Fishing 2008 Year in Review

[Cheetam]

The thing that has stuck in my mind is something recently told to me about persons on this forum and the amount of time they spend on it.  This person told me that if the people on this forum spent more time fishing and less time blogging they would become better fisherman.  I have actually heard this from more than one person.

And the stating the obvious award goes to...   Of course more time on the water makes you a better fisherman.  Who can deny that?

I don't read this as a knock on anyone here though (although I do resemble that comment ).  I use to fish A LOT.  That was prior to having young kids, monthly daycare costs that equal over 4 times my old boat payment...ah, the list goes on and on.  I know way to many divorced guys at his point in my life to want to join the club  .  This is my only outlet for the most part.  If I'm a worse fisherman for it, so be it.  I try and share what I know, and learn about the things I don't from the people here.  Anywho...

I got out less than 15 times this year (I'm guessing, it could be more).  I had a pretty good year.  Fished a couple tourneys with my buddy Dartag.  I think we cashed a check, maybe two, I can't remember.  I fished more finesse this year than ever.  I don't think I even had to bring out any of the heavy artillary/power fishing stuff.  Fished with a couple new people this year- Durand Dan for one, had a good time with him even though I lost a good fish on a jerkbait that would have got us in the money on Kent at the end of the year.  I caught what was perhaps my biggest largemouth of the year (an ounce under 7 lbs...although I think it was bigger than that, you can't trust those scales, you know).  I started painting lures this year, which has turned out to be a pretty good outlet.  My kids think it's pretty cool, and we get to paint a bait or two together.  It was a fun year, and I had a good time meeting a bunch of the regulars here.  I'll see you all at the Novi show and/or Wonderland extravaganza if they have it this year...btw, who's in for a beer or two after the shows this year?  McCarter's treat...

[djkimmel]

Very nice... my blood pressure has dropped at least 15% just reading along. Thanks everyone!

[Skulley]

Very nice... my blood pressure has dropped at least 15% just reading along. Thanks everyone!

dj, you're too uptight......   Dr. BD says you need to take some time off and go fishing..........say Florida, South America, Mexico.....you know anywhere where there is soft water this time of year.  Take two of those and call me in the morning.

Dr. BD               

[Firefighter Jeff]

   Well, I had to get out the calendar to figure out how many times I fished this past year. Looks like I got out 50 to 55 times.  A majority of those on Hamlin Lake.  We have a camper trailer there.
   Several factors affect how much I get to fish.  I have two daughters that play travel soccer, gas prices, fire dept schedule, part time work one day a week and the fact I just "Fun Fish".  I did fish one weeknight tourney with my 13 y/o daughter while in Ludington.  She seemed to like it and it looks like she wants to fish more with me.  She even caught one of our 4 keepers.  
    I've really been surprised how many days and tournaments you guys have fished.  It's hard to commit practice and tournament time with my job.  However my brother Larry does it.  My problem is if I do take someone out fishing they have less experience than I and I don't learn anything new.  I should have joined a bass club years ago. (47 now)I'm a decent fisherman, but have so much to learn.  Sorry, this is more a fishing career report than one for 2008.  lolol  
     I actually live in Indiana but love to fish in Michigan, especially for smallies.  I hope to learn more, and maybe even meet a few of you over time.  I think I've been a member for less than a year.  I did get to meet Spinninbug (Wendy) and her husband Terry.  Great people !!!  Hope to get hooked up with TCook next year.  Anyway..... 2008.
     I had some delays getting a new boat and didn't get to pick it up until May 9th.  (Had a accident the previous Oct that totalled boat and truck)  First trip I took I made it to St. Clair for a couple days.  Fishing was pretty decent, but from what I saw on this site, I should have been there the week before.  lol  Best was a 5#er.  I actually broke down in the spring and bought a "crankin rod" and started throwing lipless cranks more than in the past.  It did quite well on St. Clair.  I really like those Xcalibur xr50 and crankin'.  From there hit Hamlin for a couple days then Fremont on the way home.  Fremont was fun, couple 3# smallies, 5 pound walleye, 5 pound northern and some lgmouth.
      Made it to Paw Paw for the first time in at least 10 years after seeing some of the reports on here.  Most of my time was spent on Hamlin fishing for gills, crappie, but mostly bass.  I did take out a 14 year old that was vacationing up there that I met either here or on Michigan Sportsman website.  He really seemed to appreciate me taking him out 3 times while I was there.  Like I said, got to meet Wendy and Terry and look forward to fishing with them again.
      I took another trip in Oct and headed to Grand Traverse Bay.  I had gotten a 6.3 the previous fall.  I only had two bites (dragin erie darters, something new for me) and caught a 4.11 and a 5.14.  Fished Skegmog (was turning over  )  Green and then headed to Ludington.
      In Late October and early Nov I got on the Benton Harbor stretch of the St. Joe river a couple times.  This was new to me, had only fished it one other time.  Only had moderate success, but have seen enough reports and pictures to try it again next October.
      So I guess, new places or places I hadn't fished in forever were Paw Paw, and Benton harbor.  New baits,  more lipless cranks, and erie darters.  I'd love to learn DS but have tried it and not had a lot of success.  I'm sure I need to put more time in it.  I keep saying each winter, I'm gonna take a whole day and just use DS and learn, but go back to the old stand bys.  lol  Gawd, if you're still reading this,  I think that's it.  lolol    Jeff
           

