Thread: Oh what a mess

I got to the ramp early but I wasn't the only one there. I talked to another fisherman who told me that they were biting yesterday. ( good to know ). I got out into the lake and stopped to see what was happening and got to watch the sun come up while I was setting out my rods. Sometimes I think that this is the best part of the trip.



With the rods set out I started my hunt. I looked to see where everyone else was and there was no one to see. I was by my self. I set the crank bait out off the back of the boat to stir up some action. It didn't take long before the rod started to jump all over the place. I lifted the rod and the fish took off. First to the left, then to the right. I had 6 rods out there and he was trying to hit every one of them, but he didn't. I managed to turn him when I needed to and guided him in between the lines to the boat. It was a gar. He wasn't that big ( only about 3 ft ) but he did wake me up for the first fish of the day.

That was the only action there so I moved on to the next spot. This proved to be better. I put a slab crappie in the box. Two more came to the boat but I let them go. For some reason I didn't feel like cleaning a lot of fish so this was going to be a one meal fishing day , and I wanted them to be of good size. Two more fish came on board but were let loose before I picked up the next keeper. Then it slowed down.

I looked around and saw that I was close to one of the striper play grounds. I decided to go over and see if anyone was home and wanted to come out to play with me. I was half way through the area before a rod bent. A small striped made his way to the boat. I let him go to grow up. That was the only action I saw over here. I moved back to looking for some specks. I still needed one more fish to round out my fish dinner.

As I was moving towards my next location I saw two boats off to my left. I set my course to go around them . But just as I was getting comfortable, a rod bends. I get it about half way in when the second rod bends. I boat the first fish and drop it to the deck and grab the second rod. This fish is running a little bit so I need to steer him clear of the other lines. I bring him in as the next rod goes off. I drop him on the other side of the boat and grab the next rod just in time to see another rod swing back. I have two fish flopping on the deck and two rods dancing . This is getting to be fun ??? I clear the rods and set them back out just in time to see two other rods go off. This dance goes on for the next few minutes. I had hit a school of stripers. By the time I clear the school I boated 11 small stripers and had two rods so tangled that I had to cut the lines to clear them. It did keep me busy there for awhile.

It is getting late and the sun is up and it is getting hot out here. I am still one fish short of my 3 fish dinner limit. I decide to make one more pass looking for slab #3. I boat a good fish ( no slab ) and put him in the box just incase I don't get #3. A few more throw backs make it on board but nothing big enough to replace the medium one I was hanging on to. It's getting late and I hate to give up, but it's time to head in. I point the bow towards the ramp and start to work my way back. I'm taking my time pulling the rods with the hope of a last minute strike. I'm down to my last two rods in the water, when the rod takes a bend and then swings towards the back of the boat. Fish on! and it has some size to it. Slab #3 makes it on board. Now to get the other fish out of the live well and let him go.

Those stripers played havoc with my lines . I'm going to have to re-string them all when I get home. Glad I only have three fish to clean.



Until next time
tight line and full nets

see you on the water

Jim

Great time


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