull it out of the water this 28" pike nailed it.

I then worked my way to the slop East of the GOMH.  I think I missed the first hit I got, then landed a small pike on Ish's Frog.  I went about half an hour with nothing then missed one, caught a 15.5" and lost one in the slop that felt bigger than a 15" on the Ish's.  Then nothing for another half hour or so.  I went back to the SPSI and got this skinny 16.66" on a Hack Attack Jig .

2.31lbs Hack Attack Jig/Chigger craw

   I then went to Loon Sex Point and caught a 15.5" in the slop there pretty quickly on an Ish's Phat frog.  I missed the next fish when I didn't get a good hookset due to the wind bowing my line.  Had it on for a few seconds and felt like a better fish, bummer.  Had a small pike hit me off the tip of the point.  The wind was blowing into some rice just across from the point perfectly to set up an ambush.  Sure enough a good size fish was there, but I wasn't ready for it when it exploded on the frog and got a lousy hook set.  Missing that fish really got me pissed off at myself.  I don't know whether it was a bass, pike, or dogfish, but it was big and I totally blew it.  As I drifted along I then had 15.25" hit the frog boat side and basically hook itself.  I then missed another good blow up and caught a 12 incher.

I cast into the open hole on the left and good size wake immediately went up to the frog and stopped.  I thought it was gonna be a dogfish.  I moved the frog and it blasted it.  I was ready this time and got a good hookset.  It was the 3 1/2 pounder at the top of the blog.  I think that is the biggest bass I've caught in this bay this year.  At that point I was feeling much better about my morning.  I then tried some pitching and punching with the Hack Jig and lost at least 4 bites, but they were all smaller 1 to 2lb fish.   I pitched my way to the end of the slop that the wind was blowing on and called it a day.  I definitely need to put the frog rods down and work on my punching game.  With the water getting dark like it is I think conditions are getting right for it.

13.27lbs for my Best 6

7 Bass

3 Pike

 

Quick Trip To The GOMH Tonight

11.5" SBKO

8:45-9:15PM GOMH NE
Conditions: 74℉ and HUMID, partly cloudy, calm

I didn't feel like taking the Trophy out tonight, so I stayed in the air conditioning until 8:30.  Thankfully there were no cars at the GOMH.  There was a red Lund with a Grandpa, Grandma, and grandson slowly moving fishing their way toward the bridge.  I put the Shower Blows knock off on and quickly got a small jumper (11.5) on it.  I then quickly got a 13" jumper that was hooked in the back.  I missed a couple of hits on the SBKO, then a pontoon boat went into Sullivan.  I had a small toothy hit at the Hack Attack Jig.  I tried the Wild Worm and didn't get a hit on it.  I then put on the Firetiger SBKO and got a small toothy on it.  It jumped off so I didn't get a measurement.  That was it.  No bites on the craw tube or on the SW side.  The skeeters got bad, so I left.

1.98lbs for the Bass

2 Jump
2 Tooth