[Skulley]

FF Jeff, when I started this thread it was meant for the "long winded".  It is always nice to see where you've been.  That is usually the sign that you know where you're going.  As for you saying that you should have been on St. Clair a week earlier........the day you were there was the best because you were there.  My best day fishing is always my last day I fished and they are even better if I got to share them with my kids.

BD           

[dartag]

I fished 92 days last year with 22 being in tournaments.  I fished the FLW as a co-angler.  I got to pre-fish with a pro and saw how they go about finding fish.  The tourney was fun but the 2nd day was a big let down.  Only caught 2 fish and missed the money by 7 ounces.  I got 2 Powell drop shot rods ( thanks kev ) and they improved my catch rate.  The fishing with the Veterans event at Kent was fun to be involved with and i hope they do it again this year.   It was also fun to watch Cheetam finesse fish. 

[fiker]

2008 was a great year. 
I don't know how many times I fished, but I know it wasn't enough.  Never is.

I believe I began the year with our club event on Clair.  What a day.  I still dream about that day.  So many fish, and the weights were great. 

I met and fished with new friends, as well as old ones. Had a blast with all of them. 

I missed both DK opens for one reason or another.  But did get to fish in one or two Kent Lake Tuesday nights.

One of my highlights of the year.  I was fishing with Revtro on the North Channel.  I caught a broken fishing pole on the bottom by hooking it in the eye.  Turns out it was a GLoomis Gl3 with a reel attached.  After Bender told me about their warranty I ended up with a brand new rod for $50.  Boy do I love that rod.   
The really odd thing was that this rod came in almost the exact place where I'd caught one the year before while fishing with Revtro. 
Hey Rev..... can we go back again this year?

So many lures... and so little time....

[bosshawg]

 not a good year. got out 3 or 4 times in may w/prefish and club tournament. then spine injury in june kept me off the water 'til october while i attempt to make the last 2 tournaments of year. i did get to prefish on kent twice, fished "chiller thriller" but to much pain to make next day "last chance". so if doing the math - only out 7 times.
still on the mend and hoping for a brighter this year, a job and many more times on the water.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!!

[Got Fish??]

  I stopped trying to figure out how many days I fished. I just go fishing when ever I can.I fished alot of days, and put a lot of fish on the deck. It was a vary good year!

[JohnBoy]

I didnt get out much last year, Im new to bass fishing but am looking forward to learning all I can. The few times I got out last year I caught most of my fish on a jig. I dont know many other lures real well other than top water but thats why Im here.

[Buckeye]

It looks like I put in about 70 days on the lake this past year, and I was boatless for about two months of the year.  I stunk the place up in the Michigan BFL, as I blanked at Burt-Mullet as a co, but once I got my groove on, I faired pretty well in my TBF club.  I ended up 3rd in the club, well out of first, but close to second.

