Rochelle & her husband Doug joined me this morning for a half day of fishing. We met at 7:30 and headed out in the fog! Visibility was good enough to get where we needed, but it got thicker afterwards. At one point it became so thick that we couldn’t see a thing! We fished this area and although I was marking plenty of good fish on the bottom, they didn’t seem to want to eat. The light N/E wind wasn’t helping either as our drifts were terrible. It felt like we were anchored! They actually had to cast the rigs instead of the usual drifting technique, due to no movement. A couple of small fish were landed but I needed to make a drastic change if we were going to catch better fish. I decided to use the kicker and slow idle over the schools having them toss behind as we were still moving. Sort of like a trolling drift! It obviously worked because immediately Doug landed a nice high end keeper and we had our first pic of the day! It was released and they went right back in, with them missing several more strikes on the hookset. I decided to make a move as we had been over these fish for quite a while, unsuccessfully.

The next area wasn’t looking too good as I was barely marking anything. They dropped in and I slowly moved them down current with the aid of the small engine, looking for fish. When I did see something, Doug was immediately rewarded with a nice smallie. A great fight and several jumps later, it was in the net, ready for the photo shoot. We continued the same technique after the release and Rochelle managed another bass, slightly smaller. Unfortunately this was all they were going to get here and I decided to move back to where we had begun.

Weeds were floating all over the surface now, making for difficult fishing and the winds had increased slightly from the east when we arrived. Add to that the insane amount of dog pecker knats and the conditions had gotten worse! I tried using the same presentation but only a few small fish were landed. I decided to try another technique and was rewarded on the first cast with a jig. Time for a change up! I pulled out a couple of other rods and coached them on how to fish the baits. Doug caught one and missed several strikes and Rochelle landed a small walleye. We had covered the area now for almost an hour and this was all we had to show for our efforts. Time to pack up and head to another area to finish our day!

I stopped on a spot that usually moves me at about 1 knot but soon found out that it was terrible here as well. I tried drifting it and saw that we were being moved sideways and at 0.3 mph. I showed them how to drop shot vertically and immediately Rochelle had a nice smallie on the line. Too bad it didn’t stayed pinned when it went into the air and threw the hook! At least I knew there were fish here and that it was fishable! Doug was fending about the same as he was missing fish too. I didn’t like the speed and direction we were going so I decided to move the boat along with the aid of the electric motor, trying to remain vertical. They were still having difficulties keeping fish on and dropping almost every one they hooked. At one point, Rochelle hooked into a monster smallie and I thought she finally had a picture fish. It jumped and actually stayed on the hook which was a good thing! I turned to get the net and before I could return, I heard a terrible snap. The fish had gone under the boat, around the electric motor and broke the leader, leaving her heartbroken. Not to cry over spilled milk, I tied on a new rig and we made a couple more unsuccessful drifts, with only missed fish. By 12:30 we were done!

Although this day didn’t turn out like I expected, plenty of chances were had. The conditions made for tough fishing and not being use to these techniques made it even more difficult. Our numbers were definitely down today and could have been much better if the fish stayed on. Despite all of this, Doug & Rochelle still had a great time out on the water. Half days like these always make me wish we had more time and I’m sure that if it had been a whole day, we could have rebounded with a good afternoon bite. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to get even the next time out!

As I only had an afternoon booking today, I decided to head out this morning with Christiane. It would be her first time this season! We didn’t rush to get on the water and launched around 8:30, heading straight to a new area to fish. I had been wanting to check several places, but needed my time to get it done. I never use clients time to explore! I set her up with a drop shot rig and not long after, she missed her first fish. Soon after though she locked up on a nice smallie and was thrilled to have it too. This would be the first fish she had fought all season and it would also make for a great pic. I netted her catch and she held it for a few pictures before being released. Back at it, she landed a couple more before we moved to another area nearby.

This place also hadn’t been touched all season and in a short period while covering it, we only landed a few small fish. We quickly moved to another spot to check it out too!

I decided to slide up shallow and search for schooling bass over flats with blades. We both tossed them in order to cover water, hoping for a few crushing strikes. I did have one that tried to rip the rod from my hands but the line snapped at the bait and I was left with a slack line. None too happy I retied another and we resumed our search once again. A little further I had another taker and this one stayed pinned! A chunky bass, but he was alone! I almost expected to see several others when I hooked up, but he was solo. I had another explosion on the lure and saw one other fish before I slid into an area I was sure should have some fish.

