Headed off to Lunga lake located on USMCB Quantico looking for some Lunker bass that supposedly reside there.  Electric only on 447 acres and a 20 foot Ranger present a bit of a problem but thank heavens for lithium batteries and a Power Pole Move trolling motor because we ran out of steam before they did! Caught a few nice bass, no monsters but lost a lot of gear to the pickerel.  Water was still too cold for spawners.  I don’t see heading back unless it’s too windy for the rivers.  Fun time though.  Pickerel pull hard.  

Nice.  Only been once, last fall, since they reopened.  Bass bite was tougher than I expected, but also did ok. What surprised me was the quantity and quality of the perch.  Biggest I've caught while bass fishing south of Wisconsin. 

11 hours ago, TOXIC said:

Pickerel pull hard.

 

Agree. I've caught some five-plus pounders and I could happily catch those all day. It's the two-pounders that go bonkers in my little canoe that are no fun. You have a heckuva pretty boat.

2 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

You have a heckuva pretty boat.

While I agree, that is not my boat.  It’s my fishing partners.  My boat is a hoopty compared to his.  It’s his boat pulled by my truck when we go on our cross country trips.  We are getting ready for Lake St Clair next month and we just got back from Headwaters in Florida in February.  While I do have power poles and a Ghost trolling motor with spot lock, I have much older electronics and my rig is used for my trips to Wisconsin and our local trips to lakes and rivers.  We took his because there’s no way my lead acid batteries would have lasted all day or at least we weren’t willing to risk it.  😂 Pic is my boat.  

Pickerel are usually my skunk savers around here. There is always a hungry one around (they are all hungry).  They do tear up lures though.  I don’t get bite offs, but anything soft plastic won’t make a second fish, soft plastic trailers on a spinnerbait of buzzbait are just toast, and spinnerbait components just get whacked especially wire arms opening and skirt bands getting shredded.

 

what water temps were you seeing?  We were hitting 51-53 2 weeks ago but it cooled off.  Today on the big cold deep lake it was 46-47 most everywhere.  The little stuff should hit at least mid 50’s by the end of this week though.

@casts_by_fly water temps were 56-62.  Heading to the Rappahonock River this Sunday for our first trip of the season.  

I wish we had pickerel ! Or pike….. or bowfin…. Love the toothy critters 

 

it is somewhat odd these fish exist all over the eastern US but not here 

You are more than welcome to ours.  

 

Hate losing baits to the hammer-handles, and having to re-tie after every 10" snot-rocket.  

  The ones big enough to reward with a reasonable fight are few and far between

8 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Love the toothy critters.

 

Fine. I just mailed you this. Open the crate right away as it'll be hungry. Real hungry.

 

@Swamp Girl, I like dinosaurs