my recent time-tested(Tu/Wed) way of spelling the HOT FULL Moon BG/SHELLCRACKER ravenous-bite! To clarify, I did manage a few bruisers in 2 days, but paltry overall #'s. My typical tackle(ul/fl) was used on the Withlacoochee River both North/South sectors(Rousseau/Panasoffkee). Although in years past, I have fished both(Jan-April) with nice results(size & #'s), this time my eyes were opened! =The WEED-explosion/hyacinth "islands" proved 10th degree impenetrable! However, on the positive side, I got a chance to play with the features of my New Sled In combination with my power Jack-plate/tilt-trim. tunnel-hull, hydraulic stick-steering, I was able to thwart ALL normally inpenetrable thorofare! Well the larger, denser hyacinth patches did allow me two free gym-membership workout sessions! Not nearly as SCOOTABLE as an Air boat, but I prefer the smaller-pitch prop/lower-decibel of my SUZI o/b! Now, in years past, I have caught larger Shellies but did manage to fool MR NASTY of only 10"(HE thought he was 20) The sheer POWER of these guys is truly worth mentioning. For those that haven't experienced Shellcrackers, it brought to mind an analogy(+-) from the past = If you took a hook on each end of a 2 foot length-of-line, and then lip-hooked a SMALLMOUTH and LARGEMOUTH then lined 'em up tail-tail and said GO...the SMALLMOUTH would rip the skin off the LARGEMOUTH!! Because I was able to catch similarly-sized BG/SHELLIES on this trip, the same fatal-skinning results would happen to Mr. BG!
Also noted yesterday on the Panny sector of the Cooch, in my efforts to hide from the ecsalated heat-index, was the similarity it shares with its Cypress- lined tributaries, to my Maryland homestate and fishing the POCOMOKE.
Sometimetimes the results from memory-lane can enhance our relatively low-number days. Now, I have more things to remember from these trips.
Thanks for Readin'/Ridin'/Reelin' - 'til next time...can't know lest ya GO!
u2s