Bunny Gulch Birthday Bash 7-20-10

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Today was my birthday. At my age I no longer celebrate them. I try to not even think about them. So I went fishing. TubeBabe and I met up with albinotrout at Starvation's Rabbit Gulch. First time there for him in about 10 years.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Water level has dropped about 2 feet in the last week. Water temp was 66 when we launched about 7:30. Rose a couple of degrees during the day before we got off the water just after 1.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe was first launched and took care of the first fish jinx. I left her to work a slot outside the rock hump and I moved on to prospect along the edges of the channel. Kevin kinda worked all over, getting familiar with the lake.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe had a couple of keeper perch in the basket before I brought in anything besides a dinkster. But then I found the ZONE. There was one area between 32 and 34 feet deep that warranted my tossing over the marker buoy and working it more thoroughly. Unlike many other areas in the last three weeks most of the fish were at least 10 inch basket perch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I probably had close to 20 eaters in the basket by the time it slowed down. I had also caught quite a few dink perch and had one session in which I brought in at least 12 to 15 micro walleyes...all under about 10 inches. Yeah, I know, fish for the future. But if I added them all together they wouldn't have made one good fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I had been experimenting with a new "double dropshot" rig...sinker on the bottom and two weightless 1 1/2" plastics above...at 14" and 30" above the weight. Piece of worm and drag it across the bottom as I vertical jigged something else. Got several of my biggest perch on that rig.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]About 11 AM the perchin' had slowed way down. Then my rod with the double dropshot went way down...and I was bendo on a bigger wallie. Yeah baby. Just a notch under 20 inches. Fine eatin'. Happy birthday to me.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]During the lull I heard the sound of an approaching boat and looked around to see ripnlips and his child bride Robin coasting in for a chit chat. He said they had been camping up on the hill at the State Park for a couple of days. Wind had spoiled their boating part of the time but they had caught a bunch of small perch and some eaters too. They had to leave to make an ice run, since they were out. Good to see you guys. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Scaled down my vertical jig offering to something smaller...to catch the increasingly finicky bigger perch. Continued to score one here and one there as I moved back across the channel toward our starting point. I figured we would probably leave the water about 1ish...since that is usually when the "breezes" start picking up. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There had been some building clouds and we had commented that they were looking serious. One of them suddenly developed a big leak and there was a brief 3 minute downpour...just as I went bendo on another nice size walleye. Got it in and managed to take a picture with the rain in the background. Cool. That one was just a notch over 20 inches. Very satisfactory on my new 5 1/2' ultralight rod I just made.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I picked up a couple more decent perch and a couple of dinks and then the weather looked like it might get hinky so we all agreed to scoot to shore. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Kevin only ended up with a couple of porky perch but like us he also got to play with a lot of tiny tykes. He also released a couple of the wee wallies.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe brung in almost a dozen decent perch and released a bunch more smaller ones...as well as some small fry walleye.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was more than happy with the basket I brought in. Enough to finish off the fixin's for the family fish fry chowder pot and a couple of meals of walleye fillets. Pretty darn good birthday if you ask me.[/#0000ff]
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[BearFisher]

Happy Birthday to you indeed! That is really a nice haul. Was color an important player on the walleyes? Once again way to go. When does the lake start to shut down for the year? I need to get down there before my work schedule changes but am booked for a few weeks.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Used several different colors today. The only two I caught fish on were white or the red glitter with chartreuse (RC Killer). [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good fishing for all species from now until at least mid September. After that it will depend on water levels and weather. August is generally a good month all around.[/#0000ff]
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[albinotrout]

Happy birthday to you TD and happy birthday to me as well. For tomorrow is my big day.[cool] Colors I used were a chartreuse plastic grub with red fleck to catch my first walleye of the day. Actually it was the first ever for me as well. [sly] Pic attached. Also found after the first plastic was destroyed by perch and put on a chartreuse with silver fleck that they preferred the red fleck today, Last time I came the smallies preferred smoke colored with silver fleck. Yeah I know its a small one but it was fun on 4 lb test and an ultralight rod.[] Used one of TD's red glitter with chartreuse as well, found that the pech would rather impail themselves on it then hook in their mouth. Got a small three incher that way right through the middle. Nice of im to volunteer at bait. Hooked it onto one of TD's pech colored jigs and wham, three nice perchies in a row, Kept only two of them though. Had several bites while I tormented the perch as well. Took the fish homne and mamatrout had a fish fry. Going to have to go back real soon![] Gotta play with the rock pile to find them smallies!
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[Coldfooter]

Sounds like all had a good time. How's the water level holding up?
Good to hear you enjoyed your day. My daughter shares the day with you but she and her ol' pappy will get away for some fishing next week.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Water is dropping about 2 feet per week. Nothing coming in from Strawberry (completely full) and nothing from the diversion channel. All going out and nothing coming in. But, still not too far down yet. Lots of water left for fishin'.[/#0000ff]
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[brookieguy1]

Happy birthday Dude!
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[Hnaf]