Before we started casting, I decided to text my client for the afternoon to see how much time we had left to fish. As expected, he said that he wouldn’t be able to make it! Not surprising but a little disappointing! We would be able to continue fishing as I had nowhere else to be, anymore! Back to the task at hand, fishing!

Christiane was immediately crushed on her blade bait and it was a good one once again. Time for another pic before a release and hopes were high for more! We covered the area and managed to get a few more smaller ones and several walleye as well. Looks like we’re having fish for dinner! Along with plenty of bites, there were also some big eyes and several more quality smallies landed. Christiane caught one of her better ones on a drop shot while I was unhooking an over sized walleye. This told me that there were plenty of fish in this area to be caught. We stuck it out for a little longer before the bugs and heat just got the better of us and we called it a day. That and a damn bass boat that just had to check us out! This a hole idled a long way over to see what we were fishing and got close enough to be able to blindly punch in a waypoint for future fishing. I freaking hate these guys that think it’s alright to get everything for free! This is the main reason why I don’t tournament fish anymore! New generation of tournament fishermen, wow! We waited until he was gone and then headed back to take out.

Being the weekend and an absolutely beautiful summer day, I expected the worse at the dock. Fortunately, although bad, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been and I was able to take out quickly. We had a great time on the water landing loads of fish and Christiane finally got out! Except for the incident on the water, it was a perfect day. We had a mostly relaxing time and caught many fish in the process. Oh yeah and nobody got hurt!

September 15th 2017

I hit the water this morning with Bernard (aka Vern) for a mix of fish today. We began on smallies, moved to walleye and ended the day with a giant dinosaur that proved to be his PB by far!

Although we had a light wind, it was enough to be a pain in the butt as it was blowing from the N/E. Drifting over flats proved to be difficult and it even seemed like we were anchored at times. We had to switch up presentations often in order to get bit. Plenty of fish were landed in the several hours we remained here. After many big walleye and bass, I eventually pulled the plug and headed to another place to fish.

We arrived on a main river point and were casting drop shot rigs into the current for our strikes. The lack of flow wasn’t great and hits were few & far between. Several missed fish and a couple of walleye later, we pulled the plug on this spot too, as the fish weren’t cooperating.

By now the sun was high and it was getting quite hot with the lack of wind but I thought I’d give the “Big Dogs” a try. We headed to an area that I knew would be holding some giants. I wasn’t looking for numbers, only size and would be happy with just one bite! I raised the roof for some shade and enjoyed the drop in temperature while anchored. Well, after a couple of moves, we finally got our wish. I reared back into dead weight on the bite and immediately passed the rod to Vern. I knew when I had set on her that it was going to be a good one as it never moved! The battle lasted about 15 minutes with this thing remaining on the bottom almost the entire time. Well except for one spectacular leap that was about two feet off the side of the boat. It damn near scared the crap out of Vern when she landed with a huge splash. It even got the inside of the boat wet! Eventually he brought his catch alongside and I was able to net the monster. Easy part over, hard part about to begin! Now he had to lift it for the pics and it wasn’t going to be easy. With a little help, we managed to get it on his lap while he sat for the pictures. A quick release and away she swam unharmed! I immediately packed everything up and pulled out as we had accomplished what we had come for and it would surely be all downhill after this fish!

I thought we’d stop on a walleye spot to see if we could pick up a few more, but it wasn’t meant to be. Although I was marking plenty on the bottom, that was exactly where they were staying. Twenty minutes later, we decided to call it quits. I fired up the big engine and had issues getting it up on plane when I tried to head back. I experienced this once before but thought the problem had been fixed. One of my coils had crapped out on me and was replaced, fixing the problem completely. We made it back alright but the engine was definitely down on power and would need to be fixed. I made a quick call to the Raisin River Marina on my way home and scheduled an appointment for the following morning.

Jumping ahead to today, motor fixed and running again! They replaced a coil (N/C) & plugs and put me back on the water in less than an hour. No other dealer can provide service like that and on a Saturday as well. Hats off to the Raisin River as their service is the best! I know I’ll never change dealers!

