Rainy Mystery Tackle Box Morning

16.25" V&M Wild Worm

5:00-8:30AM GOMH NE, Culvert, Bulldog, Rock, Peavy
Conditions: 60℉, Cloudy Light Rain, Calm to Windy ESE, water flowing into Sullivan pretty good.

Maybe the sky was spectacular this morning and I missed it because I was wearing the hood on my rain jacket.  The main objective this morning was to catch fish on the rest of my Mystery Tackle Box plastics.  I did just that and got a bonus fish on the Ima Pinjack.  First Bite was on the Buddha Baits Swagger Worm.

15" Buddha Baits Swagger Worm

I did some reading up last night on the V&M Wild Worm.  I was rigging it weightless, which is wrong because it's designed to be fished on a shaky head; The weight of the jig makes the thing swim.  The fish really liked it when I put the jig with it.  I lost a good one, then caught the 16.25" in the first picture and a 14" later on.

Chowed It On the Jighead

I then got missed a few hits on the Netbait Paca Slim on the Z-Man Shroomz Jig before I landed a 14" and 11" on the combo.

14" Z-Man Shroomz Jig/Netbait Paca Slim

The last fish of the morning was a pike on the Ima Pinjack.  The water at the GOMH is to shallow for the Pinjack, especially now with the low water.

21.5 Ima Pinjack

So I have now caught a fish on all the Mystery Tackle Box plastics.  I really like that Paca Slim.

Here's where I am in fish caught on MTB baits to this point.

Operation MTB: Netbait Baby Mad Paca✔

16" Baby Mad Paca

I got a couple bass and a pike last night on the Netbait Baby Mad Paca fishing out in the Trophy around some docks.  That means all I have to do is catch something on the River2Sea Double Plopper Buzzbait and I will have reached the goal of catching something on everything that came in MTB #3.  I've had hits on the Plopper Buzz,  so it's just a matter of time before I hook something on it.

Operation Mystery Tackle Box Is Underway

12.5" Z-Man Shroomz Micro Finesse Jig/Crusteaz 

8:30-9:45PM Platte River Culvert, GOMH NE
Conditions: 60℉, Partly Cloudy, NW Wind

14.5" Jenko Premium Spinnerbait

So tonight the aim was to catch fish on as many of the lures I got in my three Mystery Tackle Box's this winter as I could.  I started out fishing the River2Sea Double Plopper at the Platte River Culvert and had something small hit it but not hook up.  The same thing happened when I went to the GOMH.  I got the first bullhead of the night on the Z-Man Shroomz Micro Finesse Jig with Z-Man Crusteaz trailer.  Then I put on the Jenko Premium Spinnerbait and got the biggest fish of the trip on that.

14.5" Jenko Spinnerbait

   I then put on the LiveTarget Hunt For Center Crawfish Crankbait and got a bullhead on that after switching from the 6'4" Avid X Rod to the 6'8" Avid Rod.

13.5" LiveTarget HFC Craw Crank

Last bullhead of the night came on the Savage Gear Armor Tube Worm.

11.5" Armor Tube Worm

I originally had it on the hook Texas rigged, but switched to wacky after missing a coupe of bites.  I got the fish, but lost the worm.  I then tried a Netbait Baby Mad Paca and missed a couple of bites on it before the skeeters became to much.

So basically I got 4/6 of Box #3 taken care of,  1/5 of Box #1, and 0/5 of Box #2

  4 Jumpers (4.96lbs)

Full Report 6/18/17 Zebulon Pike Res. Snatcher Tournament

A Top 5 Finish for Swannie and I.

8:00-4:00PM Zebulon Pike Res. Mississippi River
Conditions: 58-68℉, Mostly Cloudy, Windy NW

The Day:
We ended up starting right before 8AM, thanks to a Snatcher who never showed up.  The wind was blowing on our starting spot pretty good and there were a lot of trees so I didn't start with the Plopper like I planed.  Instead I think I opted for the buzzbait and spinnerbait.  I got my first hit on the spinnerbait but it was a pike.  I then got a rock bass and then another pike.  About an hour in we went back and started over just a little before where we started the first time.  I went to the dreaded Texas Rig.  Within the first 10 minutes and before we reached our starting spot Swannie landed the first keeper of the day.  I ended up getting the Chigger Craw bit off by a pike.  I never did attempt to throw the Texas rig again.  Swannie ended up having to break off his swim jig.  We were just about to move when I got a 15" smallie on the spinnerbait.  About 5 minutes later I overshot my cast and had to break the spinnerbait off.

