bass
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I had not taken a solo trip since April so when the opportunity came up to get out the Hobie I really wanted to make sure I had a good day.
I got to Cedaroak on Sunday at about 6:40 and was fishing by 7:00. Looked like the perfect topwater morning, humid, cloudy, misting, slight breeze.
I was so stoked to be out fishing! I tied on my trusty baby torpedo and started working near the launch. Every couple of minutes a fish would
splash somewhere in the area getting me even more excited.
After 1/2 hour without a hit the stoke meter was starting to drop a bit. No problem I thought, maybe something quieter so I put on a zara puppy and
started walking the dog. After about 20 minutes it was clear that this was not the choice either. So I switched again. This time I put on a Sebile
magic swimmer that I picked up out of the bargain bit at Fisherman's sidewalk sale. It looked good in the water so I was pretty pumped figuring that
something near the surface but not on it must be the key. Half an hour later I think I understand why that bait was in the bargain bin
Even in marked
down for clearance it was the most expensive lure I have ever bought.
Next I try burning a spinnerbait, no love. Crankbait, no love. Now I have been at the river for about 2.5 hours with nothing to show. I think about
what I have tried and I am trying to think of something different. So, even though the water was looking pretty clear I decided to go with something
loud. I pick up an ancient baby bass colored rattle trap and tie it on without feeling much hope, but I just can't leave an area where the fish are
continuing to break the surface while clearly feeding.
Second cast with the rattle trap and I feel a strong thump, probably just a log or rock. Third cast, thump, fish on! It was only a foot long bass, but it
felt so awesome to catch a fish after trying so hard. Ten minutes later I catch another foot long and I am starting to feel pretty dang good. So
I move over to where I know there are lots of logs and stuff on the bottom and start working that area. Bam, this is a better fish, woo hoo!
No monster, but a respectable 2lb 7oz - it was the first decent bass I had caught in 3 months, don't judge me for weighing it
Maybe I should not have weighed that fish, because right after the fish activity seemed to die down and I could not get another bite in that area.
I kept tossing the rattle trap for about an hour without a hit as I tried several different areas. Finally, I realized that sticking with that bait was
probably not a good idea (kind of slow sometimes). So I came up to what looked like a good spot and shared some similarity to the first spot.
I started off using a deep diving crankbait thinking that maybe the fish were a bit deeper now. That seemed to do the job. I made 3 passes over the
spot and picked up 3 fish in the 1.5lb range.
Two more passes without a hit, but I was positive that there still must be fish there so I made another pass with a drop shot. I picked up two fish on that
pass. It took two more passes to pick up a third and then no more action on several more passes. Still pretty stoked about picking up 6 fish off of one spot.
I spent the rest of the day moving and fishing, picking up 5 more fish but never more than one fish off of any spot. Finally, well the
fishing just sort of, you know, died.
So, I have had a great summer taking my son out panfishing, but every once in a while it is nice to get out there for some me time.
I got to Cedaroak on Sunday at about 6:40 and was fishing by 7:00. Looked like the perfect topwater morning, humid, cloudy, misting, slight breeze.
I was so stoked to be out fishing! I tied on my trusty baby torpedo and started working near the launch. Every couple of minutes a fish would
splash somewhere in the area getting me even more excited.
After 1/2 hour without a hit the stoke meter was starting to drop a bit. No problem I thought, maybe something quieter so I put on a zara puppy and
started walking the dog. After about 20 minutes it was clear that this was not the choice either. So I switched again. This time I put on a Sebile
magic swimmer that I picked up out of the bargain bit at Fisherman's sidewalk sale. It looked good in the water so I was pretty pumped figuring that
something near the surface but not on it must be the key. Half an hour later I think I understand why that bait was in the bargain bin
Even in marked down for clearance it was the most expensive lure I have ever bought.
Next I try burning a spinnerbait, no love. Crankbait, no love. Now I have been at the river for about 2.5 hours with nothing to show. I think about
what I have tried and I am trying to think of something different. So, even though the water was looking pretty clear I decided to go with something
loud. I pick up an ancient baby bass colored rattle trap and tie it on without feeling much hope, but I just can't leave an area where the fish are
continuing to break the surface while clearly feeding.
Second cast with the rattle trap and I feel a strong thump, probably just a log or rock. Third cast, thump, fish on! It was only a foot long bass, but it
felt so awesome to catch a fish after trying so hard. Ten minutes later I catch another foot long and I am starting to feel pretty dang good. So
I move over to where I know there are lots of logs and stuff on the bottom and start working that area. Bam, this is a better fish, woo hoo!
No monster, but a respectable 2lb 7oz - it was the first decent bass I had caught in 3 months, don't judge me for weighing it
Maybe I should not have weighed that fish, because right after the fish activity seemed to die down and I could not get another bite in that area.
I kept tossing the rattle trap for about an hour without a hit as I tried several different areas. Finally, I realized that sticking with that bait was
probably not a good idea (kind of slow sometimes). So I came up to what looked like a good spot and shared some similarity to the first spot.
I started off using a deep diving crankbait thinking that maybe the fish were a bit deeper now. That seemed to do the job. I made 3 passes over the
spot and picked up 3 fish in the 1.5lb range.
Two more passes without a hit, but I was positive that there still must be fish there so I made another pass with a drop shot. I picked up two fish on that
pass. It took two more passes to pick up a third and then no more action on several more passes. Still pretty stoked about picking up 6 fish off of one spot.
I spent the rest of the day moving and fishing, picking up 5 more fish but never more than one fish off of any spot. Finally, well the
fishing just sort of, you know, died.
So, I have had a great summer taking my son out panfishing, but every once in a while it is nice to get out there for some me time.
