Redemption

Fish of the day 17.5"
caught on shaky head
and KVD Finesse Worm

Date: June 29, 2011
Location: Lake Bloomington
Time: 6:00-9:30 AM
Weather: High 60's low 70's, days high around 80, sunny and no wind
Water Temp: 75 F
Results: 2 LM Bass (17.5" and 10.5") 1 SM Bass (Runt)  All caught on Shaky Head and KVD Finesse Worm.

Runt Smallmouth on
shaky head.

I decided to take the morning off and fish for a few hours.  My goal was to catch a bass on a football head jig in deeper water.  I did not get it done.  By 8:45 I decided I needed to salvage the day and catch something so I went to the shaky head and caught them on the far back southeast corner seawall at the edge of eastbay.

10.5" LM on Shaky Head
and KVD Finesse Worm

 It was nice to finally get me second decent bass of the the year.  The year is a third of the way over and I have only caught 2 legal bass.  I need 8 more to reach my goal.  I need to step it up.

17.5" on Shaky Head and KVD Finesse Worm

Early Morning

Date: June 25, 2011
Location: Lake Bloomington
Time: 5:15AM-8:00AM
Weather: Sunny and calm with temperatures in the 60's days high mid 70's
Water Temp: 71F
Results: 1 LM Bass 10.5 (Texas Rigged SK Anaconda Worm Watermelon with Red Flake) 1 Crappie and 1 Drum (SK Series 5 Sexy Shad Crankbait)

 I woke up at 3:45 and did not feel too good, I had a splitting headache, but I only get so many chances to go fishing so I decided I better go anyway.  On the water by about 5:15, as usual I struggled to get focused.  By 6 I was doing what I planned on doing and that was throwing the football jig in a deeper water.  After an hour of no success I moved spots.  I ended up catching a drum and a crappie on a SK Series 5 crankbait in about 12 feet of water on the first inside turn of the back no wake zone.  Right before I left I managed to catch a runt bass on a Texas Rigged SK Anaconda worm at the edge of emergent weeds in the same area as above.  All in all it was a rough morning.  I need to get mentally tougher and focus a little better.

Fathers Day

Date: June 19, 2011
Location: Lake Bloomington
Time: 2:00 PM-4:00PM
Weather: Low 80's and overcast with a moderate breeze
Water Temp: 76F
Results: 13" LM Bass  (Shaky Head with 5" KVD finesse worm)

This was the first time that I have taken one of my kids bass fishing with me.  Olivia who is 6 agreed to go out on the boat and watch me bass fish for a couple of hours.  It was a special time getting to spend time on the water with one of my daughters on fathers day.  She was the photographer for the trip.  She needs to come along more often.  The story again was a missed big fish, this time on the shaky head by the sand beach in the far back end.  I also lost a runt bass on a swim jig close to the boat.  Luckily I managed to catch a fish for my daughter on the last cast of the day by my usual seawall across from the boat launch.  Today was a memorable day spent with my daughter.

 

Action photo taken by Olivia

13" LM on a shaky head and finesse
worm in about 8' of water out from
the seawall across from the boat
launch on the last cast of the day.

Frustration

Date: June 12, 2011
Location: Lake Bloomington
Time: 6:00-8:00 PM
Weather:  Low 70's
Water Temp: Mid 70's
Fish: 10.5 LM Bass (KVD 1.5 Sexy Shad)

The story of the evening was lost fish.  It started with a nice smallmouth on a crankbait and progressed to a 5 pound plus largemouth jumping and spitting out my Shaky head worm, along with another 14-15 inch bass spitting out the shaky head.  All fish were hooked along the seawalls and docks along the south east shore.  I may need to set the hook better with the shaky head.  I am used to them catching themselves on the wacky rigged senko with an exposed hook.  I did manage to catch one small one on the square bill crankbait.

runt bass on kvd 1.5 crankbait
caught along a seawall in a
couple of feet of water.

It was still nice to get out on the water after being on vacation with my extended family for an entire week in Branson, MO.  I need to start trying a few new techniques in the next couple of weeks.  I have been using the shaky head a little to much.  I think I will try to catch a few off the bank over the next couple of weeks.  Crankbaits and Football Head Jigs will come into play.