This evening was the best evening for me to get out on the kayak and get some bass on the bump board!
This started miserably. It was raining steadily, windy. I left my fish finder in the truck and just paddled along the bank to the north, then along the dam. Nothing. I was throwing a chatterbait and ned rig. Had a lot of snags due to all the timber.
I went all around the point at the west end of the dam and paddled back to the boat ramp to grab my fish finder. I wired it up and headed north again. I haven’t done much actual “finding fish” with the electronics, but I really like seeing water temp, depth, and any structure/vegetation under me.
I paddled back in a cove that was shielded from the wind a bit and had a good mix of things. There was standing timber, some vegetation, and some lay downs all in a flat that was 2′ – 5′ deep. Again, I didn’t see anything on the graph, but the conditions made me think that fish would be moving up to spawn there.
I threw the jig out between two broken off trees and started hopping it along the bottom. After a few feet of dragging there were some distinct taps on the line and I pulled back and started reeling. I pulled the fish about 8 feet when I felt the line get light. She shook the lure out.
I threw that same jig a couple times then grabbed my spinning rod with a ned rig. I was hoping that fish was still in a biting mood but was just ignore the thing that stuck her earlier.
Two casts in and I get a bite! I reel in a little 11.5″ bass and get him on the bump board. This is my first tournament bass! Finally!
I stuck to that ned rig pattern and started fanning around the area. The next bite the fish went running! The drag on my reel was ringing and I was sure I had a hog on the line. Once I got it reeled in it was no hog, but she was a respectable 14″
I continued catching 8-12″ fish. I caught 6 total, but only submitted the first 3 for the tournament.
Fish #4 was a total dink. While I was fumbling with the board, phone, fish, etc … I dropped my freakin’ rod overboard … again! It’s one of my favorite rods too. Luckily, it was snagged around a strap on my kayak and I was able to retrieve it. I need to get a tether for my fish grips so I can hold the fish in the water while I get all the other stuff situated to take the photos.
Lake Remembrance
- Water Temp: 58 – 62 F
- Clarity: Clear to stained, 1-2′ visibility
- Air Temp: 50 – 53 F
- Conditions: Rainy, windy, then overcast and calm
- Lures:
- White chatterbait with magic shad trailer
- Bluegill football jig with chigger craw trailer
- PB&J TRD on a ned rig