Great report and happy birthday Pat!
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[PACKFAN]

Thanks for the report and pictures, and happy 40th birthday, the wife's was last Friday looks like alot of July birthdays. We are headed down Thurs. after work for 4 days, would like to get into some of the perch. We have a slot reserved up top where Ripnlips is camped hope to run into them and trade some stories. [fishin]
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[Bamit]

Heck of a birthday man, nice catch......
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[fish_fear_me2]

Happy Birthday to you TD. If one really wants to get the birthday gift of choice you just have to go catch it yourself. It appears you did. Nice catch. Thanks for sharing
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[SBennett]

Nice basket TD.
I love Starvation but want to learn more about DC as I am able to fish DC after work and still be coherant enough to work the next day. If you are willing I would love to get advice from you and anyone else about DC eyes, especially evening fishing.
Happy Birthday.
Thanks, Shane
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]During the summer there are two problems with catching a lot of walleyes during the day...water temps and the power squadron. Wallies don't like a lot of noise and they go deeper in warm water. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That generally translates to the fishing being better from dusk to dawn. Once the light levels drop and the lake gets quieter...and cooler at night...the fish move shallower to feed on small perch and whatever else they can find to eat. In fact, you will probably only catch the larger fish after dark since that is only when they feed at all. Rare to catch a walleye much over 20 inches during bright daylight hours.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Dragging bottom bouncers and crawlers is the traditional method for fishing walleyes on most lakes...including DC. But the guys who catch the most after dark often troll or cast BIG lures...plastic swim baits or cranks. And they fish them in pretty skinny water at times.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]It really pays to know the lake well, during different water levels. You should know where there are shallow flats next to deeper water...or at least where schools of perch or other baitfish hang out. That is where the toothy critters will show up for a late dinner.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]The last two years the full moon in early July has been one of the most productive times of the whole year for lots of large walleyes. But, they will continue to feed actively after dark until the water cools and the wild bunch goes home after Labor Day. Then the daytime fishing picks up and lots of old goobers pick up some bodacious wallies fishing off the shore around the island and soaking whole crawlers.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]NOBODY catches walleyes every trip out. Some do better than others. Those who are most consistent are those who have put in the time and kept good fishing logs. As with all fish and fishing you have to first find the fish on any given day...and then figure out what it takes to make them bite. Walleyes are some of the most difficult fish to catch sometimes just because they are commonly just resting and digesting a previous large meal. Unlike other species walleyes are not constantly on the prowl for food. They may only feed once in any give 48 hour period. They eat big and then snooze it off...kinda like some of us after a Thanksgiving dinner.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]You gotta be good and you gotta be lucky. Good and lucky.[/#0000ff]
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[AnglerDan]

Happy Belated to you my friend. Nice work on that basket. Who says luck doesn't favor the wise. Great to see that the birthday gods treated you well.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks.[/#0000ff]
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[ChadMiller]

Happy birthday to both of you guys! Red huh? []

Chad Miller
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Actually they were clobbering a kinda sea-green pink color. But I changed the lures in the mouths of the fish so I wouldn't divulge ALL of my A material.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My biggest walleye was on a red and chartreuse and my next biggest was on a plain white 2" tube jig with no head...on a dropshot rig. Have been getting quite a few perch and eyes on white lately. It has always been a good color on Starvy.[/#0000ff]
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[LloydE]

Happy Birthday (yesterday)!!! I see that you were blessed with a large birthday basket to make the day memorable. I was hoping to join you, but was unable to do so. Maybe on your birthday next year, all of us can go to Starvation and celebrate the happy occasion with you and Delores. Let's hope so.

I have to make special mention of the beautiful walleye you caught. You were evidently prepared with some new tackle and strategies yesterday. Your quest for perfection never dies.

Great report and pictures.
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[TubeDude]

[quote LloydE] I have to make special mention of the beautiful walleye you caught. You were evidently prepared with some new tackle and strategies yesterday. Your quest for perfection never dies.

Great report and pictures.[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Thanks Lloyd. I was surprised to NOT see you at the pond. I assumed that other pressing matters had come up. Not like you to miss out on an opportunity to catch walleye.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Both of the larger walleyes were caught on things I have used at other times...but both were on new "refinements". The first was on a "hanger shot" rig with a plain white tube. The second was on a red glitter Ultra Minnow with a red/chartreuse tube. But it was a small 1/8 oz. head and fished on 4# line and a new ultra light rod. Finesse.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]An interesting "after note" is that the larger fish...the one that took the small lure...had 4 whole small perch in its stomach. Shouldn't have been hungry. My red glitter either made it mad or it needed something to floss its teeth. Kinda like one of my biggest walleyes ever...a 12 pounder from Utah Lake. I caught it on a tiny jigging spoon and when it was opened there were 3 whole freshly consumed white bass.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Never will figure out those silly fish. But it sure is fun to keep trying.[/#0000ff]
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[Strikes_R_Us]

[]Sweeeeet looking basket! Happy birthday, may all your future birthdays be productive as well!
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