Let the Games Begin!

[Bushwacker7]

I hope all of you have an enjoyable season!

[Deitz Dittrich]

had my best opener yet.. 142 fish in the boat before noon.. 3 anglers.

[Mr. Pike1]

Wow, Good day on the water Dietz. I decided to get for a few hours this morning on a local small lake. My old reliables were not producing as I had expected to start things out. I decided to quickly change tactics and presentation. I decided I was going to fish the shallows and target shady areas.

I went with a presentation I have not used since a kid. I went with a small beatle spin type lure with a plastic twister tail. To my surprise this worked and I got about 20 bass. Nothing went over 17 inch mark but with a beatle spin on 4lb mono that was probly a good thing.

I am planning on the river for some small mouth action on Sunday and Monday.

[Irish]

Got out on Tonka for a while this morning. Pretty slow. Only caught 4 fish but it was fun to get out on the water.

[mozy]

Fished Minnewaska for a couple hours, ended up with around 20 fish, nothing over 3lbs, but it was still fun to get out there. Will probably head to Spicer tomorrow.

[Mr. Pike1]

Well, today was a number not size day. From an individual perspective I even surpassed Dietz. I stopped my clicker count at 125 bass and it was just me.

Two important points of clarification I was fishing on a private lake with no public access and no fish were over 16 inches. I actually took out a row boat. It was a bit breezy so I had to anchor along point and weed edges and pockets.

I brought out five combo's to cover my bases:

One senko rig

One tube rig

One top water (tiny torpedo)

One number two Mepps spinner Aguila silver blade with tripple twisty tail

One beatle spin type lure due to the success from yesterday

The senko and tube both worked with the tube being a bit more productive then the senko. The top water worked very well and I would say a bit better then the tube. The Mepps number two spinner by far was the best combo. On this presentation I got a fish every other cast or worse case scenerio the third cast. Had I fished this exclusively would have caught even more. I did mix in the beatle spin at the end for fun and it was on fire just like yesterday

On Monday I plan to hit the river for some small mouth action. My fishing partner was out on Saturday and got a ton of smallies with a few 19's and one just a hair over 20. Looking forward to a great day to close out the opening weekend

[Mr. Pike1]

Got out to the river to finish out the weekend. Me and my fishing parther got 30-40 smallies. Almost all were caught in shady area's and 70% came on topwaters which is by far my favorite way to catch bass.

The larger fish all came on topwaters with the largest fish in the 18 inch class. The rest of the fish came on Senko's, followed by small spinners, and cranks. Topwater and senko were 1 and 2 but again the bigger fish were hitting the topwater presentation.

My fishing parther was out on Saturday and the quite a few 19 and 20 inch fish. The front and maybe some more pressure may have impacted. We also mixed in a handfull of 12-13 crappies with some shoulders.

Great weekend and great day to close out the bassing !!!!

[MT Net]

Hey Mr. Pike 1, I haven't seen you on Vermilion for a while. Of course I haven't been able to head up there as much. Just wondering if you still chase those Vermilion smallies.

[Mr. Pike1]

MT, My wife and daughter were up at the cabin this weekend with her parents. That is why I had the weekend free to do some local bass fishing. I have not gotten up there as much the last few summers.

My wife said she saw a group of people over at your place for the holiday.

This year I think we will be doing a week in July and few 4 day weekends. When I am up there I most definatly chase the small mouths. The last few times I have been up there the numbers have been outstanding and the size has increased with many 18-20 inch fish. Vermillion is known for the great walleye and musky fishing but I would venture to say that it is also a world class fishery for Smallies.

[MT Net]

Yep, that were us. The walleye fishing has been spotty at best. The water is very low for spring - about late August water levels. Temps last weekend were 68 degrees and stranger yet, mayflies were beginning to hatch. Rafts of mayflies were floating in Pike Bay, so I figure the big hatch is within the next two weeks. Smallies were on the move after them mayflies. With the strange walleye patterns and all too many muskie casters, I'm looking forward to some excellent smallie fishing this year. The one under my boat measured just shy of 19 last year - I hope he's still there to protect the nest.