Doggonefishin and I hit Lake X yesterday PM amid reports of rain and thunderstorms. Did well on smallies using different colors of Senko-type lures. DGF and I got over 20 fish (didn't keep accurate count, sorry) and I took a break once in a while to harass the perch. Caught my biggest perch out of RC, she thought she was a smallie at first by the way she was fighting. Both DGF and I both reported sore arms after our bout with the smallies. Sizes ranged from 10"-17", most in the 12"-14" range. It was a pretty much constant rain the whole time we were there, no big downpour as the weatherman predicted. Fun but wet day nonetheless. Some eye candy for the masses.
P.S. I also was able to check out my Vex install, call me a non-conformist when it comes to fishfinders on tubes. Sorry for the fuzzy pic, Barry!
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[cool][#0000ff]Good report and nice pics, George. Well, maybe a couple of questionable ones.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That was a big perchie. I have caught a few in that range and yes, they do fight pretty good when they get bigger. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe and I went to the PWC launch area yesterday and got lots of smaller smallies. But, we were not fishing for them and did not use proper gear for the bigger fish. We were also fishing over mud flats and not working the right structure. But, I know where they live and I will be hitting them there in short order. I once caught 17 smallies on as many casts, with the smallest going about 15 inches and the largest close to 20.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Those Vexilars are great for finding fish on the bottom and vertical jigging. But, they do not work as well in shallow water, with their narrow cone angle. Pretty to watch though.[/#0000ff]
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Wow, I didn't realize you took so many pictures. As for that fuzzy photo, isn't there some type of mythical monster like a werewolf or vampire that cannot be photographed? Maybe that was the problem. Or maybe it was the camera seeing my countenance and going "ugh too ugly". I can't take that one.
It was a good day though. Very good.
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I enjoyed your report and pictures. I am just going to have to get up to Jordanelle. It has been a long time since I fshed that water. All of the amusement craft on that reservoir chased me away!
I was interested in your installation of the fishfinder on your tube. Are you fishing in a Fish Cat4?
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Yup, I am in a Fish Cat 4 also. I ended up putting the transducer on the back of the FC4 (pointy side) since there is not a lot of room in the front (past the pockets). I can post pics for you if you want. The Vex is mounted on a home-made bracket (aluminum stock) and the bracket is mounted on a block of wood. I used a screw-in insert for the mounting screw so that the Vex rotates but can be tightened to position. The whole assembly fits in the right beverage holder. I also purchased a 5 amp battery for lesser weight on the toon (in case I need to portage it a good distance, i.e. Deer Creek main boat ramp).
The installation is pretty straightforward. My biggest challenge was finding a way to mount the Vex iceducer on a PVC pipe.
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Thanks for the detailed description! Your explanations are very explicit -- you write well. You have evidently solved some of the problems I face. I would love for you to post pictures of your Fish Cat4 adaptations. Thanks again!
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Lloyd,
Here's some pics of my FC4. Mine is pretty simple compared to other pimped-out tubes out there.
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[black][size 3]Looks to me like you have pretty well covered your basic needs, and have done a clean and neat job of it.[/size][/black]
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TD,
DGF and I went out again yesterday in the early evening and did well on the smallies. Several times I tried vertical jigging and lost several fish. I may have to bring an ice rod next time. The Vex came with a 19 degree angle, so it does OK on < 10 ft. of water. We were on 7-10 FOW yesterday and could see fish, weedy area, and fish holding in weedy areas. Vexilar suggests also using a suppression cable when fishing in waters of less than 15 ft. I may give that a shot sometime, especially during ice season. Here's some more bassin' eye candy. BTW, I targeted smallies mostly and had my best day so far at RC for smallies. All in all, we caught 37 fish. Fun day!!
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Thank you for the pictures. You have done an excellent job. The pictures were very helpful.
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[cool][#0000ff]Sounds like you guys have the smallies dialed in. Nice work.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That 19 degree cone angle should be plenty. I was thinking it was narrower. Actually, the sonar is not as useful in shallower water anyway. It really comes in handy later, when the fish are deeper.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One other potential problem on problems with hooking fish while vertical jigging is your choice of hooks. I seem to recall that you were using a type of circle hook...or modified circle. It is tough to set those in a fish when pulling straight up. Much better when pulling sideways, after a cast. It is different when you fish the jigs on jigheads with sharp fine wire hooks. I hardly ever miss a solid take when using my Matzuo sickle hook jigs.[/#0000ff]
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Speaking of hooks, I actually tried several hook types yesterday for wacky rigging. I tried an Octopus, Split Shot, and an Offset Shank Worm Hook/Round Bend and I found that they all work equally well for wacky rigs. My standard hook for wacky rigs is a size 1 Gammy EWG. Just need more practice with my hooksets, that means I got to do more fishing! Hard to practice hooksets on dry land.
