That Escalated Quickly

 I won this LiveTarget Wakebait through Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing back in the Fall of 2016; it arrived in early October.  I caught 4 fish with it in 2016, 19 fish in 2017, and 1 fish last year. Basically, until about a week ago, it was in pristine condition. Then in the span of about 3 trips, it caught me 60 fish and now looks like this. I'll be buying a couple more soon. I don't know why I didn't throw it that often in the past. Quality fish love this thing.

1st Open Water/Last Ice Trip Today(3/21/21)

 

9" VMC Fly/Wax/Polli (Pink)

 7:30-9:30PM 5 Tul Hole 26' 

42℉, PC, 10-20mph SE

Amazingly enough, I was able to get up. Pete beat me to the lake by about 20-minutes. I set up in my spot and had a pike show up about 10' down. It loitered for a while, then left for about 10-minutes, then came back. I started seeing stuff near the bottom, so I lowered the camera. There were crappies, sunfish, perch, and shiners down there. The crappies seemed more enamored with the barrel swivel. I had several of them hit it. I only caught one 8-inch crappie that I didn't take a picture of. I realized that right after I released it. Think I had the same pike come back around 9:00AM. Didn't see tullibee, neither did Pete, who fished all over the place. Called it a morning at 9:30AM. One other guy came off with us.

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7:00-8:10PM NE SW GOMH

53℉, Cloudy, 3-4mph S

I got to the GOMH, and there was a guy and a lady fishing off the bridges Southside. I went down the NE side. He asked me which side was better. I told him right now it probably doesn't matter much as it would probably be a couple of weeks before anything showed up. But I did say to him that the Southside tends to be the better option. They left at about a quarter of 8. I switched sides. Nothing going on. The water is low, but not as low as last Fall. It is probably going to be a week plus before anything shows up.

Tullibaby Baby!

17" VMC Fly/maggots

8.90" VMC Fly/maggots

7:20-9:30AM Tullibee Hole 25'
31-29℉, Cloudy/Partly Cloudy, 13-20mph SE

I got out a little later than I should have.  There was snow on the truck and on the road.  As far as I can tell I was the second one at the access.  A couple of trucks drove on when I was unloading.  I walked out which ate more time.  It was quite windy.  I got to the area drilled three holes and put the camera down first.  Then I put waxies down on the bobber rod.  The first fish of the morning was the bull gill that bit at about 7:50AM.  I was not on point with keeping the fish. I had to fill a bucket with water using the hawg trough in hopes the fish would survive if I wanted to release it.  That took time and the fish went belly up so I had to keep it.  I'm pretty sure there were others down there that were gone by the time I got my line back down. About had an hour later the tullibee showed up.  There were at least two of them by the marks I had.  Fortunately, I got a bite and hooked it in the shoot.  Excellent fight.  I got the camera and transducer out, but I got caught up on the bobber line.  Landing these slippery things is tricky.  I was using 3lb test. After that, I might have had one more tullibee come through. But who knows I also had crappies come through that I got to see on the camera.  I watched a crappie charge the Fly and suck it in, but I didn't connect with the hookset.  I had perch messing with me by the bottom and eventually put the camera down to watch them.  It was quite windy and my right foot was cold so I called it a day at 9:30.

Bulldog Lake Again with A Couple Of Bonus Pic's

7.5" VMC Fly/maggots (Glow)

21" VMC Fly/maggots (Glow)

Sculpture created in 5 Gallon with water dripping off the roof last nigh 

The GOMH from today

5:00-8:00PM Bulldog Lake 7' NE Point
31-35℉, Cloudy, 3-18mph SE

I must have arrived just after Matt W. left.  I went out and put the camera down in some of the holes he drilled.  I only saw one sunfish, so I headed to the NE Point where I have been fishing.  Some guys were on the lake earlier in the day and drilling holes like madmen on the NE and N side of the lake, there dozens upon dozens of holes drilled.  I used their holes to find fish with the Aqua-Vu.  It took me a few for me to locate any fish.  Not a good sign as fish were all over the place every time I've been out.  I finally found a group of sunnies and put two additional holes there.  By the time I had any lines down the sunfish had moved off because pike were patrolling the area.  First fish was presumably a pike that broke my line at the dropper, so it wasn't a bite off.  My mistake, shouldn't have happened.  A little while after that I caught a pike on the Glow Demon and Minnow.  I then got a nice bluegill. Then I got the pike in the pictures that snuck into camera rage when I wasn't looking.  When I looked back, there he was with my jig in his mouth.  I'm was lucky I hooked him at the tip of the shoot.  I saw a couple more pike swim through and couple crappie swam through but didn't look at my lures.  I did catch a couple other decent gills and played keep-away with some small ones.  I did move out to 10' when it was too dark for the camera but didn't mark anything until I was all packed up and about to leave.