I've started to branch out to other lakes, as Ohio really gets boring fast.  So, I made my way up to Burt/Mullet, and absolutely loved not only the lake, but the people and even the 7 1/2 hour drive to Cheboygan.  What beautiful country!  I've also made my way south into Kentucky and Tennessee, and I find time int he truck with my Skeeter attached is time well spent.  This year, Florida and Illinois will fall in pretty quick order, and I hope to make it west towards Missouri too.

As for new techinques, I picked up the flick shake rig pretty quickly, and I really honed my c-rig ability.  I love that technique.  I actually steered clear of spinerbaits and crankbaits for much of the year, and went plastics and jig fishing.  Having carpal tunnel much of the year didn't help, but I managed to do alright.  I hope that I get into more fish this year on topwater and moving baits.

Eric

[River Walker]

 According to my trusty 2008 Bass Daily Planner,I fished 88 days last year,which I really thought was low-thought I would've broke a hundy.I did manage fishing a few different lakes in 08',such as Dale Hollow and Norris down in TN.I made a trip to Lake Seminole on the Georgia-Florida the last week of December.I made a couple of trips to LSC in October,although I have fished LSC numerous times in the past,last year was the first time back there in quite awhile.Being that I'm an old fart,I'm not too keen on new things,I pretty much stay with my bread and butter techniques.Of course that depends on where I'm fishing.My strong points have always been the 3-pronged attack-spinnerbaits,jig and pigs,and tubes.I like drop-shotting,just never been in a situation that required that presentation that much.I used to throw cranks a lot,and jerkbaits too,but I've yet to see a big smallie that wouldn't hit a spinnerbait or a tube.Guess you could say that since I'm less than an hour from the Lake Erie Islands I've become spoiled-and you would be right.Up there,it's pretty much a tube all day for the smallies,and tossing spinnerbaits around the marinas for green bass.Love them Xtreme tubes!!!! Canadian Mist gets my vote.In 09',I hope to hit the St.John's River system in Florida,maybe-maybe a trip to Amistad,and several trips to Dale Hollow,and hopefully a dozen or more trips to LSC!

[Waterfoul]

Hey FF Jeff... you wanna learn how to drop shot... head on up anytime and we'll hit Reeds Lake here in Grand Rapids.  ALWAYS do well there with the DS.

[thedude]

i spend a lot of time on this site because i work on a computer and i get bored easily... then look "waahlaahh" GLB magically pops up in my browser... can't fish when i'm at work, can't fish if i don't go to work so i guess i'll be a part-time blogger in the mean time.

on average i spent 2-3 days a week on the water from may through sept. mostly on the lakes for my monday nighters. Ventured out to st. clair for the 1st time in the DK open.. managed to catch 30 dink largemouths and not 1 smallie  not sure how that happens but hey i had a good time. Made up for it at hardy pond a few weeks prior with an outstanding C&R season opener. We caught several 4+ smallies and lots of SM & LM in the 2lb range. Made braving the 3'-4' waves and 35mph winds and cold temps worthwhile.
For the regular season i started out strong, did very well up through July, ok after that and sept was abysmal. Probably cuz i fished reeds lake and croton in sept and that was it. Don't think i caught i a keeper the whole time!

Was always typically a DS, Senko, t-rig, jig guy but this year i really put effort into the hard baits. Did very well on jerkbaits, cranks and traps this year which really improved my prefishing... being able to cover lots of water. I had a pike on reeds wrench a dt10 almost out of my hand... i thought i had wrapped it around the trolling motor until i got it up and there was teeth marks down to the balsa. The guys were giving me **** all day cuz my wrist hurt after that.

Ended my season on the right foot at least... last time fishing during bass season was on indian lake a few weeks ago - right before xmas and i landed a nice 18" largehead on a tipup.

[Langer]

Ventured out to st. clair for the 1st time in the DK open.. managed to catch 30 dink largemouths and not 1 smallie  not sure how that happens but hey i had a good time.

It was probably your guide!!   

[Waterfoul]

Ended my season on the right foot at least... last time fishing during bass season was on indian lake a few weeks ago - right before xmas and i landed a nice 18" largehead on a tipup.