I hit the water this morning with Dan for a half day outing. It was his birthday and I wanted to make sure he started it with a bang! With limited time to fish, I decided to stay fairly close and go for bass & walleye, to maximize his fishing time. We would start out drop shotting and it didn’t take long for him to hook up. I believe it was even his first cast! He was into a nice chunky smallie and loving the way his day was starting! There were even several more fish landed on the same drift with a mix of bass & walleye. I was fishing a small area with a good wind and the drifts were almost perfect. Each time we made a pass, there were fish being caught! I even livewelled a few of the keeper eyes for dinner tonight!

At one point we had to move away from where we were fishing because there was another boat coming straight as us. Huge lake and nowhere else to go I guess! Areas like these are quite difficult to find and I didn’t want to hand it to him on a platter. I just ran to another place much further away. We barely made a half drift and Dan nailed a really nice walleye on a jig’ that turned out to be his big one of the day. Unfortunately it was short lived as that boat was on another collision course with us to see what we were doing. What a pain in the ass! Not another boat for miles and this guy thought he’d just fish with us. I immediately packed up and did a drive by, showing him how pissed I was! I expect this on weekends but not during the week. Absolutely unbelievable!

We ran back to the original area and had to drop shot again due to the increase in wind. It had also swung a little more south and I had to compensate for the new drift direction. We spent about another hour making several passes, all the while catching more fish. Eventually he had to go as he had to be somewhere by noon and we cut it as close as we possibly could.

Despite the relentless and annoying other boat, I still managed to make this a birthday to remember. I can’t think of a better way to spend it than to fish. I know I take advantage of mine each year by enjoying it either in the river or on hard water, ice fishing. I’m sure he would have rather stayed out on the lake, but duty called and he was off to work for the afternoon. At least he got the day started with a bang!

September 11th 2017

Jeff, Nick and his father Denis were with me for sturgeon today. We headed out at 7:00 and set up in an area hoping for a few bites. Although I was marking plenty of fish, they just didn’t seem very hungry and in the first several hours, all we had to show for our efforts was a lousy rock bass!

Late in the morning, things started to turn around and they finally started to bite. The first fish unfortunately stayed pinned for about 5 seconds, before the line went slack. I reset the line and not long after, Jeff was into a nice one. Several jumps and an insane spiraling on the line shortened the length of the battle. The fish had wrapped itself tightly and Jeff reeled it right to the net. I don’t think he had more than 3 minutes fight time! It went insane while in the net after I cut the line and untangled the mess. A few quick pics and back she went no worse for wear!

I was hoping for a rotation and fortunately we got it. Nick fought and landed a smaller one and his dad also brought an even smaller one to net not long after. We had completed what we had come for and now I wanted more! Bigger was next, or so I hoped!

After a few missed strikes, Jeff set into another decent fish that seemed even bigger than his first. It too took to the air and made a couple of spectacular leaps, that made it look even larger. This one gave him a great battle! What I had thought was giant however, was only long. Once in the net I realized that the girth was much smaller than his first and although heavier, it would have been giant if it was as wide. Regardless, still a great fish and an awesome fight!

As we were now getting more bites, I thought we’d stick it out a little longer and see if we could complete another rotation. It didn’t take long and Nick was tight to his second fish after missing a couple of strikes before. Although not a beast, it was still larger than his first one and made for a great fight. His dad wasn’t as lucky however as his second fish was a drum and he wanted no part of that pic. We stayed a little longer to see if we could get him another but it never happened. Six fish but one was a junk fish. Two if you count the rock bass earlier this morning!

With less than an hour remaining in the day, we pulled the plug on the sturgeon and tried for something smaller. Walleye was what we were after and a few of them were landed. Unfortunately only one turned out to be a keeper and was eventually returned back like the others. Nick did manage to catch a decent northern though that made for an interesting fight. We all thought it was a big eye and were a little disappointed when it came to the net.

We had focussed almost all of our attention today on getting sturgeon and managed to have a pretty good day in the process. A number of bites were missed and some decent fish were landed making for a very successful day. Hopefully the next outing will be even better when I head back looking for another giant dinosaur. I know it’s just a matter of time!