We ended up moving to our second area and not getting a hit there.

Off the spot #3, a shallow flat with rocks, around 11AM.  Swannie was surprized the only boat fishing there was Tim Benson who I think was 1 fish short of a limit at that time.  Swannie put on a lipless crank and caught 3 quick smallies, 2 keepers and 1 dink that had to go back.  He also caught a walleye around the same spot he got one in pre-fish.  I tried to make topwater work, but the fish weren't having it.  Swannie caught another keeper.  I had seen enough and switched to a red craw 1/2oz Berkley Frenzy lipless that I have had success with in the past in rivers.  I caught a 13 incher.  I think Swannie then caught a catfish and Tim lost a big smallie.  I got my big fish of the day, a 17 incher.

Shortly after getting that fish I cast out the Frenzy and the line broke at the spool.  Just great.  All I had left was a 1/4oz red craw Frenzy lipless.  I put a cast up by shore and got a 13.25" smallie.  Swannie got his fifth keeper then lost a good one on a swim jig.  I had a good smallie on, it would have been my second biggest of the day, and fought it to the boat.  I thought I was going to get it in the net and horsed it a bit to much and it came off.  Totally my mistake.  Losing that fish cost me 3rd Place.

With about 2 hours left we headed back down river.  I got my fifth fish, a 13.5", out of our our starting area where the wind was just pounding with about 40 minutes left in the day.  Eventually we opted to move to the western shore to get out of the wind.  I had the spinnerbait get hit by a couple of small fish, but didn't have another shot at #6.

Results:  My 5 fished weighed 7 and a half pounds, with a 2/04 big fish, which put me in 4th Place.  As you can see I beat Swannie by an ounce. Tim Benson kicked everyone's butt getting 1st with 14/06 and the 3/11 Lunker.  Fishing was tough with only two limits weighed in. Ouch!

Thoughts:  I didn't know we were going to fish that shallow flat as we barely went on to it during pre-fish.  I only had the two lipless cranks with me.  I wish I had more of them and some square bills as well.  Both Swannie and I should of had our limits.  Swannie was a great draw.  Neither of us had a clue fishing was going to be so tough.  A lost fish and one poor cast cost me.

 I am off to my best start ever as a Snatcher, so there is that.  If I can just finish middle of the pack from here on out I should reach my goal of being in the Top 10 at the end of the year.  A couple more Top 10 finishes and I should have a great shot at making the clubs Super 6 and thus make this years Challenge Cup Team.

Next Tournament: North Long on July 15th.

Snatcher Tournament Mississippi Quick Report

It was indeed a grind out there today, even worse than I thought  it would be.  The fish just weren't going.  I think only two limits were weighed.  Both Swannie and I came up one fish short.  I lost a good keeper at the boat when I horsed it a little to much. Swannie lost a good one as well.  Had either of us landed our limit we would have gotten 3rd Place.  I think I ended up in 5th maybe 6th with 7 and a half pounds.  We had one guy not show up, so there were only 14 people fishing.  I should have packed more lipless baits as I only brought 2 and lost 1.

Congratulations to Tim Benson who won the tournament and big bass.

We ended up fishing in the same general area as Tim for much of the day.  Had we arrived there sooner both Swannie and I definitely would have gotten our limits.  The fish were really going when we first arrived.

Full Report when I get the results later this week.

Bass Snatchers Mississippi River Tournament Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the 2nd Bass Snatcher Tournament of the year on the Zebulon Pike Reservoir, which is the section of the Mississippi River to the South of Little Falls.  We have only 8 boats and 15 people fishing.  Hopefully the tricks I've learned fishing rivers over the years will be enough for a good finish.  I was out there twice pre-fishing with my boater Tom "Swannie" Swanson and he was out there one other time without me.  It looks like it's going to be cloudy with a pretty good breeze out of the NW.  I hope it is more WNW than NNW just to help keep the current and boat control a little more manageable.  It's going to be on the cool side as well with temps not supposed to get out of the mid 60's. It looks like they have taken rain out of the forecast, at least for now.  Cold fronts aren't supposed to effect river fish as much and I don't foresee there being a drastic drop in river temps.

