Fish on!

[Redbone]

Not really fish on.  Lost a 4lber under the boat today! I think I only lost one fish the whole last year on this rig.  This year... I lose the first fish. Hopefully I get that out of my system. I must of saw 100+ big crappies in a school today... that was cool.

I realized today that I have a ton of work to do on my boat. At least the motor runs strong.  Electronics, lights, and livewell is a different story.

Hows everyone else doing?

[djkimmel]

I have some work to do on the boat today too. I think if you lose the very first one it is the opposite of catching one on your first cast. A good thing. That's my story...

I did break off 2 nice bass today on last year's line (busy week... just lucky to get enough stuff in the boat to actually go out). Luckily, I landed 5 or 6 keepers largemouths and a dinker. Also had a pretty big musky slam a KaRu Vibraspin but he safety pinned it and I didn't hook him. Hit right by the boat so it was some excitement anyway. Only got wet at the end of the day.

Had the panfish rod, but never found a single crappie. Caught a very nice pumpkinseed (pretty, not big) for a few minutes of bobber watching.

[Bender]

I went back to Champlain, Vermont side where I've never been. Water temps varried from 50-56. Targeted largies shallow for 5 hours with only one missing a jerkbait and losing the tail from a beaver to another. Got a couple pike since they were up shallow spawning. Moved out deeper to look for any bass and found a rockpile in 11'. Started catching smallies right away and ended up with 9 or 10. For some reason I never do great out there, just enough to keep me coming back. And after 5 trips this year I still have not caught a largemouth.

[thedude]

we went to hardy and only managed 5 keepers. biggest smallie went 4-0 w/ a pair of 3s and a pair of 2s (one being a green fish)
water was cold yet (53) and fish were scattered had to be out in the wind to get them. bigger 3 smallies all on traps, other 2 on jerkbaits.

[Mike S.]

Nice fish guys.  I got a 3 pounder in the Bear Lake channel this morning on a jig.  No pic, though.  Had a brain fart and told my dad as I watched it swim away, guess I should've gotten a picture.  Got my butt kicked by the waves on Muskegon.  I don't know if I was on a Bass Tracker boat or submarine.  It was ridiculous! 

[chrisvmo]

Had my butt kicked in 3 footers on Muskegon as well. managed 5 but had to work hard. All caught on traps and raps. caught a 4.5 on a shad rap.

[djkimmel]

Sorry you guys had some rough water. I'm tired of rough water for now which is why we stuck with a small, protected lake.

[Mike S.]

Sorry you guys had some rough water. I'm tired of rough water for now which is why we stuck with a small, protected lake.

Rough is an understatement in my boat.  It never fails, every year on opening day we have a crappy weekend.  Last year, the wind gusts were almost 60 mph according to channel 13.  This year, 20 to 30.  I guess to fish here, I'll need a 32 foot Fountain center console with triple 300's, and two 101# thrust trolling motors!  Just kidding, but I would probably have stayed dry.  Going out tomorrow too.  Winds are supposed to be out of the north at around 20.  Guess I'll stay in the state park area.

[chrisvmo]

Wind out of the east Saturday = flat lake Michigan. Spent some of the day on a lake down the coast. Nice ride to get the winter kinks out of the ranger.