Tues 25 May w/ the Rock Bass King

[River Rat]

As I was packing the rig for a day on the River, got a call from Mark G. who had no power at work so had the day off.  30 mins later we met at the Wyandotte ramp to pound the water.

First stop: Popped a fish, geez... a white bass!  Go figure.  In the river?  This time of year?  Anyways, got up to the shoreline and worked down - nothing.  Worked back up to a boat lift and Mark was greeted by a nice largemouth.  I got a nice fish - big ole' perch on a 3" Sicko - dinner!  We worked that lift for another 30 mins pulled too many rock bass (thanks to Mark) and another perch.  Time to leave.

Second stop: We hit deeper water and the sonar was on fire with fish all over the rougher, more "obnoxious" rock piles in 23'.  Dropped a Tightlines swimbait and on cue got hit several times but I couldn't get a good hookset and bring them all the way up.  We worked the inside and outside edges of the drop for a long stretch that I really like (Mike Smiph can vouch for that) and caught nearly everything BUT a brown fish!  Mark cleared the river of most of the rock bass, got several white bass (again go figure in the river this time of year!), and I had a muskie grab my swimbait in 27'.  The way he was running around pulling drag we both looked at each other like "If that's a bass, it's very nice!"  Unfortunately.  I believe that was just minutes after Mark asked if I ever caught one in that stretch and of course I hadn't - til then.  Again, time to leave.

Third and final stop:  We talked about working a long flat or heading for a hole that Mark likes and I hadn't visited in 3 years... We hit the hole.  And good thing!  As we rounded a slight bend, Mark said there should be a bed right there and sure enough, there it was.  This was the first of many.  Mark bagged the first two smallies that we worked on beds like it was going outta style.  We kept working our way and had a few fish that just didn't want to play.  I don't like mean fish.  Then we found ourselves in the sweet spot.  We were literally surrounded by green and brown fish on all corners - game on.  I caught fish on a UV fluke, switched to a Nemesis gobie, Next Level craw, back to the fluke, etc.  It got to the point that if I had a kitchen sink on board that would've been out laying on the deck too!  I had to take a minute and clean house so I could even move.  I had one fish that I could barely kneel down to lip with all the rods, boxes, and bags... I think we caught most of the bass there and started working our way back out.

I was having such a good time that I forgot to even stop and eat for 2 secs until a raging headache reminded me to slow down and grab a bite.  We had a beautiful day for playing and play we did!  We even managed to top it off with a nice ice cold beverage or two (can you say 50 cent drafts!) @ The Speedboat before heading home.

Thanks for giving me that phone call Mark, looking forward to the next trip!

Scott

[MadWags]

Wish I was there.

[mikesmiph]

Boy, that sounds like a day from my dreams.

[1javelin]

Man, that sounds like you had a great time.  Guess I'm going to have to come fish with you one of these days now also!!

1jav

[markgoetsch]

It sure was a good time and I'll let it be known if there is a rock bass in the area I WILL catch it.  I remember saying as we started the deep water "I bet my luck I'll even catch a rock bass out here"  soon enough bam 5" rockie in the boat out of 25' of water and then another and another.

[MIBassKid]

Eric Smith will be very jealous when he reads this. That man loves the rockers. I donned him the Rock Star last summer.