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[cool][#0000ff]I admire your dedication and commitment. It is admirable that you are willing to put in the time and effort in continued research. What a guy![/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As most of us find out, just when we think we have everything figured out, the fish change things and we have to start relearning everything we thought we knew.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is a lifelong pursuit, and so tough and demanding. But, somebody's gotta do it. I'll help where I can.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]EDIT IN: You know, it also occurs to me that smallmouths are different than largemouths in the way they take a plastic bait. Largies usually flare their mouths open and suck in the whole thing. Smallies often bite one end or another, and may just clamp down and carry the bait around a bit without having the hook inside their mouths. I have seen underwater photography that shows this. So, even though you get a solid smack...and the fish runs with your lure...that does not mean you are a no good hooksetter if you don't get the hook in them every time.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Does that make you feel any better?[/#0000ff]
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Thanks for the encouraging words! Like you said, hooksets are free. Looking forward to fishing with you again.
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Don't let Kastmaster fool ya. He has always been more than adequate at both hooksets and bassin in general. He solidly outfished me on Saturday night.
What is interesting with his experimentation was that the types of hooks and rigging he felt worked better for him was different than what I like to use. I bet that another angler would have yet another "preferred" way to fish certain types of lures. I suppose there really are multiple ways to "Git'r done".
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[cool][#0000ff]Most astute observation. Over the many years I have been fishing I have seen plenty of times when two (or more) different anglers used entirely different tackle and techniques...each catching plenty of fish...and each believing that his methods were the only ones that would work.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are definitely days when it seems like the fish will respond to only one lure, fished only one way. But, there are just as many days when you can catch fish on a variety of different lures and presentations. The key is to continue to experiment and learn from others...to expand your knowledge base and your arsenal of "weapons". Then, on any given occasion, you can tap into your accumulated database of knowledge to try to come up with the right approach for the prevailing conditions.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I often shake my head and chuckle when I read some of the posts on this forum (and others) when somebody "holds forth" that they have discovered the one and only way to fish a certain water...or a certain species...and that all other methods are henceforth obsolete and worthless. I have to admit that I have had "breakthroughs" that have had me believing that I would never again have a bad day. But, on the next trip the fish find a way to humble me and bring me back to reality.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That is one of the great things about fishing. No matter how good you get...or think you get...you always have more to learn and you can still get snubbed by finicky fishies.[/#0000ff]
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That is so true TD. Like in the fly fishing end, One starts catching fish so the people next say, what are you using right down to which line, how long of leader and what kind of retrieve, but still he catches and no one else.
I will mention certain flies for different waters that consistantly work, but again the ZONE is the key. Remembering that fish will look to the side and up but not down.
Where spin fishermen/women struggle with for example which Rapala will put you in the ZONE, FF it is which line.
I will say the old school nymphs always seen to work when nothing else will (Prince, Haresear, Pheasant Tail, and Copper Johns)
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[cool][#0000ff]Hey Joni, I am sure you have had the experience of providing someone with the exact same fly you are using, and trying to help them to catch fish, only to have them get frustrated and blame YOU because they couldn't catch any fish on YOUR STUPID FLIES.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Let's face it. There are some people who just do not have the knowledge and skills to put it all together. It would not matter if they were using live bait for famished fish. Somehow they would find a way to mess it up.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Although I have mellowed in my old age, I sometimes find it difficult to keep from going ballistic when somebody says "Boy, you sure are lucky". Or when someone asks "Whatcha usin'?" In many such cases the goober who asks such a question is standing there with a heavy spinning outfit, with 20 pound line and a 2 oz. weight...and maybe a gob of worms on their hook. It is just too much for me to go into the whole "fine and far off" lecture about finesse fishing or "match the hatch" or whatever. As the good book says...CASTING PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I hope I do not come off as elitist, because I usually go out of my way to help others catch fish. A polite request is like an imperial command to me. If someone approaches me with courtesy and an honest desire to improve their fishing, I bend over backwards to get them into fish...especially if a kid is involved. But, I really do become impatient with people who EXPECT you to open your fly boxes or tackle box and outfit them with whatever it is going to take to catch fish. In most cases, it really doesn't matter what you give them, they just don't have the skills to make it work.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You have experience as a guide. So have I. I think back about the differences in clients and how great some are...and how frustrating others are. It is always the most rude and demanding anglers who expect the most but give the least. On the other hand, it is a joy to fish with someone who has an open mind and the basic skills to learn and use new things. The look of excitement on their faces, when they start catching fish with new flies or new techniques is like a kid on Christmas morning. That's when you would (almost) guide for no money.[/#0000ff]
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