09-23-2015, 06:23 PM
A pretty nice day yesterday. Got to the north ramp at 6:50 AM, just enough light to see to get the boat ready to launch, use the restroom, and sip some fresh coffee. Air temp at the ramp 64 deg. water temp. 60 deg. almost no wind. Boat in the water and launched at 7:00 AM. Water depth at the bottom of ramp, 2.5 ft. around the edges of the one west side dock 4 to 5 ft. middle of channel heading out 5 to 7 ft. at the outlet "hump" 4.5 ft. from there to the No Wake Buoy 6 to 7 ft. past the buoy 9 ft. and on out into main body depending where, 9 ft. to 12-13 ft. Was heading south down the middle by 7:15 AM and the only boat that I could see on the lake. Due the water clarity (there is none [:/] ) didn't bother trying to drag any lures. Went down to the far east pocket of Freeway Bay, water calm enough I just shut down and drifted. One line out with mussel meat, one with night crawler. Several pop and drops, inquisitive nibbles, and one or two "slurp and spit" (I think I may have nailed that culprit a bit later). Continued moving slowly west along south wall, out in 8 ft. of water. Got out to my recent favorite spot, tossed the anchor, put up my sun top, opened my camp chair and settled back to just drown bait and relax a few hours. Well, didn't happen that way. Barely got comfy, and one rod drag starts screaming like only a Wiper can make it sing. Not huge, but a good heart starter fight.
[inline 0920_Wiper_#1_CPR.jpg]
Netted, photo'd and released, standing near front of the boat, heard the drag scream out on the other pole, then a strange cracking noise [shocked] and I see my rod holder actually ripping up off the deck plate it was mounted to and heading airborne and overboard. NO WAY, caught it in almost mid air as I dived over my seat. Got the drag set and "Fight ON!!" Now I didn't weigh or measure that brute, but I would guess at the 12 to 15 lb. range, fat but not real long. A Carp I wish some good bow hunter had collected before it tried to take my boat apart. [:/]
[inline 0937_Carp_broke.jpg]
[inline 0937_CARP#1.jpg]
Then about every 20 minutes, another Wiper would come along and chomp down on the mussel line. The crawler line got several small kitties, still in their spots that were released right at the boat gunwale and not photo'd, Including one the ugliest, most beat up male cat I have ever seen. He was almost all head, very little body, and battle scars all over. He only had the hook thru one whisker, so a quick twist and he was loose again. Tried a slow troll back to the marina switching out lures every 10 to 15 min. No Joy. But enjoyed the day anyway. Air temp at 3:10 PM when I recovered the boat to the trailer 83 deg. water temp in the marina, 74 deg.
[signature]
[inline 0920_Wiper_#1_CPR.jpg]
Netted, photo'd and released, standing near front of the boat, heard the drag scream out on the other pole, then a strange cracking noise [shocked] and I see my rod holder actually ripping up off the deck plate it was mounted to and heading airborne and overboard. NO WAY, caught it in almost mid air as I dived over my seat. Got the drag set and "Fight ON!!" Now I didn't weigh or measure that brute, but I would guess at the 12 to 15 lb. range, fat but not real long. A Carp I wish some good bow hunter had collected before it tried to take my boat apart. [:/]
[inline 0937_Carp_broke.jpg]
[inline 0937_CARP#1.jpg]
Then about every 20 minutes, another Wiper would come along and chomp down on the mussel line. The crawler line got several small kitties, still in their spots that were released right at the boat gunwale and not photo'd, Including one the ugliest, most beat up male cat I have ever seen. He was almost all head, very little body, and battle scars all over. He only had the hook thru one whisker, so a quick twist and he was loose again. Tried a slow troll back to the marina switching out lures every 10 to 15 min. No Joy. But enjoyed the day anyway. Air temp at 3:10 PM when I recovered the boat to the trailer 83 deg. water temp in the marina, 74 deg.
[signature]
"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
Or so it says on my license plate holder
Or so it says on my license plate holder