I'm probably going to fish somewhere with Matt W. tomorrow

Fished Rock Because of the Wind

6.5" VMC Fly/maggots

There is open water in the channel

6:00-8:00PM Rock Lake 9' Sunz Spot
30-35℉, Cloudy, 15-20MPH NW

I finally achieved victory with the headlight tonight.  I didn't even need Jeff's help.  I went to Rock because the winds were hellacious and I would be protected there.  It had been above freezing the previous night so the top of the ice was a slushy mess-making pulling the sled much more difficult.  There was open water in the Platte River Outlet Bay Channel.  I drilled about 7 or so holes 3 of them being to shallow.  There is Eurasian milfoil in the lake. The ice was 6-8" thinner than on Bulldog or Sullivan.  I found sunnies high in the water column in 9'. There was small mature bald eagle chirping when I was setting up.  I told it I would throw it a fish, but I forgot; Sorry Mr. Eagle.  Lots of little sunnies around.  I caught 8 on the VMC Fly with maggots.  I lost a crappie in the hole and saw another on the camera. I saw one small pike.  I also lost something the felt really good when I first put down in the hole where the fish were.  I quit at 8PM.  The walk back was much easier as things had firmed up with the falling temps.

Bulldog With Crappies Engaging In Social Distancing

5" VMC Fly (Glow)

6:00-8:30PM Bulldog 6' to 10'
32-36℉, Partly Cloudy, 0-4mph S

Thanks to dealing with car issues I got a later start than I wanted.   There was a guy fishing that packed up as I was halfway there.  We talked.  He had gotten a few crips and sunnies to keep.  I drilled holes out deeper.  Crappies would spook lookie-loo it.  Missed a couple of bites.  I was surprised to bring up the rock bass.  Not as many sunfish swimming around; I caught a few small ones.  On the way back I drilled holes in the deep hole didn't mark anything.  With all my cold-weather gear on it was comfortable. 

No Tullibee, First Bass OTY in the Evening

8" Glow Demon Spoon/Mag&Wax

7.5" VMC Fly/Maggies

6:00-10:00AM Sullivan 24'
20-16℉, Partly Cloudy, 2-4mph North

Nobody was at the Sullivan access when I arrived.  I went to my Tul Hole waypoint and drilled holes.  I got one Crappie in the first half hour.  It was annoyingly cold before the sun came up, my guides kept freezing up.  At about 6:45AM John W. showed up just to the north of me.  I saw some nice Sunfish on the camera but couldn't get them to bite.  I went and talked to John.  He had one tullibee and filled me in on how the fishing has been this winter.  I went back and caught the Sunfish, which I gave to John.  Eventually, I moved to the Sunfish spot.  There was a pike swimming around there. Nature called so I packed up and left.
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10' VMC Fly/Maggies (Pink)

Half Way back to the Car

8" VMC Fly (Pink)

8" Glow Demon Spoon

5:30-8:30PM Bulldog Lake 6' and 9' NE Point
36-32℉, Mostly Sunny, 2-5mph N

There was somebody out at the NE point with an ATM fishing when I arrived.  Because of that, I needed to move the truck after I unloaded.  I forgot to take my cold-weather gear with me as I headed out to a new area to the South.  The ATV moved off of the NE point when a was about 75 yards out.  I started heading to the NE when I realized I hadn't brought the cold-weather gear with.  I wasn't happy about that.  When I finally got to the NE Island I used two holes from the guy that had just left.  One was in 6' and the other 9' right by where I had been fishing just slightly shallower.  I saw fish in the shallow hole so that is where I set up to start. The first fish of the day was the bass.  Lots of sunfish around and a few crappies most of which were swimming around out deeper where the camera was pointed.  I had a couple crappies come in and inspect my offerings and leave.  Saw pike a few times.  At 7PM I headed to the deeper holes.  Once again I could see crappies swimming out deeper.  I elected not to move.  Had a few crappies move through, but they were extremely fussy.  Only caught one.  Saw multiple fish nibble and spit. I should have moved out a little deeper both times.  The fish never moved shallower like I thought they should.