From the reports I've heard and our own pre-fishing, it will probably be a grind rather than a smash fest.  Not sure what effect the cloud cover will have on the fish.  I think the keys for me will be accurate casting and hooking/landing my bites.  Have no clue what it will take to win or even be competitive.  I'll guess a 15lb+ limit to win, 12lbs for the Top 5 and 10lbs for Top 10  A limit might be golden or not, who knows.  From pre-fish I believe a 11lb limit is doable, anything more is gravy.

I'm going to start with topwater, but swim jig, and spinnerbait will probably always be right at my feet.
If I have to go to the Texas Rig, that is probably not a good sign.
 
7'2" Tatula MH Braid Plopper
7'1" Tatula MH Fluro Bladed Swim Jig
7' Avid H Fluro Texas Rigs
6'10" Crucial MH Buzzbazits
6'8" Avid M Fireline Topwater
6'8" Avid M Mono Topwater Prop Baits
6'4" Avid X M Fireline Spinnerbaits
6'6" IMX MH J-Braid Swim Jig

 

Snatchers Platte/Sullivan Full Report 6/3/17

Getting Ready For Blast Off

7:45AM-3:50PM Platte Lake
Conditions: 54-84℉, Partly to Mostly Cloudy, 3 to 15MPH WSWNW Winds, Water Level getting low

There was a surprise at the ramp this morning when we learned a bass club with 7 boats would also be fishing Platte/Sullivan today.  They blasted off at 7AM even though all their boats weren't in the water yet.  Thankfully they only went until noon, so there was no conflict over weigh in and take out.

I think we blasted off around 7:45AM and we went right to what I will now forever call Chuck's Point.  It is a reed point with some cabbage mixed in with rice up by shore and a slop bay to the West.  I think Chuck got a 15" right away on a swimbait or swim jig.  I made a cast out of the reeds into the slop with the Horny Toad.   A fish slapped, but didn't get it.  I cast back and it got it this time, but it hung me up in the reeds.  It really wasn't happening at this spot so we went to one of my spots in the NW corner.  I think Chuck got a small keeper and I whiffed when a fish hit Maxx.  That darn J-Braid 8 wrapped itself around my rod good.  I eventually had to cut it.

We then went to Double Maidencaine Point.  I got a pike there.  Carp were active, but we couldn't raise a bass.  Next we headed to some docks on the South shoreline.  That didn't pay off with anything.  We were making our way out of the rice when I had something show up behind my frog.  I let it sit for a couple of seconds and when I moved it again a 17.75" bass blasted it.

Chuck was intent on getting to some docks, so we didn't fish the area to see if anything else was there.  Chuck came in a little too close to the South side of the small island and he hit bottom with his motor.  Thankfully he didn't seem to do any damage.  We didn't get anything on the docks.

We then headed to the point across from the Platte Lake access and the fish were active there.  Chuck got the first couple of fish.  Then I got a 13.3," 14.25" and a 17" on a Bass Pro Speed Shad.  I lost a 15-16 on the Shower Blows Knock off.  I think Chuck filled out his limit and maybe culled once.

Next we headed back to Chuck's point.  Chuck got a fish right away again and was back to culling.  I caught a 12" line burner on a craw tube which I put in the well.  Almost immediately I had another bite as did Chuck.  They were both good fish.  Chuck's got off, but I landed mine and it was my big fish of the day 18.5" 3/07, so she was spawned out.  I then got a 16.5" fish on the craw tube to get rid of the line burner.  I switched to the Horny Toad and quickly got a skinny 16" fish on that.  Then the bite quit on Chuck's Point.

We ran into my bay, but everything was either covered up or kids were swimming there.  We ran back to the point across from the access.  I may have caught my final cull here, a 16.5 on the Speed Shad.

The sun came out.  We tried some docks on the Platte Access shoreline.  Didn't get anything.  We went back to Chuck's point.  I had a really good fish hit the Horny Toad, unfortunately after having it on for about 4 seconds it buried me in the reeds.  If it was a bass, and I think it was, it probably would have been my big fish.  That hurt me because I couldn't get rid of that skinny 16 incher.

