Dinner from Starvation

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Hit Bunny Gulch with LloydE this morning. Launched into a light NW breeze about 7 AM. Air temp 50 and water temp about 65. Starting to drop. The water level has also dropped about 4 vertical feet in the two weeks since we were last there.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Our sonars were not working well. Neither one showed many fish...at any depth. So, we split up and went different directions and fished different depths with different lures. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]No schools of perch anywhere, but I did pick up a few strays at about 28 to 30 feet deep on the jigs I was fishing for walleyes. Lloyd announced on the walkie talkie that he was "enjoying" similar lack of action. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]About 9:30 Lloyd scored a couple of small walleyes fairly close together. We had hope. Not long afterward I got my first...and smallest...at about 13 inches. Lost a couple of larger ones in the same area. Then, nothing for awhile.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I finally picked up the rod with the custom painted tube jig that had caught me several walleyes on our last trip. Still worked. I used that "pale perch" painted pearl tube on a 3/16 oz. head to catch several decent perch and three more walleyes...16", 17" and 19". Dinner.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Oh yeah, I also got a 14" smallie on that tube. Only that smallie was so deep and fat it looked like a bluegill on steroids (see pics).[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Lloyd had a pretty fair day. He did not get a limit of walleyes, like he did on our last trip, but he got six. His two largest were the same size as my two largest...right on the button...17" and 19". But, his 19 incher had a big ol' crawdad in its gut when we filleted it (see pic). That settles the argument about whether 'eyes eat 'dads.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Only light breezes all morning. The "bite" shut off about 11:30 so we kicked in to get the fish filleted and head down the road for an early arrival. Good timing. Just as we were getting ready to boogie a small caravan of trailers, motor homes and boats started pulling into the area where we had launched. Getting an early start on a holiday weekend. Glad I won't be there to watch them.[/#0000ff]
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[Bluegillman]

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=39967"][#63626b]PREDATOR CONTROL.jpg[/#63626b][/url]
[#0000ff]LloydE has those "green pants" can u tell me more about them?. I see he has gym shoes on and it seems like that part is an opening?[/#0000ff]
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[Majja]

Hey boys it looks like it was a great day. I am glad to hear you finally found a few willing dinner guests. Didnt some one tell that bluegill it was not Halloween yet. Man that is a fat smallie. Oh I am sorry Tubularly challenged for those P.C. folks.

Have a good one
Majja
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[SHigSpeed]

[quote Bluegillman][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=39967"][#63626b]PREDATOR CONTROL.jpg[/#63626b][/url]
[#0000ff]LloydE has those "green pants" can u tell me more about them?. I see he has gym shoes on and it seems like that part is an opening?[/#0000ff][/quote]

Those are stocking foot waders. There are "feeties" built into the waders made from neoprene or vinyl that fit into the shoes but are waterproof.

_SHig
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[TubeDude]

[quote Majja]Didnt some one tell that bluegill it was not Halloween yet. Man that is a fat smallie. Oh I am sorry Tubularly challenged for those P.C. folks. Majja[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Hey, we are fishermen here...and float tube fishermen. "PC" is not a requirement. PVC...yes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That smallie was PHAT.[/#0000ff]
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[smallmouth89]

[quote TubeDude][quote Majja]Didnt some one tell that bluegill it was not Halloween yet. Man that is a fat smallie. Oh I am sorry Tubularly challenged for those P.C. folks. Majja[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Hey, we are fishermen here...and float tube fishermen. "PC" is not a requirement. PVC...yes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That smallie was PHAT.[/#0000ff][/quote]

Great smallmouth! Excellent pictorial, Pat.

God Bless,
Don
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I thought that bad boy might get your attention.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Glad you liked the report.[/#0000ff]
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[smallmouth89]

[quote TubeDude][cool][#0000ff]I thought that bad boy might get your attention.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Glad you liked the report.[/#0000ff][/quote]

I'm also impressed by the finish on that jighead.

God Bless,
Don
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks. It is hard to get the true color and the depth of that paintjob in a picture. I will send you some samples.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That "pale perch" color combo has been a number one producer...all waters and all species...since I started experimenting with it a couple of years ago. It works best where perch fry are a major part of the forage for the predators, but works equally well in waters where there are no perch. I think it is due to several "triggers" incorporated into the design.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]1. Horizontal color lines...top and bottom.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]2. Vertical bars...simulating segmentation too.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]3. Contrasting colors...improving visibility.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]4. Vivid eye...for predators to zoom in on.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]5. Glitter...for added flash.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=377854#p377854"]HERE IS A LINK[/url] to the "recipe" I posted some time back on the Lure Making board. I now use "bright green" for the back and bars but almost any color green...or black or brown...seem to work well also. However, that bright green, when enhanced with the chartreuse glitter, almost glows underwater.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you look back through some other trip posts I have made you will see examples of many different types of lures into which I have incorporated the pale perch color scheme. Works for me.[/#0000ff]
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[zonker]

Great writeup. Great pics. Man that was a deep bodied smallmouth!

Glad to see you having great success.

z~
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks Z.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Are you getting on the water at all?[/#0000ff]
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[zonker]

[quote TubeDude][cool][#0000ff]Thanks Z.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Are you getting on the water at all?[/#0000ff][/quote]

Not for some time now. A combination of things, none of which would make good copy. I hope to see things changs soon, though.

z~
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Well, your past participation and great reports have earned you a permanant position of respect on this forum. You are welcome to drop in anytime.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I personally wish you well in your "non-fishing" activities and hope you are ultimately able to create more time to create some new fishing reports.[/#0000ff]
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