Mid afternoon trip, 7-13
I spent the morning splitting wood then ran a few errands, then decided to pack up and do some fishing somewhere. I decided to head back to the bigger water I fished the other day and took along a cooler to bring a few back. I got on the water about 3:45 and off at 6:15. Once again, my friend the wind attempted to disrupt my relaxing afternoon and it succeeded in pretty good shape. The wind was from the opposite direction that is was the other day and quite a bit stronger, resulting in my fighting direction, orientation and speed, all at once, while attempting to troll my usual 3 lines. Not knowing the water real well, I found myself repeatedly blown in to shallower water while trying to work the drop off's, resulting in my lines hanging up in weeds and forcing me to reel all in, clean them off, then push back out in to deeper water and try again. Casting in to the wind with the light jigs was a joke in itself but I would manage to get them out there (although a shorter distance out than I wanted) and start off again.
Even when I hooked a fish, by the time I got it in and unhooked, I was often out of whack in boat position forcing a reset. I was some frustrated an hour in to the trip! I even rowed over to the other shore, hoping the wind wouldn't be quite as direct there but it was even worse; pretty much straight up the lake away from my launch point. I had did better fish wise here, although I had more line crossing, snagging, boat twisting than I care to relate...GGGrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....
I did mange to keep a dozen small crappie, 9-10". I tossed back 3-4 much smaller crappie, I lost 3 more boatside while lifting them in to the boat (I had the net but for some reason didn't use it on the ones I lost...stupid I know), released 5 small bluegill as well. My smaller water seems to have larger fish, even if I don't usually get in to the numbers of fish that I've hooked in my 2 trips to this bigger water. I will put this frustrating trip behind me (but certainly file the experience away for the next time!) and probably try another trip or 2 in the future. I'd like to believe that there are bigger crappie there to catch but I need to be better prepared on my next trip there.
Yes, I was talking to myself; sometimes even I have to ask for expert advice.