Tuesday, September 22, 2015

What A Disappointing Tournament at Mission Lakes

What I caught My 3 Fish On (2 Bass, 1 Pike)
My first big mistake was thinking I would be able to get a limit no problem.  My boater Bill B. had a good history on the lake and we as a club caught the fire out of them here two years ago in June.  I thought the fish would be everywhere and on the feed, boy was I wrong.  Less than half the field caught a limit and about half of us had 3 fish or less.  It was tough.

My second mistake was not calling to check if my boater pre-fished, which he did end up doing.  I didn't bring my dock skipping rod because I didn't know we would be fishing docks.  Oh well.

Conditions: Post cold front, cool in the morning getting to about 70 degrees, Sunny, light winds for the first 3 hours then getting to be about 10-15mph in the afternoon out of the WSW, about a foot of visibility maybe less.

The Day: We started in the Lower Lake in some maidencaine.  Bill missed a bite on a spinnerbait.  We spent maybe half an hour, than moved up the lake to try some docks.  Bill got a squeaker out of some sparce reeds.  And I got a 11.75" of a dock on the Craw Fatty.

Next we moved to the Upper Lake.  We fished outside of some reeds, then went in to try some docks.  I got my only keeper on the Horny Toad.  I then missed a fish on the HT and Bill also missed a fish on the same dock.

Next we moved to a weedline spot outside of the reeds.  Bill picked up three decent one's on this spot on a Senko.  The last of which he got when Chuck Steinbauer was close by, which gave Bill quite a thrill.  The wind came up while we were on this spot.

Next we went to the NE corner of the lake and got nothing, then we went to the reed point by the Upper Lake Access and Bill got an OK fish on the Senko.  I switched to a Grass Pig Jr on a Texas Rig.  I should have put it on a mushroom head jig instead as I got a couple of bites but didn't get hook into them at this spot or at the place Bill got the 3 fish.

Next we went to a spot outside of a reed point on the NW shore.  I got my pike there.  Then we moved in to fish docks.  I missed a bite that took the Horny Toad when I let it sink at the back of a pontoon and another fish that hit the HT as I brought it out of a thick patch of reeds that was out from a dock.

I think Bill got a hammer-handle off an under water point.  With about an hour and a half left we went back to the Lower Lake and retraced our steps back to the docks then maidencaine.  Bill pulled his biggest bass there on a Yabbie.  I missed a hit on the Craw Fatty, but the line was frayed a bit so it was probably a pike.  We then went over by the access where Bill got a small pike on a swim jig with a swimbait.

Results:  My fish weighed 1lbs 8oz, which kept me out of last place by an ounce.  I finished 19th out of 20.  Bills fish weighed 12-13 and put him in 7th Place.  1st Place went to Chuck Johansen with 17-15 after a 2oz dead fish penalty.  Lunker went to Darren Kiefer with a 4lb 6oz fish.  He was fishing with Johansen.

My Thoughts:   I just wanted to go out and catch a bunch of fish.  What a disappointment!

I didn't get a bite on a chatter jigs, Chigger Craws, Red Eye Shad, buzzbait, or a Vixen.

Monday, September 21, 2015

B.A.S.S. Fantasy Fishing, So Close at the AOY Tourney

I followed up probably my worst roster ever at the St. Clair with one of my best ever at AOY.  I had an unusual number of terrible line ups this year.

I won prizes out of at least 3 groups this year.  I doesn't look like most of the groups that promised prizes for all events followed thru.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

That Didn't Go Well

I only caught 2 bass, one of which was short, and 1 pike.  I should have called my boater to find out if he pre-fished, which he did.  I didn't bring my dock skipping rod, a spinning rod with a Zoom Super Fluke.  I'm pretty sure I would have caught more fish had I brought it.  Both of my bass came off docks.  The small one on a Texas rigged Craw Fatty and my keeper on a white Zoom Horny Toad.  I think I came in last place.  So much for the #yearofrevenge.  My boater only caught 6 bass and a couple northerns.  And the camera batteries were dead, so I didn't even get a picture today.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Bass Snatcher Tournament Tomorrow On Mission Lakes

My #yearofrevenge was pretty much thrown in disarray with my health issues costing me being able to fish at Woman and Rush Lakes.  It resumes tomorrow at Mission Lakes, sight of my worst showing in a Bass Snatcher tournament in terms of place finished (32nd).  Tomorrow we only have 11 boats fishing, so I am not worried about a repeat.  I just hope the fish are snapping.  Hopefully the cool down has them turned on and not shut off.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

SKOL Vikings 2015!!!


It's time for my annual post on my thoughts giving questions the team will need to answer to succeed in the  2015 season.  Last year, the team got 1 out of 3 right.
1. The Defense improved
2. O Line Play was inconsistent with injuries all over and Cassel got injured.
3. We all know what happened with AP 

Here are my Questions for 2015:

1.  What kind of play will we get from the O-Line in 2015?

At this point the O-Line has got to be the #1 concern for the team.  It seems we have the weapons at the Skill positions, but will the line come together to block for AP and protect Teddy. The line looked OK this pre-season in pass protection.  Run blocking looked below par.   With Loadholt going down and now with Sullivan's out for half the season minimum I'm really nervous about this question.

2. Will Teddy continue to improve?

I believe he will, but if the O-Line doesn't perform;  Well I don't even want to think about it.

3.  Will Anthony Barr stay healthy and improve from his rookie season?

Barr is a huge key to the Defense continuing to improve, will he step up or fall down.

4.  Will Blair Walsh's kicking be a problem?

I hope not.

    

Friday, September 11, 2015

Congratulations Nate & Tim & Bass Snatcher Squad

Nate Steinbauer came in 9th Place
Tim Benson came  in 10th Place
And the Snatcher Team came in 2nd Place at the MN BASS Nation State Tournament at Gull Lake

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Good Luck Snatchers!!!

Today is the start of the MN BASS Nation State Tournament at Gull Lake.  Hopefully between the Snatchers and DH there will be a few guys making the State Team this year.

Good Luck Guys!!!

Sunday, September 06, 2015

Did Some Catching Yesterday

17" Slush Daddy
Sunrise is moving South

6:40-8:20AM
Conditions:  Post morning thunderstorms, humid, low 70's, partly cloudy, wind out of the S SE

I was hoping the brief heavy rain we had might translate into so fish this morning.  I hit the GOMH first.  I started out by discovering that I forgot to put away a Slush Minnow and Stanley Phantom when I fished the last time.  It took me about a few seconds to realize that was at the Cabin, not at the GOMH.

I started out by putting a Slush Daddy on.  I was just about to pull it out of the water to make another cast when a jumper sucked it in.
Right about where it was sitting when the fish hit.
18" Slush Daddy
I didn't get a better picture because the camera went on the fritz when I went to take another picture.  I released the fish, then got the camera working again;  That's when I took the sunrise picture.

I made a cast out across the channel and had the 17" hit the Slush Daddy.  Those were the only 2 bites I got.  I tried the culvert and didn't get anything.  Next I went to the lake place to retrieve my lures, which I did.  I missed a fish that attacked the Spro Frog when I wasn't paying attention.

I tried Jenny's as well. Nothing doing