07-12-2012, 08:59 PM
I've followed these Jordanelle posts for a while and pitched in from time to time, but figured I might give my 2 cents and a little update.
Due to some other projects and work related travel, I only got up there a couple of times early in June, but I've hit it weekly more recently. here are some observations from the trips.
1. A buddy and I both caught a 15+ incher (smallie) on our last trip (he got 2), so there are still some good ones there, but as many of us have noted, this is acutely down from even last fall. There are doubtless multiple causes for this that we all have hashed over, but considering that I was catching bigger fish into the very end of the season last year, and they haven't "shown up" at all, so to speak this year, I'm more inclined to believe the lake had a possible die off or the bigguns are deep,inaccessible and hard-to-catch, as opposed to that they were all harvested out last season.
2. Total numbers of bass are still good, but down from previous years.
3. The perch are finally coming back and nicely IMO. On my last trip, I lost track of how many perch I caught on a standard bass dropshot rig and some were nice sized. I even decided to invite a few home to dinner as good ones kept showing up. I haven't had this much perch action in several years. There seems to be plenty of minnows in the shallows now.
4. Most bass are fat and in good shape, but a couple we caught recently seemed a bit skinny. This surprises me with all the available food where they were caught. (disease? parasites? other?)
5. My success at Lake X has often revolved around weedbeds. This year, and unlike other years, the whole bottom of Rock Cliffs and other areas is covered with millfoil weeds. Both perch and bass love this stuff and the margins. It could be that there is so much habitat for bass to hang out now with the weeds that they don't need to congregate in certain spots anymore where astute anglers can go ring up a 30 fish evening.
IMO, Jordanelle will never be what it was 5 years ago. We all know this that want to be intellectually honest. However, if the perch are indeed coming back some, and maybe nature is "thinning the herd" on the smallies, then if water conditions allow, I think it will still have some good days in the future, especially if more normal seasonal patterns return. Hath, go hit it and let us know how you do. You may do just fine. [cool]
[signature]
Due to some other projects and work related travel, I only got up there a couple of times early in June, but I've hit it weekly more recently. here are some observations from the trips.
1. A buddy and I both caught a 15+ incher (smallie) on our last trip (he got 2), so there are still some good ones there, but as many of us have noted, this is acutely down from even last fall. There are doubtless multiple causes for this that we all have hashed over, but considering that I was catching bigger fish into the very end of the season last year, and they haven't "shown up" at all, so to speak this year, I'm more inclined to believe the lake had a possible die off or the bigguns are deep,inaccessible and hard-to-catch, as opposed to that they were all harvested out last season.
2. Total numbers of bass are still good, but down from previous years.
3. The perch are finally coming back and nicely IMO. On my last trip, I lost track of how many perch I caught on a standard bass dropshot rig and some were nice sized. I even decided to invite a few home to dinner as good ones kept showing up. I haven't had this much perch action in several years. There seems to be plenty of minnows in the shallows now.
4. Most bass are fat and in good shape, but a couple we caught recently seemed a bit skinny. This surprises me with all the available food where they were caught. (disease? parasites? other?)
5. My success at Lake X has often revolved around weedbeds. This year, and unlike other years, the whole bottom of Rock Cliffs and other areas is covered with millfoil weeds. Both perch and bass love this stuff and the margins. It could be that there is so much habitat for bass to hang out now with the weeds that they don't need to congregate in certain spots anymore where astute anglers can go ring up a 30 fish evening.
IMO, Jordanelle will never be what it was 5 years ago. We all know this that want to be intellectually honest. However, if the perch are indeed coming back some, and maybe nature is "thinning the herd" on the smallies, then if water conditions allow, I think it will still have some good days in the future, especially if more normal seasonal patterns return. Hath, go hit it and let us know how you do. You may do just fine. [cool]
[signature]