Lincoln stuff

[TubeDude]

So... met TD at the Lincoln launch at 7:00 this morning. I agreed to the meet up with him even though I could not fish today because of some life issues. He had offered me a sample pack of his latest flig creations in exchange for additional mentoring on ketchin’ cats. We exchanged the obligatory elbow bump and a few curmudgeonly pleasantries as he prepped to launch. I welcomed a few new super fligs to my collection. Big thanks.

I had an hour or so before I had to be back home so I agreed to watch him with my spotting scope from the road and provide helpful instruction and advice via radio. I sure wanted to be out there on the water with him and it was tough having to be spectator. Soon!

I watched /listened to him catch a couple of minor cats while I continued to observe his technique and offer tidbits of piscatorial tutelage. Right away I noticed his casting was deficient in that he consistently used too much wrist action and also had a tendency to elevate his elbow which caused most of his casts to be off course and short. I made many suggestions as he fished; slower speed, bigger hook, different flig, bigger white bass chunk, hook through the gill plate on minnows, basic stuff like that. He responded favorably with a raised thumbs-up gesture... I think it was a thumb?? Anyway, the day turned out to be rather pleasant and I am happy to report that TD is a quick study type and his cat ketchin’ skills are improving. Still, we need more time together to really help him hone his skills. We agreed on another learning session in my boat at a yet to be determined date.

Watch for his version of today’s venture and Thanks Pat, I enjoyed our short visit.

Alright, alright.  Yeah, it was good seeing ya again after a long winter...and the elbow bump was especially gratifying.  Almost turned around and didn't make it during a whiteout blizzard between Point of the Mountain and Pleasant Grove.  Glad I stuck it out.  Left the weather behind as I headed west to Lincoln Beach.  Roads dry and temperatue a blistering 35 at launch.  Water temp inside the harbor was 48 at launch but outside it was down to 47.

As you observed, I started off trying the shallow cove to the south of the south dike.  Nada, zip, zilch.  Tried plastics for white bass and/or walleye.  Nary a sniff.  Motored toward Benjamin Slough making big S turns...watching sonar.  Saw a few minor bottom bumps in 4-5 feet of water.  Just as I was shutting down to start fishing I hear your golden voice on the radio.  You don't know how much it means to me that you have taken on the onerous chore of mentoring me.  And that "hand signal"?  You can believe it was a thumbs up...if ya wanna. 

After your words of encouragement and advice I promptly caught two cats...one on minnow and the other on a fire tiger flig with white bass attached.  Couldn't have done it without ya.  But I didn't get any more action until after you left.  Then the kitties came out to play.  I went through over a dozen chub minnows and about a half dozen baby white bass left over from last year.  Only missed a couple of bites so almost every bait accounted for a fish.  I'll conservatively say about 15.

No contest entries today, but much fun and lots of tugs.  Bent my sticks and stretched my string.  The water is still cold at 47 to 48 degrees, but the cats are warming up and getting active.  Most of the hits were pretty hard and the fish all fought well.  I caught and bump-boarded a couple of 2-footers...as my largest of the day.  Most were right about 22 to 23 inches.

My earliest fish came from the mid 4 foot depth range.  Later they moved out to the mid 5' range.  I fished two rods.  One was an open bail (with line clip) with a whole 5-6" chub minnow.  The other was my new Ugly Stick cat rod with a fire tiger flig and either a half or whole white bass.  Bites were about 50-50 during the time I fished both.  I periodically switched back to pitching plastic...but never caught anything on it.

It had been nice all morning.  Glass at times and never more than a light "fishing ripple" from the east or south.  But about 11 o'clock the north breeze kicked up and I couldn't buy a bite on my last two baits for the last half hour before I bagged it and headed for the ramp.

First good day of cat-catchin' this year.  Hope we have many more.  Might even agree to climb in the boat with you for some advanced training.  I need all I can get.
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