Fall fishing

More to come

Mom and Olivia

August 27, 2012

Lake Bloomington

6:45PM-7:30PM

Mid 80's and Sunny

3 Runt LM Bass - Ned Rig (2 Zinker Z one KVD Finesse worm), seawall diag. from boat launch.

Quick trip out with my Mom and Olivia so Olivia could swim in the lake one last time before school started.

August 25, 1012

Lake Bloomington
6:15-9:30AM
Sunny, Temperature in low 90's for afternoon high, light breeze after 8AM
Water Temp: 77F Water Stained

14" LM Dropshot with Roboworm (Aaron's Magic)
13.5" LM  Football Jig PB&Smoke with Paca Chunk
13.5" LM Rio Rico
Runt- SK KVD Baby Rodent
Runt- Rio Rico
2-Runts- 1/16 oz Ned Rig with PBJ  Zinker Z

August 15, 2012

Lake Bloomington
4Pm-8PM
Weather: Sunny temps in low 80's moderate wind 10 mph
Water Temp: 81F moderate stain


14.5" SM - Ned Rig 1/16 oz with KVD Finesse worm,  sea wall diagonal from boat launch
12.5" LM - Black and blue football head jig with rage tale chunk, flat across from boat launch
12.5" LM-Ned Rig with PBJ Zinker Z, flat across from boat launch
11.5" LM-Ned Rig 1/16 oz with KVD Finesse worm, flat across from boat launch
26" Flathead- PBJ and Smoke football head with paca chunk trailer, around corner after no wake zone

The story of the day was missed fish.  I lost a 3 pound + LM  and a smaller bass on a football jig at the boat.  I have lost a number of bass over the last couple of years on the football jig.  I need to work on my hook set and not let them jump.

The other interesting thing was catching another flathead.  This time on a football head.  It hit like a ton of bricks and I thought I had a big bass, but when it kept trying to dive instead of jump, I new it was a catfish.    It did not cut my hand quite as bad as the last one.  I still need a net.

Back on the Water

August 12, 2012

Lake Bloomington

1:15PM-3:45PM

Overcast with temps in the Low 80's with light wind

Water Temp: 81F moderate stain

15" LM - KVD Spinnerbait white/chart, shallow weeds at entrance of small bay across from boat dock

14" LM- 1/16 oz Ned Rig w/KVD finesse worm, flats across from boat dock

Runt LM-1/16 oz Ned Rig w/KVD finesse worm, flats across from boat dock 

Runt SM-1/16 oz Ned Rig w/KVD finesse worm, against rocks on point sticking out into main lake

Runt SM-1/4 oz dropshot with roboworm, seawall diagonal from boat launch

Finally on the water after a six weeks absence during the middle of the summer, hopefully that never happens again.  I maid it out to the lake after a quick dinner after church, there was finally some cool weather after the oppressive heat this summer.  My goal for the trip was to catch a fish on a drop shot, I managed one small runt small mouth.  I was able to catch a keeper on a spinnerbait, it was the first time I have ever had a trailer hook on a spinnerbait and it made a difference.  I also fished a frog for a short time but was not able to get a bite.

Swimming

July 2, 2012
Lake Bloomington
7:30PM-8:00PM
HOT, Days high around 100

2 LM Bass on Ned Rig (Green Pumpkin Shad Z on 1/32 oz head) -12.5" and 11.5"

Took the girls swimming on the boat and they let me fish for about 15 minutes.

Candi and a Flathead

June 30, 2012

Lake Bloomington

6:45AM-8:45AM

High 70's, days high upper 80's

Water Temp: 81F 

5 Bass (14", 12.5", 12.5" 12", 12")

1 Flathead Catfish - Big

SK 5XD -12.5"

Shaky Head and KVD Finesse Worm - 14" and the Flathead

1/32 oz Ned  Rig w/ Green pumpkin ShadZ-12.5", 12", 12"

I started out the morning unable to get out of bed.  I finally made it onto the lake around 6:45, I did not have much time, Candi was meeting me around 7:20.  I managed to catch one on the 5XD by the girlscout camp, unfortunately it took it to deep and the treble ripped out the fishes gills, I assume the fish  will probably not make it.  I lost 2 pretty decent bass on a football jig by the boat.  I need to work on preventing the fish from jumping and throwing the jig. 

Candi met me on the lake around 7:20 and we finessed fish for bass.  I used a shaky head and she used a Zinker Z Ned rig.  She caught the first one, but she refused to hold it so I could take a picture of her.  She didn't manage to land another fish, but she hooked a few that jumped and threw her jig.  I caught a nice 14" on a shaky head.  A couple of casts later I hooked into the monster flathead.

I decided to switch to the Ned rig with a shad Z and managed a few more small ones.  It was a nice morning with my wife.

Broken Fishing Pole

June 22, 2912
Lake Bloomington
4:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Temperature in Mid 80's Sunny with a slight wind
Water Temp 82F extremely stained almost muddy in the back end

LM Bass (15", 14", 13", 13", 12.5", 11.5" 10")

SK Series XD (Blue Back Herring) 15", 13" and 12.5"
Ned Rig ( Red 1/16 oz with PB&J Zinker Z) 14",13", 11.5"and 10"

The story of the night was me accidentally stepping on my best fishing pole (7' MH Shimano Crucial) and breaking the tip off.  Needles to say it made me sick to my stomach.  I was able to catch 3 bass deep cranking which I have not been able to accomplish in the past, so at least that help ease the pain a little bit.  I also was reminded to stay away from Lake Bloomington on a Weekend Evening, it was nuts  with all the boats and loud people out there.