We tried the slop to the East of the GOMH.  Both Chuck and I had hits but couldn't hook the fish.  We went back to Chuck's point to end the day.  He got a solid cull and lost a good one while I got several fish that didn't help me.  And the day was done.

Chuck had me believing we had  me believing that our weights were fairly similar.  They weren't.

Results:  My fish weighed 15/8, which put me in 7th Place.  Whew, I finally made a Top 10.  Chuck came in 3rd Place with 17/4 and he had Lunker with a 4/2.  Mark Munson won with 17/12.  I'm a little surprised no one caught an 18lb bag as the fish were really biting.

My Thoughts: Finally a half way decent tournament day for me. I would have been really disappointed had I come in with anything under 14lbs.  There are just so many 15.5-17" fish in the system right now.  Can I keep the momentum?

 

Platte/Sullivan Quick Report

The fishing was good in our boat today.  I caught about 15 and a half

and my boater caught 17 something and got Lunker for the day.  I made the Top 10. Full recap when I get the results later this week.   I didn't think to take a selfie with my lunker.

Here are the Final Standings

Chuck Steinbauer was my boater.  Mark Munson was supposed to be my boater, but he ran into motor problems when we were out pre-fishing.  I'd like to think that the day out pre-fishing with me gave him some confidence on the lake as his results in the past on Platte/Sullivan had been mediocre.  The guys really caught 'em.  Can't say I'm surprised by that.  Nobody got a Platte/Sullivan giant, though.

Bass Snatchers 1st Tournament Tomorrow at Platte/Sullivan

Tomorrow I will start my 10th Year fishing with the Baxter Bass Snatchers Club.  Where has the time gone?  This will only be the second time the club has fished Platte/Sullivan in that time.  If I can't catch at least 14lbs and make the Top 10, I will be pretty disappointed.

I am bringing 8 Rods + 1

Lamiglas 7'3" Swimbaits & Swim Jigs
Tatula 7'4" H Frogs
Zillion 7'4" XH Spro King Daddy Frog
Zillion 7'4" H Jigs
Avid 7' H Craw Tube
Avid 6'8" Topwater
LTB 7'3" Horny Toad
Dock Rod Senko/Fluke

Tatula 7'2" Plopper

I am really really really hoping the shallow fish are going tomorrow.  We've got 13 Boats and one guy fishing by himself.

Another Goal Reached That I Didn't Reach in 2016

15.25" Rapala BX Waking Minnow

I missed a couple of other bites as well.  I would have fished it more, but there was to much torn up weeds on the surface.  Caught on the 2017 Bass Opener in Platte Lake.

Bass Opener 2017 Forecast

Ohhh Sucky Ducky (But will I wake up at 4:00 AM like I'm planning)

If I do wake up. I predict a smash fest.

I'll start at the GOMH, then take the Trophy out.  Plan to be off the water around noon.

Good Luck, Everyone!!!

Update:  It got probably a little to cool.  The fish were sluggish in the morning.  I got a few on topwater, but nothing like I thought it could have been.  Fishing improved for the evening bite.

Product Review: The Fishing Tree Adventure Gloves

If you are pretty observant you might have noticed I have started wearing fishing gloves.  Out of the blue I was asked by the people of The Fishing Tree if I would like to do a review of their gloves.  I had been thinking about getting a pair to wear from someone and the chance to get a free pair to review sounded just great.

I received them about a month ago.  Here is the product description from Amazon:

Multi-use fingerless gloves that keep sensitive hands looking younger, help stop early aging and protect against skin cancer spots.

UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) is the measure of how well fabric blocks ultra violet radiation. A UPF rating of 50+ is the highest possible rating, which is exactly what the SGS experts have verified for these gloves. The material blocks 49/50ths or 98% of UV radiation. UPF is like SPF, which is the measurement used for sunblock creams.

Use for any outdoor environment. Our product provides protection but allows full maneuverability. The angler retains unrestricted use of fingers which is important with work like tying tippets or stripping trout fly lines (and retain the ‘feel’ of a nibble on the line).

