YEA BABY!! I got sunburned today!!!

[djkimmel]

Went out non-ice fishing for the first time in 2008 and I got my first sunburn. Not that big a deal - the sunburn part, I mean. All part of being a fair-skinned, blue-eyed redhead. I got burned just a little around the edges despite 2 slathers of 50 sunscreen.

We used to put some big crappie in the boat on this lake when the water was much higher, up in the wood and brush, but the water dropped several feet. There's still some wood, but not in as many areas so the crappie moved on to lilly pads and roots, and up into the cattails.

Several seasons ago, big crappie in the cattails was a blast!! But the water has dropped more and now the cattails may be too shallow? Last year didn't pan out much, but I must have some optimism in me because I go back.

Wouldn't you go back to fish stuff like this?!?


Actually, here is a stretch more like what we've wacked them from before:


You can see some pads just coming up. In fact, they seemed to sprout out of nothing as the day progressed. I was casting to them on the way in to the back when I caught my only crappie of the day. Probably doesn't seem wise to give away the climax of the story already, but it's the truth. Caught this one on a Gulp! maggot and slip bobber from youth pads:


Not huge, but it's a crappie. And that's all she wrote.

But that is not the end of my story. It takes time to get sunburned with a lot of 50 power sunscreen...

I was thinking how nice it would be to slam the metal to a big ole dogfish when I looked down to see one swimming right out from under my boat.

Like a gift! A big slimy, ancient, tooth gift...

A little jumpy though because it started to swim off when I reached for my ever present (in the spring for sure) dogfish wacking lure. But when my dogfish wacking lure hit the water, ole doggy changed its mind and that was all she wrote... well, after some spectacular jumps, body-jerking, rolling, twisting and teeth-gnashing, I got it in:


Way to start off the year!! After that though, it was a bunch of bait-stealers although I did manage to snatch this little bandit. Little being the key, but huge compared to the real tiny bait stealers...


Still, a little show stopper with all of the colors though, don't you think?

But the real cool deal was way in the very back. Normally, there are a lot of bass roaming around these same areas and I wasn't seeing many... until I got right on top of the cattails - then I saw this dude here. Not a big surprise, but a pleasant one nonetheless:


April 20th and I see my first bass on a bed!!! 15 to 16 inch male. I'm pretty sure it's the male because an 18 or so inch female was swimming in and out, but much more shy than this little trooper - he wasn't shy at all as long as I didn't make loud noises.


Then I saw, farther back in the cattails, another suspicious spot followed by having an almost 4 pound female come out to see what I was up to. I watched what I thought was the bed, but saw nothing at first. Finally, a shy 13 to 14 inch male stuck his head out from other some grass. I'm thinking, you go boy! Got hisself a pretty big female and she wants me to leave. For crying out loud, I interrupted their happy time.

I tried and I tried to get a picture of both of them on the bed. At times they were getting frisky, nipping, bumping and pecking at each other. I just couldn't get a good shot of both without glare or spooking the big female off. The best I could do it use super stealth mode to get them unawares of my presence and shoot this pic:


I could see the female just to the right pointed right at me behind the new cattails to the right. Oh well, I tried. I saw another good sized male hanging out farther down the edge near a hole in the cattails. I figured I'd got back to the bait stealers and leave the lovebirds alone.

Eventually, I had to get more exercise and row back to the campground. I'm thinking though, opening weekend might be more than a little exciting on the lake next weekend...?!?

Problem is, I don't think I can float my boat at the ramp and without 4-wheel drive... I may not make it out from even trying (the last time did not go well...). Anyone have a smaller boat and 4-wheel drive want to meet me in Barry County here next weekend???


I happen to know there's a nice one living here...

[Cheetam]

April 20th, bass on beds...didn't we have snow a week ago?  Crazy...

[blakstr1]

Awesome Dan!  That t-shirt is 11 years old and it still fits you!    Pictures are really good too. 

[Flippin222]

Very nice. I was at Wolverine Lake and the water temps were as high as 65 degrees in some areas. There were several fish on beds.

[Jay-MadWags]

Nice story / pictures Dan.  Did you get those pictures I sent you from my fishing trip to Tennessee where I fished Percy Priest, Old Hickory and Guntersville?  Oh yeah, count me in as a non boater.  But you probably aready knew that. . .

