First Bullhead of 2026(3/22/26)

 

2nd Gator Bullhead of the night

The Sullivan side is open wider now than pre-cold snap peak

I forgot to put my tackle bag in the car, doh! I  left the bag sitting on the garage steps. I did put the rods in the car, however. There is more open water now on the Sullivan side than there was pre-cold snap. I was much colder today, with temperatures only reaching the mid-30s. I got two bites tonight.  I had a slightly smaller gator bullhead than the one pictured come off as I was pulling it up onto shore that bit on a Mepps Spinner. The Gator in the picture fell for a Rage Swimmer, and it had something in its tummy.  There were ducks, red-wings, eagles, Canadian geese, and swans around tonight.

1st Bullhead and Fish of 2025 (3/11/25)

 

Persistence paid off tonight, as I caught a bullhead just before I was going to quit for the night after not getting anything for 40 minutes. I thought for sure I was going to get skunked again. You just never know at the Grumpy Old Man Hole. I thought I hooked a stick and I had to bump it with the rod to get it to swim away.

1st Bullhead Of 2024 (2/20/24)

 It was a nice day, 44℉, but I was in turtle mode after I woke up, so ice fishing was out. I decided to pack up a tackle bag, and some long rods and head to The Grumpy Old Man Hole. I figured I'd be skunked, but you never know at the GOMH. I had been casting the spinnerbait around for about 10 minutes and was just about to switch to something else when the bullhead struck. No skunk, and a new record for my earliest open water bullhead; The previous record was February 27th, 2016. 

1st Bullhead of Open Water 2023 (Winter Kill)

 

There was a parade of floaters flowing in from Platte Lake today. So much so that I had to check things out at the cabin and see what was up there. Only saw a pike, sunfish, and bass there. Went back to the Grumpy Old Man Hole. Lost a toothy and, about 10 minutes later, snagged this jumper in the pelvic fin. A bullhead is a bullhead. The skunk streak is over. Stayed after dark and only saw a few baitfish.

I Gots Me A Bullhead

7" Cubby Mini-Mite/Minnow

6:30-9:30AM GOMH, Bulldog, Rock
38-44℉, Partly Cloudy, 3-8mph W

So I took my first-morning open water trip of 2020 this morning.  I got a bite, finally. It was none other than a tiger bullhead; First time that has ever happened for a first fish in open water.  I got it on the SE side.  John W. showed up as I was posting to Instagram.  I ended up getting his phone # before he left.
I was back on the SW side ad I made a cast into the hay area.  The bobber was drifting at a steady pace in the wind when it just stopped moving and turned sideway.  Thinking it was caught on a weed I didn't set the hook.  I'm pretty sure I rolled a big jumper because I saw a lot of white.  That was my last bite.

I also tried Bulldog and Rock without any success.

In the afternoon I vacuumed out the Trophy and discovered some treasure I had given to Steve three years ago that he left in Florida when he moved up here the first time. Two Madd Maxx Frogs (Big Sexy and Bluegrass).

I should have done this last year before I put it in the garage

Score

Clear at Jenny's

Heavy Wave with a brisk SW Wind

The vacuuming took longer than expected.  It was filthy and I had to stop for a break to get something to eat.  Steve gave me an energy bar that did the trick.  After I was done I went down to the boathouse and discovered the rods that I accidentally left there last winter.  I had intended to go back and get them late last Fall, but it slipped my mind.

Because I didn't get out of there until after 5 o'clock I went straight home rather than fish.  I ended up eating a Porky Burger which held me up until after 7PM.  When I crossed 27 conditions turned nasty fast.  Heavy snow and wind.  I was like dang.  By the time I got to Church the sun was beginning to poke out.  I went to Bulldog first, nothing biting.  It looked like ice was still on 40-50%.  Then I went to Rock briefly, the ice was out.  I drove Platte Lake drive and could see ice in the North Bay and some along the NW side of the Big Island.  I then drove to the Platte Lake Public Access which was totally ice-free, so Platte Lake ice out is official at Bass Pundit