Wisconsin PRE-SPAWN FATTY

FAT, FAT, FAT - PRESPAWN YETTI-BASS

Bursting!

Well, before I went back to my main strategy I was fishing a swim-bait in some water that obviously feeds some prime spawning ground.  With the water temp anywhere from 59 to 63 degrees, I was hoping to get some pre-spawn fish.  My third cast I thought I had a northern, or big walleye on when this plump bass emerged, probably on its way in to drop those eggs.  I thought that it was going to be much longer because of its size, but I would guess this fish come close to the 5 lb mark!  I caught three fish on the swim-bait, before I targeted shallower water.  It was a fabulous day on the water.  I caught at least 34 bass today, and there were only three little ones.  Most of the fish were between 15 1/2 to 17 1/4, with pictures of the two largest.  The day before we fished the lake, and I caught about 17 fish in a few hours.  It was my first time on this lake this weekend, and it definitely will not be the last.  The water temp went up from yesterday even though the the air temp was down on this overcast day.  It did clear up briefly towards the end of the outing, and that is when the fishing started to slow down.

Second biggest today...

Shallow Spring Fishing - Prespawn bass

8 incher

17 incher

very fat 18 incher

Three nice surprises helped me leave the lake with a smile tonight.  At 57 degrees, some fish are up shallow, and it appears that the two larger bass are pre-spawn fish with extra chunk.  Fishing small plastics for Pannies, and crappies seem to attract some early season bass on this local lake.  Floating around in my float tube, I can see there are a few beds that are being made.  I wasn't able to find the crappies today, but I was happy with my catch!

Fat 19  3/4 incher

AL LINDNER!

Al Lindner and Me at Thorne Brothers in Blaine

I headed over to Thorne Brothers today because I new that a legendary angler would be there.  I caught  Al in the parking lot, after he gave a little boy a cheese curd.  He allowed me to get a picture with him, and I offered him some encouraging words about how I enjoy how he closes each of his fishing shows with a spiritual help segment.  It took everything in me not to ask him a million questions.  Later,  I was speaking with some other anglers about the Alabama rig, when Al came up and joined our conversation.  It might sound silly, but the guy is a class-act, teacher, and giving person.  I was so excited I went home to blog about it.   Thanks Al, and maybe some day I will see you on the water!

Forked!!!

Fatty

It was a disappointing Lake Fork Trip.  Wind, and bad luck seemed to be the theme, with hit or miss fishing, but more missing.  It wasn't just our group either.  I saw a lot of boats, and I saw more fish caught in our boat then all of the other boats combined!  There are a lot of really seasoned fisherman that don't seem to have the formula for Florida-strained bass when the weather turns for the worse.  We tried just about everything you could.  Saw fish near beds, that didn't want to bite.  Snagged, near fish holding spots.  With how much lake, you would think that there would be enough room for everyone, every spot that might hold fish, had a Ranger, Skeeter, Legend, Bass-Cat that was scratching their head trying to figure it out.  If it could go wrong, it happened.  I nearly fell out of the boat once.  Clinging to the trolling motor, and getting pulled in by my britches!   Two minutes later, the guys spotted a big gator in the water.  Glad we got home in one piece.

5.2 lb

Open Water fishing

Probably 2 lb's

Small bait - small bass

In Minnesota fishing for panfish is our only option on most water in March.  When you fish for panfish you catch little bass.  Although the bass on the left was a nice surprise, nice and chunky.  It was really fun to be on the water again in the float tube.  I am itching to get out there again, but am even more excited for my April trip to Lake Fork Texas to finally get after some Florida strain bass!  I splurged and purchased a Quantum PT tour high-speed baitcaster, and GLoomis GL2 jig and worm rod.  Can't wait to cast it on Lake Fork!

Smallmouth making my arms sore!

 There were a lot of fish caught today.  Seriously, I think that there may have been 80 plus fish caught in a few hours.  Probably 3 fish that around 16", many fish over 19"!  A sixty degree day in November with the fish biting like that, tough to top.  Winter is coming...  

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Biggest of the day Tall, Fat  20" and then some

Wisconsin River Fishing

19 er

This chunky football was caught in Wisconsin this past Sunday trolling for Walleyes.  It seemed every Smallie I caught, (maybe 7 in all)  was just laying on the bottom.  I did have one Wally on, but he came off at the surface.  I have been looking forward to some pumpkin-seed crusted Walleye too, but no such luck this time.