Jason

[Jay-MadWags]

If you didn't get the pictures I'll try to post them here. 

I went done to Nashville, TN April 4-9.  I fished with my good buddy Shay Doming.  Fished Percy Priest, Old Hickory and Guntersville.  The two days we fished Guntersville we had 20 - 24 pound limits. 

Good times.
Jason

[Jay-MadWags]

Wait, forgot these pigs!

[djkimmel]

I got the pics. I was jealous (VERY). I thought I emailed you back asking if I could use them? I sometimes think I do things and don't acutally do them... Glad you got them posted. And yes, I have you down on the new nonboater list in the DK Open board. Boater list up too.

[djkimmel]

I can't believe no one has taken me up on fishing that tree above opening weekend. I had a nice one swim right up to my boat and say, "see you next weekend - I'll be waiting right here... maybe with some bigger friends?!?"

Oh yeah...

[Durand Dan]

Heck, I'd have went with ya! I was under the impression that the only time you had a chance to fish was the DK Spring Open and the DK Fall Open.

DD

[djkimmel]

Seemed like that last year... especially for about 7-8 weeks late summer. Sadly.

Actually, I want to go back either Saturday or Sunday the opening weekend, but also sadly, I can't get my boat onto the lake because the ramp is too shallow due to several years of low water, and my dually gets stuck on the ramp even trying.

I need to find someone with 4-wheel drive and a boat that is 18 or smaller to get into the lake...?? Otherwise... I may just rent a boat again and row as far as I can - it's an awesome lake and the bass are calling me... I can hear them even now...

Probably go to Ovid for a few hours the other day. They're calling me from there too...

[Durand Dan]

Dan,
Let me know. I've gotten my boat down a lot of substandard launches.


DD

[djkimmel]

The ramp is shallow water with a steep approach. A couple dips and humps. I think my boat is just too heavy and my present dually is as low in traction as dually's seem to be. I almost didn't get out last time I tried to float the boat (it wouldn't float).

If you think you can make it down and back out - I saw a single axle Skeeter was in and out the other day, and he didn't look to have 4-wheel drive - I love the lake and want to get out there with a trolling motor and gas motor to cover some water looking for the rumored 25" 10 to 11 pounder caught 2 weeks ago by local crappie anglers!!! I'll take some 2 to 4 pounders just fine too though!!

If you want to go, pick Saturday or Sunday and let me know. It's in Barry County about an hour and 15 minutes from my house, but it is well worth the drive. Just ask cameraguy! He was talking about wishing he could make it over there about an hour ago... but he as to wooor-rk.

[MIBassKid]

Dan if you go to Ovid on Sunday and don't have anyone riding along in back I'd love to get over there with you. Too bad I don't have a boat or I would take you up on that offer on the other lake. Let me know.
-Luke

[djkimmel]

Well - lets see if Durand Dan wants to go opening day after that 11-pounder...

[Durand Dan]

Well - lets see if Durand Dan wants to go opening day after that 11-pounder...

I'm already committed to the gathering at Kent Lake with the EBA group! 11lbs.? Bass? Maybe I can call in sick

[djkimmel]

I probably knew that - the memory is not linear and fully retrievable at times

How about Sunday then? Maybe Luke can go with us? I really want to hit that lake, but I know I can't get my boat off the trailer there... I may have to go to the other lake nearby then Saturday. Just being close makes me feel better... and there's some pretty darn big bass in the other lake too. Haven't heard about any giants (over 8 pounds) in a while there - I usually get a few over 5 to pushing 6 there each spring, but a guy swears he caught a 12 pounder there about 15 years ago and the MDNR has a 9-4 mounted from the lake from 20+ years ago.

Now look... I've got myself all worked up. I have to go out and get the boat ready... tires... then brakes...

[MIBassKid]

Well let me know whenever you find out, if we can't get out Sunday I'll be fishing on a lake that my grampa caught a 8+ through the ice this winter in Barry County, they have alot of real small lakes that hold giants over there.
-Luke

[Durand Dan]

Dan,
Sent PM

DD