Fished strawberry today from 7:30 - 5:30. Seen Kentofnsl at the marina when we got there, we kept intouch with each other all day just in case one of us came on to a good area to fish.
The fishing was a little slow for the first 6 hours just picking up a few here and there while trolling and jigging. Finally came across a good school so we started vertical jigging and the fishing was alot faster for the remainder of the day. One of the cutts was a 25" & 5.5lbs and he was released plus 1 rainbow.
We wanted to stay for another hour but the wind picked up so we started heading towards the marina. Good thing we headed back to the marina when we did because the wind kept getting worse. There where alot of boats trying to get out at once with the winds blowing about 20 mph with gusts about 35-40 mph.
[signature]
Awesome fish Mike. I'm taking my Dad up there tomorrow. Any advice? What were you tipping your jigs with? I usually used crawlers in liguid and minnows in solid.
[signature]
In the morning the cutts where hitting the surface all over the lake. You could see them swimming out of the way of the boat. I tipped the tube jiggs with worm or chub. The big cutt was caught on a 2" tube jigg tipped with chub. You have to move a round alot to find the fish. Trollling was not any faster than jigging.
[signature]
Nice Fish Mike . I am debating on going there now .
Tomegun , throw some pointers jerk style at them first thing in the morning .I bet that will get there attention .
[signature]
Nice Cutt Mike, were you using a bait while you were jigging?
[signature]
I tipped the jigg with a small piece of chub,just enough to cover the hook. The way that cutt took off pulling my drag I thought I had a big rainbow.
[signature]
Sounds like you had a good time Mike. Thanks for the report. That sure is a nice fish.
[signature]
I always throw jerkbaits 1st. [
] Too bad we are just leaving now[crazy]
[signature]
Well I only caught 3 cutts from shore this morning but better than staying at home . I didn't want to risk any of my lucky lures to the snags gods so I caught them on jigs and sacrificed one rapala to the rock gods .
[signature]
Got to The Strawberry Marina about 6:45 AM. Launched the boat and put my casting net on the bow. My plan was to net some minnows around the paid rental slips. Noticed that there were minnows around the docks by the boat ramp. Made one cast of the net in deep water and got nada. Made a second cast in shallower water and got about 100 minnows. Moved south and west of the marina and fixed my son up with a whole minnow and I tried jigs and a Jigging Rapala. I got a few bites and hookups on jigs, and my son was getting a few more than me on minnows. Moved out into the center of the bay out from the marina to a place I had previously marked on my GPS. Caught a couple right off and then no more. Moved north of Mud Creek and caught a few, but it wasn't hot fishing there either. Wind started blowing a little about 11:30 AM, so we tried drift trolling. We caught several with my son using leaded line and a dodger trailed by a crawler on a rebarb hook. I was using leaded line and nothing other than a whole minnow. Tried trolling with the kicker and caught several more using the same set ups. Later moved over by Mike around The Ladders. Jealously watched Mike and his friend catch about 7 or 8 fish in the short time that we were there. Managed to wrap my line, not once but twice (I am a slow learner), around the prop while moving the boat with my line still out. Also managed to become a general nuisance to Mike with my boat dragging the anchor into him a couple times (sorry Mike). It is truly amazing to watch mike jig at Strawberry -- he knows his stuff and is extremely successful at vertical jigging. Our final tally was 14 cutts for my son and 9 cutts for myself. Largest was about 22 1/2 inches. I also had at least 1/2 dozen break off (usually during the hook set), I need to start using heavier leader. Here are a couple pictures.
[signature]
I can't believe how green everything looks up there! Those are some nice pics.
[signature]
I took a few greenery pics today . When the fishin' slowed down from shore .
[signature]