Monroe Hot Ponds on 12/13/15

[YpsiBass]

Had a small get together with people from GreatLakesBass.com and bassboatcentral.com.  5 or 6 boats altogether and I lost track of how many people came out, but from this site there was me, Dan Kimmel, hollada, dartag, bob o, manxfishing, bigjc, mojo, frank, and 21XDC.  21XDC was kind enough to let me sit shotgun in his Bullet bass boat. Air temps were in the low 60s for most of the day which was unseasonably warm for December. Water temps just outside the hot pond were 56 degrees and 64 degrees inside. The bass bite was tough, but I think everyone caught at least one.  Not only LM and SM bass, but we also caught sheepshead, carp, white bass, bluegill, catfish, walleye, and shad. About the only gamefish we didn't catch were musky and pike.  Sheepshead and carp on blade baits.  All the LM bass in our boat were on spinnerbaits, jigs, or blade baits. I'll let the other guys add their own impressions, but posting a few pics and maybe a video as well.

[YpsiBass]

More pics

[YpsiBass]

Even more pics.

[YpsiBass]

Video of the trip in.

[djkimmel]

It was fun. We had a pretty good day with the on toad smallmouth and another keeper smallie. Then a decent number of largemouth bass including 3 quality chunkers and all those big, fat white bass if you tried to catch them on a jerkbait, small crankbait or Reaper Rig! We didn't do much blade-baiting because we were enjoying the largemouth bass on crankbaits and jerkbaits.

[djkimmel]

There were tons of gar in the back but they didn't seem interested in lures for some reason. They were swarming along the surface though. I hope to go back again now. I can imagine at times the bite can be a lot better but it was getting a pretty good amount of pressure. We found by keeping moving and moving into areas that hadn't been fished in a short time we could pop a few more bass like 3 keepers in 3 casts in one of those outflows. I'd be temped to go back with ultralight and spend time fishing for those big white bass again actually. That would be awesome for kids and people who don't get to fish a lot!

[Firefighter Jeff]

  Thanks for posting the pics and the guy's screen names !!!!!  The video was cool.  That from your phone Rick

[YpsiBass]

That from your phone Rick

Yeah iPhone 6 Plus held onto with a death grip.

[dartag]

You guys did look cool coming in.  Should have had some loud music playing. 

[Firefighter Jeff]

That from your phone Rick

Yeah iPhone 6 Plus held onto with a death grip.

   I literally laughed out loud on the Death grip comment !! 

[djkimmel]

Funny hearing the guys in that one boat thought you were going to die running so fast...

It was a fun day. Glad you put it together and got me a boater to ride along with. Thanks again Kyle!

[dartag]

Everyone needs to save a vacation day and do it mid November.  We did 2 trips on a weekday and were the only boat in there both days.  Fish catching was a lot better without the crowds. 

[21XDC]

That from your phone Rick

Yeah iPhone 6 Plus held onto with a death grip.

Death grip at 33 mph? LOL

[Firefighter Jeff]

Everyone needs to save a vacation day and do it mid November.  We did 2 trips on a weekday and were the only boat in there both days.  Fish catching was a lot better without the crowds. 

  My schedule is very favorable for trips during the week. 

[djkimmel]

Me too if you decide to bring your own boat and need a guide. We would just need favorable winds and the continuance of no ice.

[Firefighter Jeff]

  I'd need someone to help me out with gps coordinates to get in there.

[djkimmel]

  I'd need someone to help me out with gps coordinates to get in there.

Like I said, we just needed favorable winds with no ice in the harbor and in we go! It was fun!