HA!!!  My last fishing trip of 2008 was also on Indian Lake (new years eve day... 31st) and I caught a 15" largemouth on a tip-up!!  What a lake!!!

[thedude]

Ventured out to st. clair for the 1st time in the DK open.. managed to catch 30 dink largemouths and not 1 smallie  not sure how that happens but hey i had a good time.

It was probably your guide!!   

ha! at least you got one or 2...
anyway, any time the Guide's ex-employer puts enough gas in your boat to last half the season, is a good day in my book!
I'd sure like to have a 70mph boat, but a 50mph boat that gets 9mpgs doesn't suck either.

[Cy]

I would say 2008 was a good year for me.  Every year I bass fish and tournament fish I learn more about fishing and myself.  I think my abilities are getting better, IE: casting accuracy, boat position, things like that.  I think my decision making is getting better, I think I made better decisions last year, not all the time, but some of the times.  My mental toughness is increasing all the time.  I don't know how many days or tournaments I fished last year but I can only think of a couple time when I was mentally done before the day was done.  The last couple tournaments on Reeds come instantly to mind as one of those days.  My goal for this year is not to have any of those days. 

One of the most important things I did last year was meet new people and make new friends that are as passionate about fishing as I am.  It is great thing to have friends that are as big of fishing nerds as you are. 

Cy

[spinninbug]

My year was interesting to say the least,  we didn't fish as many tournaments as we usually do,  but we are usually on the water 3 to 4 nights a week,  even if we just go out on our lake to just unwind and it's one of the lakes Terry can always outfish me on....LOL

I got to do something this year that I have never done before and that was hook up with someone that I had never met before,  bring my boat and fish (Fasttrack)  my boss was a little freaked out about me fishing with someone that I had never met before,  but he just doesn't understand fisherman....lol  We had a great time and even cashed a check!  Bonus and Terry was happy the boat made it home in one piece!!!

We got to meet Jeff and Shelley ff Jeff.  That has turned into a pretty great friendship.  We have enjoyed getting together with them when time permits it.  Unfortunately it doesn't always work out with work schedules,  but we always try.  Enjoyed fishing with Jeff,  I think he thinks Terry and I are crazy in the boat together,  and in all honesty we are like that most of the time. 

I got to finally fish a DK open,  am really hoping to make the spring one this year.

We are hoping to fish some more tourneys this year,  but with hubbies new job don't know if that will happen or not,  of course I could always go without him.....hmmm now there is a thought. 

I thought the year was tough seemed the bite wasn't as good as it has been in the past.  Probably just me though.

I have enjoyed reading all your posts about your seasons! 

Did I ever mention I hate winter!!!!!

[skeeterman190]

 Boy im gonna chime in on this one i finally got so time. To write that is.. (this may be long!) 2008 was anawesome year and things really started to fall into place. Ive been doing this for 6 years now and things are really looking up. I just love that little tap on the end of the line, dont you?? I fished tourneys on tons of lakes this year: Maxi,Burt&Mullet,Leelanau,Muskegon,PawPaw,White,St.Joe River and many more. Burt was an awesome lake and a learning experience. I wont bring 2 fish to the scales next year. but it was an awesome time. Like CFruel said making new friends was awesome. Tcook and myself had an awesome week of fishing together and consider him one of my best buds thanks to this website..(sorry all you could catch was walleye!!!;D)showd me tx day. Dont really know where to go too from here so im gonna break it out fast and furious. Fished white,grand,and cadillac for the shoreline. Took top 12's in those so happy. OH BAU thats a great story... fish last second deal to make the classic. Coldwater, brand new lake to me.(want to give out another thanks to Don Watts for dropping me in the water that day.) got a limit alone that day thank god. i was jumping up and down on the deck in the monsoon by myself. Went to Muskegon and won the Last chance qualifer. Thank you White Lake!! Went too the classic looking for a boat!! OUCH! Oh well took 4th and would have loved to have that pressure of fishing for a boat on my shoulders. PawPaw produced some nice bags in tourneys this year and St.Joe too. (Maggies) won a weeknight circuit classic there. good memories. Hope 2009 is as good too you as I hope its gonna be too me!-skeeterman-