05-04-2009, 07:45 PM
Launched out of Callville at about 4:30am. It was a BEAUTIFUL Sunday morning.
I can't believe how fast the water is dropping. Some islands (that were islands last week) are already attached to land. Callvilles' launch ramp isn't looking like it will last much longer.
I decided to do some bait-fishing, so I got some frozen herring (which is way too fu*kin expensive, at $10 a pack at Laker Plaza. I don't pay that much per pound for salmon fillets at the store) and some chovies. The thing is, I fished the herring and chovies side by side, and got hit more with the chovies...
Anyway, I started soakin bait with one pole, and casting a spook around with the other.
Got this guy pretty early-
[inline "fishing may 09 002.jpg"]
After that, I focused on the spook for a few, cause the bait wasn't getting hit. On one cast, my spook was quietly zig-zagging across calm water when a big wake appeared behind it. There was something serious following it. I kept the retrive steady, and he followed close enough to shore for me to get a look- It was a HUGE smallmouth!!! It followed for about 10 feet before it hit, and I was so anxious and ready for the strike, that I fudged it all up and set too early, effectively missing what could have been my biggest smallmouth yet. DAMN. -
As I recover from the profanity, my bell starts jingling, and I get this guy-
[inline "fishing may 09 005.jpg"]
A nice one for sure. I rebait, recast, and get back to working the Zara Puppy. A few casts later produced this beauty-
[inline "fishing may 09 003.jpg"]
The spook fishing slowed, and I went to focusing on bait-fishing. I was getting hit constantly by dinks, but I was fishing bigger bait to aim at some big guys, so every time I set the hook, I came up empty. I decided I just wanted to catch some fish, so I sized down on the rod, hook and bait, and started getting fish like this- in the 1lb class
[inline "fishing may 09 007.jpg"]
So I downsize on the gear, and what happens? I get hit by something BIG. Starts peeling line off my bass rig, and about 2 minutes in to the give and take -SNAP! DAMN AGAIN.
I re-tie, re-bait, and go at it. Again, Big hit, line peels off my spool, and SNAP!
TWO FISH IN A ROW BROKE ME OFF!!!!!!
I was gettin mad. I tore the line off that rig, respooled on the water, and kept fishing. I dont even think the line needed to be replaced, but I had to do something to make me feel better.
From there, It was steady action on small stripers, with no more big mofos. This guy joined the party-
[inline "fishing may 09 006.jpg"]
All in all I got 12 about a pound, one bigger guy, the smallmouth, and the cat.
I should have had an epic day, but things were not working in my favor; some I messed up, some things were out of my control, I guess. All in all, a fun day on the water, despite all the frustrations. Off the water by noon.
[signature]
I can't believe how fast the water is dropping. Some islands (that were islands last week) are already attached to land. Callvilles' launch ramp isn't looking like it will last much longer.
I decided to do some bait-fishing, so I got some frozen herring (which is way too fu*kin expensive, at $10 a pack at Laker Plaza. I don't pay that much per pound for salmon fillets at the store) and some chovies. The thing is, I fished the herring and chovies side by side, and got hit more with the chovies...
Anyway, I started soakin bait with one pole, and casting a spook around with the other.
Got this guy pretty early-
[inline "fishing may 09 002.jpg"]
After that, I focused on the spook for a few, cause the bait wasn't getting hit. On one cast, my spook was quietly zig-zagging across calm water when a big wake appeared behind it. There was something serious following it. I kept the retrive steady, and he followed close enough to shore for me to get a look- It was a HUGE smallmouth!!! It followed for about 10 feet before it hit, and I was so anxious and ready for the strike, that I fudged it all up and set too early, effectively missing what could have been my biggest smallmouth yet. DAMN. -
As I recover from the profanity, my bell starts jingling, and I get this guy-
[inline "fishing may 09 005.jpg"]
A nice one for sure. I rebait, recast, and get back to working the Zara Puppy. A few casts later produced this beauty-
[inline "fishing may 09 003.jpg"]
The spook fishing slowed, and I went to focusing on bait-fishing. I was getting hit constantly by dinks, but I was fishing bigger bait to aim at some big guys, so every time I set the hook, I came up empty. I decided I just wanted to catch some fish, so I sized down on the rod, hook and bait, and started getting fish like this- in the 1lb class
[inline "fishing may 09 007.jpg"]
So I downsize on the gear, and what happens? I get hit by something BIG. Starts peeling line off my bass rig, and about 2 minutes in to the give and take -SNAP! DAMN AGAIN.
I re-tie, re-bait, and go at it. Again, Big hit, line peels off my spool, and SNAP!
TWO FISH IN A ROW BROKE ME OFF!!!!!!
I was gettin mad. I tore the line off that rig, respooled on the water, and kept fishing. I dont even think the line needed to be replaced, but I had to do something to make me feel better.
From there, It was steady action on small stripers, with no more big mofos. This guy joined the party-
[inline "fishing may 09 006.jpg"]
All in all I got 12 about a pound, one bigger guy, the smallmouth, and the cat.
I should have had an epic day, but things were not working in my favor; some I messed up, some things were out of my control, I guess. All in all, a fun day on the water, despite all the frustrations. Off the water by noon.
[signature]