A tale of 2 trips, 9-21
This morning I was able to make a trip up to my "windy water" pond. I launched at 8:20. Like Rich and Walt, it was much warmer this morning than the last 2, I had an even 50 this morning but as Rich related, it warmed up nicely and fairly quickly. Just a bit of a blush of fall colors starting to show.
My water temperature was 68. I had a very slow start other than one quick bass of about 10", just a few minutes after rigging up. Probably a half hour to the next fish, a bluegill on a straight tail Stinger. Every fish came on a straight tail of some sort this morning, couldn't buy one on a paddle tail or Roadrunner. The wind died off completely leaving me with very calm conditions (a first for this water!!) about 10 am and that's when the bite picked up nicely.
Bluegill and crappie became very active and hit my lures regularly. It only lasted an hour or so and then died off so I called it a day and pulled off at 11:45. I estimate I landed about 15-16 bluegill and pumpkinseed and a shy dozen crappie, the largest being about 10" or bit better but no real big ones this morning. The 'gills here seem to be a bit bigger on average than on on the my other regular water.
I had plans this afternoon and didn't expect to get another trip in but found a message waiting for me at home cancelling so I took the opportunity to head out again; this afternoon I tried my "calm water" pond. Launched about 4:30 and pulled off at 7pm. A hint of color here, too.
I started out with my favorite straight tails that work so well here with no takers for more than half an hour. I started changing things around bit by bit and the Roadrunner became tonight's favorite.
In fact, it landed probably 95% of the fish tonight; I could hardly buy one on any of the straight tails. Got a couple on the paddle tail. I did try a split tail style with a couple of takers; I'll have to try that one again. It also was taken by the big fish of the night......too bad I couldn't have landed that one. I had landed a crappie and had just tossed him back and was pulling in the lines for a restart. When I picked up the pole with the split tail and started reeling, it felt heavy so I set the hook hard and the battle was on. I had the drag pretty tight and loosened it one click and he just took off full speed for probably 5-6 seconds, (which felt like an eternity), paused then took off again not as long this time, paused and made a last short run. I had him solid the whole time, good rod position, etc. After the last pause I leaned back gently on the rod and felt him there...........and then he was off. Didn't break off but came unhooked somehow. I was in deep water, no weeds, nothing but soft bottom out there. If you look at the picture below, you can see that I had the body on a bit too deep and didn't have a lot of hook point out and available for sticking in deep.
I'd give a lot to know exactly what I had on there; it was big and it was strong. I'm thinking big bass or big trout. Estimated totals for tonights trip? I'd guess a pretty even split of about 12-14 each of both bluegill and crappie, with one nice yellow perch that slipped off at boatside. The last fish on the RR was a bluegill and he got the green tail off it so I just put it aside as the night was pretty well over.
Yes, I was talking to myself; sometimes even I have to ask for expert advice.