Bulldog Again After Plan A Almost Fell Through

9' VMC Fly/maggot

4.5" VMC Fly/maggies

6:00-8:30PM Bulldog NE Point 9'
40-31℉, Partly Cloudy, 12-20mph WNW

The plan was to drive out to the sunfish spot on Rock Lake put the camera down and if I didn't see anything head to Bulldog.  I had just gotten onto the lake when I sunk down the front tires in the slush.  Thankfully there was strong ice underneath.  I quickly put it in reverse and got outta dodge.  I realized I had forgotten the maggies and wax worms, so I drove back home to get them.  Then I headed to Bulldog.  The wind was blowing pretty good.  I drilled two new holes and put the old Aqua View camera down.  There was a school of crappies in the area.  For some reason, I wasn't able to figure out which direction to point the camera, very frustrating.  After messing around for about 10 minutes I gave up. The first fish was a crip that hung me on the transducer line and got off.  I then put the Aqua-Vu Micro down and quickly located my lure.  The crappies had moved off and sunfish moved in.  Occasionally crappie would swim through.  I caught 2 crappies on the VMC Fly and 2 on the Glow Demon Spoon.  I caught 5 little sunnies.  Didn't see any perch.  Didn't get any bites on the minnow. I packed up at 8:30PM.  On the way home I got pulled over by a cop because I  have a headlight that doesn't work.  I got a stern talking-to because I didn't pull over right away electing to drive to the Club of the Pines.  I saw someone pulled over the other day on 8 and noticed it's a very narrow shoulder.  I got off with a warning.

4 Crappies
5 Sunfish

New Spot on Bulldog

10" VMC Fly/maggies (Pink)

8' VMC Fly/maggies

3:30PM-8:30PM Bulldog 9' NE Point
35-32℉, Partly Cloudy, 2-8mph South

I decided to fish Bulldog Lake today.  I parked at the public access and walked out to the deep hole.  Didn't mark anything.  I decided to give the point on the NE side of the lake a try.  I've never fished there before.  I drilled several holes before I hit paydirt 9' with some coontail on the bottom.   The fish were suspending above the weeds.  Lots of small sunnies and perch, I did get one 8" bluegill.  Eventually, some crappies started swimming through.  A pike made a brief cameo.  I finally drilled a third hole to put a minnow down  As it got dark more crappie came through.  The last fish of the night was a crappie that took a minnow. at 7:50 or so.  That was the only bite on the minnow.  I did hit the deep hole on the way back and didn't see anything.

5 Sunfish
4 Perch
8 Crappies

First Fish of 2020

7.5" VMC Fly & Maggies (Pink)

5:00-7:30PM Sullivan 25' Sun Spot
36-31℉, Cloudy, 2-5mph SW
25'

It was lightly snowing when I arrived at the NE Sullivan Access.  I elected to walk out, but I could have driven.  I'm lucky I didn't fall before I came to my senses and put the spikes on.  I used the GPS to find the 25' Sunfish Hole. I drilled two holes.  I originally had something come in at 15-feet. Didn't feel a bite.  After whatever it was moved out. I put the Aqua View down, not much visibility but I did see a pretty good-sized sunfish.  I missed a few bites on a spoon and the VMC fly before I finally landed one.  One was all I got and I threw it back.  Think I'm going to try Bulldog tomorrow.

My Eventful Valentines Day Trip To Rock

16" VMC Fly Jig w/Maki Jamei (purple) & spike

I had a close call on the way to the lake this morning with some deer.  I was really lucky to the first one crossed so far in front of the others, so I slowed way down quickly.  I had to come to a complete stop to avoid hitting the second one.  There were several other deer in the ditch looking at me.  Whew!

7:15AM-1:30PM Rock Lake mostly at my spot.
Conditions: 31-28℉, Mostly Sunny, Windy to Very Windy NW, waypoint holes to 11'

When I first got out of the truck

I fished in the morning because of the forecast for high winds in the afternoon and evening.  The plan was to fish with my old Aqua-Vu so I drilled out the waypoint holes first thing.  I sent the transducer down the hole and immediately was marking fish.  I sent down a minnow on the Glow Demon and was bit immediately.  I maybe got a little anxious with the hook set and lost the fish and minnow halfway up.  I quickly put on another minnow and immediately got bit again.  I landed a 9.5" crappie and thought to myself.  It's AWWWWWWWWWWN.  By the time I got the next minnow down the crappies had moved on.  That was my only crappie for the morning.  I saw one other come through on the camera.

