bp_fowler

Checked out two new ponds this morning. The first was a bust. What makes it worse was that it was a tough spot to get into so a lot of work for nothing. Second was an easier portage but a smaller pond. Caught a decent one and a few dinks. Was about to wrap it up when I casted into this corner where the duckweed meets the reeds and watched my line swim away. I set the hook and after a bit of a struggle I hauled in this 5 pounder to salvage the day.

@Swamp GirlTake care of yourself and I’m sure you’ll be back to taming those Maine linebacker bass in no time.

A cart is first on my list. After that I want to upgrade seats and add a rod holder or two so I can troll between spots.

Sounds like an awesome trip man, I’m jealous!

It’s definitely been a game changer for me. What you told me before about the canoes’s greatest strength is its ability to go places others can’t. So many places that normally I wouldn’t be able to fish from the bank, especially this time of year, are now open to me. The ability to bring someone along with me is a great bonus as well. I already have a list of modifications that I plan on doing this winter, or possibly even a new canoe. Haven’t made up my mind yet.

Visited the pond my dad I fished Sunday. Once again the heat forced me to launch early in the morning. I started off trying out a walking bait for the first time. After about 15 minutes with no bites before I grabbed the tube which is becoming my confidence bait in these ponds. I caught my first fish shortly after that... …and then another the cast after that. It would continue like that as I worked my way down the pond. My tube got chewed up so I grabbed my Medium Light and tried a couple casts with the Ned. I caught two fish in two casts a dink bass and another fat panfish. I would switch back to the tube and catch a few more. Including 3 from under this one tree. On my return trip I changed it up and tied on the Mayor. That would produce a few more fish for me before I wrapped it up. I finished with 16, my best three pictured below.

I’d say that I do the vast majority of my fishing durning the middle of the day roughly from 10am to 2pm. I’m fishing 99% of the time from the bank or my canoe so like you I don’t have any electronics. That rules out fishing deeper most of the time. It’s summer, so fishing is a bit tougher but I catch most of my fish this time of year by targeting shade. More specifically by skipping a lure into the shadows created by vegetation on shore. I really like if it overhangs the bank creating a nice dark hole. I would presume manmade cover like docks can work well also I just don’t have much of the kinda stuff where I fish. Submerged vegetation can also throw shadows as well. Sometimes if your water is clear enough to can see it and target that as well. If I can see where the drop off is from shallow to deeper water I will fish along that line with some type of bottom contact lure. I have witnessed the larger bass in clearer water cruising along following that contour. I have even managed to catch a few of them.

Medium Light X-Fast spinning rod- 10# Power Pro to 8# Seaguar Red Label Medium Fast spinning rod 15# Suffix 832 to 10# Seaguar Basix Both with an Alberto knot.

Yeah, in all seriousness he’s at that point now. Only it’s his shoulders that are issue. Throwing around Ned’s, tubes, senkos, etc is a heck of a lot easier on the joints than a 3 1/2 ounce Medusa.

Took my pops out to the AEP today. He’s a recovering Muskie angler who is learning how to target bass. We launched early this morning to beat the heat. I showed him how to wacky rig and let him have at it. We did alright. Caught 17 between the two of us. Pop’s best My biggest A fat panfish (longear maybe?) as a bonus

It was a good news bad news kinda day. First the good news I got to explore a new pond and caught 11 fish. Now for the bad news. I had to drag my canoe about a quarter mile through the woods to get there. Worse than that none of the fish were much bigger than this. Just one of those days I guess. The wacky worm targeting shade and shadows shallow got most of the action today with the mayor swimbait getting some work around clumps of submerged vegetation out in the middle.

I see what you did there. 😉

I’ve had success with them. Two things: first, play around with different retrieves. I think a lot of folks (myself included) get locked into just burning it back. Sometimes that works it a lot of times it doesn’t. Second, experiment with different sizes. Most folks where I’m at use the standard bladed jig or bladed jig in 3/8 or 1/2oz and the fish were getting accustomed to them. So I switched to the mini max with its smaller blade and it got me more bites.