Double-stitched seams add strength and they do not fall apart after a couple of uses or after a wash.

Machine washable so use them for fish handling and cleaning or other grubby jobs. Velcro wrist straps adjusts to any size wrist. This lightweight gear bought directly from us is fully supported and comes with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Unisex sizing. Get the right size at the start and take time to measure your hand before ordering.

Building on our highly successful first version, the new style is a more snug fit so you can easily forget you have these on.

Add our tested and verified gloves to the cart! Professionally packaged, they make an ideal accessory or gift for men or women.

The manufacturer's warranty is only provided by authorized resellers - The Fishing Tree and Soloportis.

Sizing: Measure round the widest part of the palm, above the thumb and below the little finger. That total length measurement is the size you need to refer to (because of the stretchy fit, if you are in doubt, GO for a BIGGER rather than smaller size):

XS 6.5 – 7.5 inches

S 7.5 – 8.75 inches

M 8.75 – 9.0 inches

L 9.0 – 9.50 inches

I got the small size, which fit my little hands perfectly.  They are comfortable and for the most part I barely notice I'm wearing them.  They helped to keep my hands a little bit warmer then they would otherwise have been in the cold.  If I dip them in the water they help to keep my hands cool.  However, they do seem to become a bit slippery when wet.

(Click to enlarge)

The spandex is showing some wear, but that is to be expected because I put them under the gill covers on some pike and walleye.  They have helped to keep my hands a little less bloody when handling those fish.  The palms seem to be holding up rather well.

Overall I am satisfied with them.

They can be purchased at Amazon.

Yesterday's Full Fishing Report: GOMH & Mille Lacs

Yes, once again it is time for Devin's Birthday Bullhead 

5:15-7:30AM GOMH NE SW SE, Bulldog
Conditions: Low 40's, Mostly Cloudy, Windy NE

Another beautiful sunrise that there is no way I would have seen had it not been for Devin's birthday.  I was dog tired and really was dragging this morning.  It took me a full hour from wake up to be out at the lake.  Normally it takes about 20-25 minutes tops.  I thought with the temps only getting down into the low 40's that maybe the bullheads would be stacked up and chewing on the North side.  Wasn't the case.  I was lucky to get the one.

16.5" Pure Poison/Swim Fluke Jr. (white)

She thumped it good on the third cast.  I had a dink jump and get off the Jerk Shad. I also got three toothy's in quick succession on the Jerk Shad on the North side before deciding I had enough of that.  I went to the SW side and got nothing.  I did have a fish hit at the Gunfish 117 a few times when I was on the SE side. I briefly went to the access at Bulldog.  What a lousy morning of fishing!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nasty Conditions on the Pond

8:30-10:00P Mille Lacs North Jetty Corner
Conditions: Low 40's, Cloudy light rain and mist, Quite windy out of the East, 3 to 4 foot roller coming in.

I had originally planned to be at Mille Lacs tonight by 7:30PM.  But we had kind of a late supper and I had other distractions.  I didn't leave the house until 7:30 and then I had to stop at the lake place to pump water out of the boat.  I threw out a few casts off the dock while that was happening and didn't get anything.  That took until about 8:05 when I then headed to Mille Lacs.

15" Rippin' Rap

Due to the wind direction and rain the North Jetty corner was my only option.  I only took two rods out of the car, 6'8" St. Croix Avid and 7' Mojo.  I started out throwing the Grass Pig.  Didn't get a bite on that.  I then tried 3 different colors of Rippin Raps before getting my first fish of the night on the perch color.  That was the only hit I got on the Rippin Rap.  I then tried an X-Rap and didn't get a hit on that.

22.5" Jerk Shad (Chart Shad)

It was now after 9 and quickly getting dark.  I switched to a Jerk Shad.  I tried a slow retrieve with pauses and sure enough a nice walleye wanted it.  I also got a fish on the very next cast.

17" Jerk Shad

 About 5 minutes later I had a good one hit really close to the Jetty.  She was shaking her head and got off, bummer deal.  About 10 minutes later I got a cigar when I went to a slow retrieve, no pause.

12.5" Jerk Shad

It was about 5 minutes to 10 when I got my last one of the night and the biggest.

23" Jerk Shad

Darn rules shut me down and my night was done.