Perch and bluegills and crappie, Oh My. Chilly October mixed bag

**spartannation** · 10-26-2018, 06:38 PM

With winter quickly closing in on us Northerners, Jeff and I decided to take what may very well be our last open water, Michigan Name: IMG_20181026_105249399_HDR.jpg
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fishing trip of the year. The weather genius was calling for winds 5-10 out of the east with morning temps of 40 and high of 50. We decided to give Morrison one last try and launched the boat at 8:30, greeted by a stiff breeze that was touching the upper end of what was predicted and water temps in the high 40's.

Acting on a hot tip, we motored to the west end looking for the bluegills and perch rumored to be hiding there. We tried and we failed. We (I) also froze. I should have put on more clothes but I didn't let that ruin our trip. After an hour of no fish and few bites, we opted to head to the east end where we could hide from the wind.

We drifted the east basin, east to west, marking some small groups of fish, getting a few taps, but catching no fish. Near the end of our first drift we marked a couple of huge schools of fish and Jeff hooked up with a double of smallish crappie. We moved back into the wind until we marked one of the schools and dropped a marker on them, then attempted to make trolling passes through the school. This worked out OK, with Jeff picking up a couple more throw backs and me getting frustrated with the wind.

We decided to drop anchor up wind of the marker and fish slip bobbers, some with a hali/ red worm combo, and some with a jig/ plastic combo, back to the school. It didn't take long and Jeff hooked up on a nice gill, then a good perch. I followed that up with a keeper crappie and a few gills and perch of my own. The bite stayed steady and we were able to put some good, quality fish in the box.

By 3:00 we were getting low on worms, we had both had enough of the cold and wind and the dinks moved in. We decided to call it a day with a final tally of 19 gills, biggest just under 9", 2 crappie 10+" and 4 perch, also in the 10" range, with a lot of throw backs.

The weather was a bit chilly and the wind a bit frustrating but the fishing was good and the shore line colors were in full bloom. And we didn't have to deal with any jet skis. Overall a very good day.

**Just Steve** · 10-27-2018, 05:35 AM

I give you credit for toughing it out, it's not fun when you're cold. This time of year bring your Mr. Heater, just a little heat makes a big difference.

I hated turning down your offer, but I had to get those holes bored for the addition to Rod's body shop. I might as well have been boring into a rock quarry.......never seen anything like it.

I see Wilbur didn't make the trip......no warm clothes for him either?

**spartannation** · 10-27-2018, 06:50 AM

A pair of bibs and a stocking cap would have been enough. It was the wind that made it rough, I'm just glad we didn't go to Saginaw. I think that NE wind would have made it tough to jig.

**Just Steve** · 10-27-2018, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by spartannation

A pair of bibs and a stocking cap would have been enough.

I wonder if they make them in Wilbur’s size......

Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

**wicklundrh** · 10-27-2018, 07:56 AM

Ken and Barbie have plenty of cloths that will fit Wilbur. The next winner gets the trophy and a ton of luggage to tote around!

**wicklundrh** · 10-27-2018, 08:00 AM

Jerry, the one thing I did a long time ago was purchase one of those really cheap rainsuits in a bag. You know, the ones that once you get them out, they will never go back in.

I kept that in my small boat just in case of emergency. Just the pants cut the wind and are cheap. We all have good cloths but it sucks when you don't bring them. The cheapo can stay in the boat.

**spartannation** · 10-27-2018, 08:20 AM

The thing is, I had my carharts and warm hat ready to go then decided to leave them home. It was chilly but not so cold I couldn't take it, just cold enough I could whine about it. Funny, when the fish were biting it didn't feel cold at all.

I packed the fish in ice and cleaned them this morning. No livewell remorse, they were all real nice. I might have to fight the crowds and ice fish Morrison this year.

**spartannation** · 10-27-2018, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by wicklundrh

Ken and Barbie have plenty of cloths that will fit Wilbur. The next winner gets the trophy and a ton of luggage to tote around!

Maybe Steve has some left from when he was a wee lad in the U.P.

**wicklundrh** · 10-27-2018, 11:17 AM

Naw, they had to whittle their own toys up there! Hence his wood working skills! Non crafty kids simply had to play with sticks. Only kids that lived in town got store bought toys. Parents wouldn't let them have knives.

That was only during the two months of year there wasn't snow. The rest of the time they played with toys they crafted out of ice and snow.

He is just now learning trolling. It is hard to get experience when the lakes are only open two weeks out of the year.

This is the point when Stephon comes on with: when I was a kid, we got up at 2am to feed the animals, I had to walk 5 miles to school uphill both ways. We warmed rocks on the stove to keep our hands warm and keep us on the ground from the 100mph winds. That was in summer. I got home, worked the farm and went to bed at 1am. 26 hours a day is hard work! That was when I was 3. By age 5 I was working 28 hours a day. Yoopers have longer days than those below the bridge (or they can't add well). That might be from the fact that they walked so far that when they got to school tgey simply turned around and went home.

**spartannation** · 10-27-2018, 12:50 PM

And look where he is now, has himself a pick up truck that's only 24 years old. Heck, that's almost brand new. Doesn't have A/C though, Yoopers don't need it.

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