7" Tubby Jig w/Jamei and wax

 I started getting some sunfish and also had spottail shiners nibbling at me.  The sunfish started only pecking and staring at my bait and a few perch showed up as well.  I had a pike come in a couple of different times, but it didn't show any interest in hitting my baits.

I went and drilled holes on the four-hole house spot and in 11' of water.  There was nothing but perch in the four-hole spot, so I moved on to the shallow spot.  I was seeing perch and had a small pike come through once again showing no interest in hitting my baits.  The wind started cranking up and I was just about to give up when a bass appeared out of nowhere (it came in from behind the camera) and came in and hit the Fly.  I set the hook and she immediately started peeling line (2lb test Gamma).  I went to pull the transducer out of the hole and the Fish Trap started moving so I had to sit down immediately.  It was a real challenge getting the transducer out of the water.  I thought the bass was possibly hung on the Aqua-Vu cable because something didn't feel right, so I pulled that up as well.  The bass finally came up the hole.

16"

I stayed and fished for another hour hoping another bass might come through, but all I saw was perch.

I then decided to tow the Fish Trap just to the South of the access.  I fished there in 11' to 6' of water and didn't see any activity on the Vex.

I brought the Fish Trap back to the truck to pack up.  It was pretty warm out so I wrote in my notebook when I quit fishing and went to put my jacket in the truck and pulled the iPod out of my pocket so I could continue to listen to it while I broke things down.  I decided to reposition one of my pole clips, then got everything in the car.  I went to put the iPod back in my jacket's inner pocket and my cell phone wasn't there.  What?  Crap!

I went and looked around the holes I had been fishing, nothing.  I went back to the truck and my notebook wasn't in the pocket either.  I could have sworn I put it back in the pocket.  I looked around outside and didn't see anything.  I was really puzzled.  I was in a semi-protected area and it wasn't really windy enough there for my notebook to get blown away.  I got in the truck to go and drive back to where I started to look for the phone.  I grabbed to inspect my jacket one more time.  That is when I realized there are interior pockets on both sides of the Ice Armor Jacket, not just one like the Arctic Armor jacket.  The phone and notebook were right where I left them. Doh!

1 Bass
2 Crappie
2 Pike
5 Spottail Shiners
12 Sunfish
14 Perch

1st Ice Fishing Trip of 2017(1-22-17)

17.5" VMC Fly Jig w/Maki Jamei and maggie

9:00AM-1:30PM Rock Lake My Spot 14'-17'
Conditions: 34 degrees, Cloudy and fog in the morning, light W wind, sloppy and wet on the ice

Sloppy and Wet

With the warm weather we have been having my motivation meter finally started ticking up and so today was the day I put it all together and got out.  There wasn't much going on at Rock Lake and two parties pulled their permanents off of the lake today.  I'm taking that to mean the bite hasn't been very good out there this winter compared to other area lakes.

I had a thought before I started drilling holes that since I didn't have any minnows all I needed was a single hole instead of my usual double.  I found one open hole in the area but that was it.  I didn't really look to hard to see if there were any others.  I think I drilled 6.  I started in the farthest North.  And my first fish for 2017 was a...

1st Fish of 2017

Bluegill on a VMC Tungsten Fly Jig w/white Maki Jamei with a spike

All I got in the first hole was sunfish and they were finicky.  My line on the VMC Fly's rod was getting caught on the spool where I tied to the backing.  I took the time to get the not put at the very bottom of the spool where it is less likely to catch.  Turns out that was a good thing I did that.  

In the second hole I busted the bass first thing after not getting a hit with fish down it on the Rippin' Rap.

17.5" VMC Fly w/Maki Jamei and spike

Not where it was actually hooked

The way the bass ran I thought I had a decent sized pike on.  I was pleasantly surprised it was a bass seeing as how I didn't catch a single one out there last winter.  That fish made my trip.

I also caught some perch.

7.5" Rippin' Rap

This was the only bite I had on the Rippin Rap.

I was satisfied I knocked the rust off and packed up at 1:30PM.  I should have moved around more quickly and drilled a few more holes.

1 Bass
6 Perch
12 Sunfish