Lochloosa Report

**skiff89_jr** · 09-11-2015, 07:46 PM

Well I'm getting back into the Gainesville grind since returning from my internship in Georgia. Back to hitting up the few small lakes around Gainesville for some crappie.

Today I fished Lake Lochloosa just outside of Hawthorne, FL. I've fished it several times and have had the best luck there than the other lakes (Newnans and Santa Fe). Fished solo from 9am-1pm and man was it work.

Right off the bat I started boating fish and had a quadruple hookup. It's hard reeling in fish and trying to keep your speed right with a hand held trolling motor when there is so much action but I guess it's better than no action. One time I even caught and released a fish and put the rod back in the rodholder with about a 4 feet of line hanging in the water while reeling another rod and before I could get that fish in another had come up and hit the short line. That's a first for me.

Continued with several double and triple hookups throughout the day but the wind was nearly unbearable for me on my little aluminum rig. I felt like a bb ing a tin can every time I had to motor somewhere. Sure can't wait for the day I get an I-Pilot (I graduate in May

). Best fishing was "around" 10 foot of water. "Tried" to troll .7-1.2mph all day but wind made it a challenge. Fish were caught on Litewire hooks and an assortment of different brand artificials. According to my crappie counter I caught 32...plus or minus a few. All were released!

Also want to say a big thank you to B'n'M Poles. Have used them since I have gotten into crappie fishing and have loved them. A few months ago I bought some new 12ft trolling rods and today as I was reeling a slab right at the boat the rod snapped about 18 inches below the tip. It is a two piece rod so I was thinking maybe I could just replace the 2nd half of the pole. I called B'n'M and they are sending me a replacement FREE. Good to see good customer service still exists.

**Postalmule** · 09-11-2015, 08:25 PM

Hey Skiff, nice report. Has the water level gone down a bit ? Was out there about a week and a half ago and had to wade to the dock. The highest I have ever seen. Nice to see someone else that fishes Lochloosa. Been out 4 times and did best on the south end of the lake. Let me know when you are going again and I'll do the same and maybe we can meet at the ramp or on the water.

**skeetbum** · 09-11-2015, 08:55 PM

Sounds like a good day to me. I like your rig too. As the years go by you may want to upgrade for one reason or another, but I'm telling you now, you will miss it. I have an auto pilot PD V2 and fish alone trolling 6 rods and you are right, it makes it lots easier. Good pics, thanks for sharing.

**"D"** · 09-11-2015, 09:03 PM

Super report and congrats on the graduation coming up. Nice of BMG. Someone should be paying you for wearing all those sponsor labels.

**skiff89_jr** · 09-12-2015, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Postalmule

Hey Skiff, nice report. Has the water level gone down a bit ? Was out there about a week and a half ago and had to wade to the dock. The highest I have ever seen. Nice to see someone else that fishes Lochloosa. Been out 4 times and did best on the south end of the lake. Let me know when you are going again and I'll do the same and maybe we can meet at the ramp or on the water.

I launched out of Lochloosa park and the beginning of the ramp was under water by about 8 inches. Good thing I was wearing flip flops lol.

**skiff89_jr** · 09-12-2015, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by skeetbum

Sounds like a good day to me. I like your rig too. As the years go by you may want to upgrade for one reason or another, but I'm telling you now, you will miss it. I have an auto pilot PD V2 and fish alone trolling 6 rods and you are right, it makes it lots easier. Good pics, thanks for sharing.

I can't wait to upgrade. Hopefully, I will be a few months after I graduate. Got my eyes on a lot of different boats but I will buy used so I will get whatever I find a good deal on. I love this little sled, but it's bare bones. That 40 on the back is a lot so once I get in it, the transom was only clearing those swells by about an inch from the strong wind. It also has no seats or livewell. I tournament catfish a lot for flatheads and blues so I really need big livewell. The day will come that I can upgrade though, until then I'll keep catching them from this one. I find it funny when I troll past guys on their big money rigs as they watch me reel in fish and then slow down and follow me across the lake. Comical lol

**huntinslabs** · 09-12-2015, 04:31 PM

You can move them rod holders and pull off the front making it easier. Thats what I do.

**Speck Detector** · 09-12-2015, 04:35 PM

Good lookin' colors on them specks, WTG........the boat will be a fishin' machine no matter what you got, when your putting quadruples in it!

**skiff89_jr** · 09-12-2015, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by huntinslabs

You can move them rod holders and pull off the front making it easier. Thats what I do.

Yeah I've got the bases on the front deck too but for some reason I just like the spread in the back...Party up front, business in the back kind of deal I guess you could say haha.

**healthnspector** · 09-12-2015, 07:19 PM

great report and pics. Beautiful fishies & cool boat. Whatever works right? I've busted a few B&M rod tips without a reasonable explanation. B&M replaced two and said that's it. Even though I loved em, all I can say is be wary of the Brushcutter models, not sure why they break.

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