We started our 2009 season Saturday morning at 8am from Harrison Bay State Park. Everyone was heavily bundled and ready for blast-off in the 28 degree launch temperature. One by one, fellow members headed in the direction where they thought the fish would be.
I fished with my good friend and angler Charlie Nix. We had planned to go to a cove in Wolftever to begin our day but after seeing several boats heading in that direction, we decided to fish some of the coves above HBSP. This would give us the opportunity to fish points, windy banks, banks protected from the wind, and a variety of water depths. Neither of us were anxious to make a long run in the cold.
We worked all areas hard, trying a variety of lures, presentations, and depths. The points never produced any fish. We managed a total of four fish for the day all taken inside of coves in about 3 to 5 feet of water. Charlie caught a LM slick and then a 16" keeper. I snagged a nice crappie in the side and then caught a 17 3/4" smallmouth. What a fight he put up. This bad boy jumped once and then headed directly toward the boat. I was reeling like crazy on my 5: to 1: cranking reel. Once he figured he was hooked he started to make a circle around the boat. Cold water didn't slow this fish any, he was about a foot under the water and really moving. Once near the boat, he went straight down and it took a little playing to get him in the net. It sure would have been nice if he were a quarter inch longer.
All our fish came on traps and cranks. Hours of fishing jigs, jerkbaits, shaky head, and silver buddies never produced a bite.
The mood of the bass and Mother Nature combined to make it a tough day for us. Trolling motor batteries were worn down by 2:30 forcing us to stay completely out of the wind. At least that's my excuse for not bringing in a keeper. We were hoping the bright sunshine would warm the shallow waters attracting baitfish and bass but it didn't happen. The wind kept the surface temperature in the 49 to 50 degree range in our fishing areas throughout the day.
It proved to be a tough day for everyone. 9 boats carrying 17 anglers, fishing for 8 hours each, brought in 14 fish with a combined weight of 36.3 pounds. No one had a five fish limit.
Fish were all released and swam away in good shape.
Here are the winners:
D.Brooks/E.Bennet - 3 fish - 10.70 lbs
B.Grant/C.Williams - 2 fish - 6.20 lbs
B.Simpson/S.Rogers - 2 fish - 4.00 lbs
Ed Bennett, our newest member, not only shared in the win but had big fish, 4.50 lbs.
Sorry for the late report.....it's the computers fault.
I fished with my good friend and angler Charlie Nix. We had planned to go to a cove in Wolftever to begin our day but after seeing several boats heading in that direction, we decided to fish some of the coves above HBSP. This would give us the opportunity to fish points, windy banks, banks protected from the wind, and a variety of water depths. Neither of us were anxious to make a long run in the cold.
We worked all areas hard, trying a variety of lures, presentations, and depths. The points never produced any fish. We managed a total of four fish for the day all taken inside of coves in about 3 to 5 feet of water. Charlie caught a LM slick and then a 16" keeper. I snagged a nice crappie in the side and then caught a 17 3/4" smallmouth. What a fight he put up. This bad boy jumped once and then headed directly toward the boat. I was reeling like crazy on my 5: to 1: cranking reel. Once he figured he was hooked he started to make a circle around the boat. Cold water didn't slow this fish any, he was about a foot under the water and really moving. Once near the boat, he went straight down and it took a little playing to get him in the net. It sure would have been nice if he were a quarter inch longer.
All our fish came on traps and cranks. Hours of fishing jigs, jerkbaits, shaky head, and silver buddies never produced a bite.
The mood of the bass and Mother Nature combined to make it a tough day for us. Trolling motor batteries were worn down by 2:30 forcing us to stay completely out of the wind. At least that's my excuse for not bringing in a keeper. We were hoping the bright sunshine would warm the shallow waters attracting baitfish and bass but it didn't happen. The wind kept the surface temperature in the 49 to 50 degree range in our fishing areas throughout the day.
It proved to be a tough day for everyone. 9 boats carrying 17 anglers, fishing for 8 hours each, brought in 14 fish with a combined weight of 36.3 pounds. No one had a five fish limit.
Fish were all released and swam away in good shape.
Here are the winners:
D.Brooks/E.Bennet - 3 fish - 10.70 lbs
B.Grant/C.Williams - 2 fish - 6.20 lbs
B.Simpson/S.Rogers - 2 fish - 4.00 lbs
Ed Bennett, our newest member, not only shared in the win but had big fish, 4.50 lbs.
Sorry for the late report.....it's the computers fault.