I’ll never understand some people. Heck, I’ll probably never understand most people. Anyways nice fish as always.

Fished two ponds today, one for the first time. I launched this afternoon at 1:30. I started with a tube and caught back to back dinks on my first cast. Working the corners of the lower end I added a few more dinks to my tally. I worked my way towards the upper end I made some casts at some standing timber once of which produced my best of the day. I caught a random catfish and another dink that had a gnarly scar on its back. From there I packed up and drove to the next spot and launched at the pond that was new to me. Here I used a wacky worm. Skipping it under overhanging vegetation and right up to the edge of the reeds the lined most of the bank. I paid special attention to points and indents as well as the seams where two different species of reeds met. I caught another five here with this one being the best.

Hopefully Glenn and the gang can migrate all your stuff, achievements, followers, etc. over from your old account to your new one.

Took the nephew out to AEP today. Beautiful day for paddling, but with clear skies, even clearer water and no wind I figured out best bet would be long casts and small baits. We proceeded to slay dinks for the next two hours. Most of the fish were caught working a Ned along the first depth change. I did manage a 3lb fish my first of that size with the Ned. I’d like to get a 4lb class fish on one before the years though.

That’s a heck of a fish man! Congratulations.

Took the canoe out to AEP today to check out a new pond. A front was coming in so I only had a few hours. I launched at about quarter til two. It was mostly cloudy, 76 degrees, winds 6 mph from the SW. Tried a Choppo 90 at first and had no takers. Ditto with the Junebug Mag 2. Finally got bit with the wacky senko skipping it under overhanging vegetation. The pattern was one I’ve used a lot in the past. I worked my way down to southern end of the pond and added a few more dinks to my total. Turned back north but didn’t get another bite until I passed the boat ramp. Hooked a good one that buried itself in the Chara on the bottom. I have lost more than one mystery fish here that same way. But this time my line held. I had to dig through the Chara by hand but was finally able to get her in the canoe. That would end up being my best fish of the day. My scale said 4lbs but I think it’s starting to go wonky because to my eyes she looked more like a 3-3.5. My line was pretty frayed after that so I picked the Choppo back up since by that time the skies had started to darken and a light rain was falling. This time the fish played ball. I managed to catch a few more topwater dinks before the rain got too heavy and I called it.

Today was my first time out since the 1st of the month. Brought my nephew along and our intention was to wade the creek in the wildlife area. However the water in the creek was high and fast so we called an audible and decided to fish our favorite pond in the area instead. We doubled up on our first cast. After that we’d go on to catch another 17 fish between us. With this one being my biggest of the day. Since I was planning on wading I only brought the one spinning rod and two baits: curly tail grub on a jig head and the ned. I caught my first 7 fish on the grub before a good sized one broke me off and I caught the next 4 on the ned.

@TnRiver46 …and now after ready your post I find myself strangely hungry. Fished in my first tournament today out in Burr Oak. 44 degrees this morning when launched and foggy until about 10, clear skies after that. Light winds out of the west at 8 mph. I’ll cut to the chase, we didn’t do great. I caught 3 out of our 4, the biggest only 11 inches. Yikes! We weren’t the only ones struggling. Winning bag was 8lbs, and the biggest bass caught was 2lbs 12 ounces. Out of 20 boats only 3 caught a limit. Over half the field got skunked. I’m grateful for the experience though and looked forward to my next one later this month.

Me trying to figure if I’ve even caught 325 in my entire lifetime.

Drum shaped bass? Congrats to you and your boy!

Today was a lazy day for me. Didn’t feel like driving far or loading the canoe up. Especially not on a Saturday when everyone else would be out in the water. Went to the Crappie Hole which is my closest spot and usually isn’t crowded. Low 70s, partly cloudy and windy (30+ mph gusts). Caught one about 15 minutes in with the Ned. She was hanging out under this tree. Unfortunately I broke the last 6 inches off my Sellus getting her to the bank. So I had to end the day early since I only brought one rod.

I’d vote bladed jig but I’m probably biased because it’s been catching them for me lately.