Football Jiggin

Date: June 15, 2012
Lake Bloomington
6:15AM-11AM
Sunny-Temperature around 90F for high low of 65
Water Temp 74F - Stained Water

7 LM Bass (14", 14", 14", 14", 13", 12", 11.5")
1 Crappie (12.5")

Shaky Head w/KVD Finesse Worm (Crappie and one  14" Bass)
Jewel Football Head Jig P/B and Smoke 3/4 Oz w/Rage Chunk  Green Pumpkin (Remaining 6 Bass)

Lost 3 Bass at the boat on Football Head due to fish jumping and throwing the jig

My Best Bass Fishing Day Ever

June 9, 2012
Lake Bloomington
6AM-10AM
Weather-Sunny high for the day was around 90 with 15mph wind (Morning temp in the 70's)
Water Temp: 75F, Clarity: Stained

5 LM Bass - 20", 17", 16", 12", 11.5"

17"- T-Rig KVD Baby Rodent(California Craw Color)

All Other Bass on 3/4 ounce P/B Smoke Jewel Football Jig with green pumpkin Rage Tale Chunk

20"

16"

The first bass of the day was the 17" caught pitching the KVD Rodent to wood cover on the bank just a little past the girl scout beach, I actually made a bad cast and the rodent bounced off some leaves and branches and the bass hit it almost as soon as it hit the water.  It was a pretty quick fight with the flipping stick I was using.  I did not manage another bite on the rodent.

17"

The rest of the fish were caught with the football jig in 10' to 15' feet of water.  The first football jig fish was the 11.5" caught on the point after the girl scout camp.  Just before 9AM I decided I better start heading in, but I stopped at my usual stop along the seawall diagonal from the boat launch.  By this time the wind was howling out of the south.  I didn't figure I would make more than a few casts, but on the second cast I caught the 20".  Needless to say I was pretty excited and decided to stay a few more minutes,  I ended up catching the 16" after I drifted past the seawall out front of the dock on the north corner.  After I fished back to the south corner I caught the 12" out past the dock on the south corner.  I then decided to try a crankbait but was unable to get anymore bites. It was now around 10AM and time to head in.   It was a great day, it was the first time in the 5 years that I have had my boat that I have caught multiple fish over 15" in the same trip, the 20" was also the largest bass that I have caught fishing from my boat.  What a memorable day.

Wisconsin

Date: May 29-31
Location: Lostland Lake & Teal Lake
Time: Approximately 4.5 hours of fishing mostly around midday.
Weather- Mostly in the 50's and overcast

1 SM Bass - 12"(Silver X-Rap)
11 LM Bass  - 13", 12", remainder under 12"(12" and 1 runt on Swim Jig, 1 runt on Shallow Shad Rap,  13" and remainder of fish on Ned Rig)
Numerous perch and bluegills along with 1 Crappie and 1 Small Pike were Caught on Ned Rig

The smallmouth was caught in a rocky area of Teal Lake on  a saddle between 2 islands in less than 5 feet of water

3 LM were caught on a gradually sloping Weed flat that was 4' to 8' deep (12" and 2 others all on Ned Rig)

Remainder of fish were caught in a little pocket just in front of the river that connects the two lakes.

Best fishing was during the coldfront that blew in on the 29th and 30th Windy and overcast

The smallmouth was caught on the 31 around 10:30 AM under bright sunshine when the weather was warming back up only fish I caught this day until I fished from the dock right before dark.

May 22, 2012

May 22, 2012
Lake Evergreen
Time:12 PM - 4 PM
Weather: High 70's Sunny, Wind out of North  10 MPH
Water:  73 F  Water clarity was extremely high

5 LM Bass(15", 14", 12", 10.5", 10.5") (2 larger and 10.5" ones on swim jig, 12" and 10.5" on Ned Rig
1 Saugeye- (12") swim Jig (Green Pumpkin and Orange)


15  '

2 Bluegill-Ned Rig

Evening Trip

May 15, 2012
Lake Bloomington
5:30PM-8PM
Temp: Low 80's Wind 10-15MPH
Water: 72F low heavily stained

4 LM Bass (All less than 12")

1 Small white bass

1 Above average size blugill.

All fish were caught with chartreuse and black KVD 1.0 .  The fish were all caught at spot 1 on the map, they were caught pretty close to the bank in less than 4' of water.  The wind was blowing pretty hard I was letting the wind drift the boat instead of using the trolling motor.  This was a mistake because someone moved into the spot after they noticed that I caught one, and I was not able to get back on it.  I am pretty sure that i would have been able to catch more than 4.

Lake Evergreen

May 10, 2012
Lake Evergreen
12PM-4PM
Temp: Low 70's, Sunny with almost no wind
Water: 69F and water clarity was very high

6 LM Bass (Five between 10.5" and 11.5", One  12")
1 Crappie (9")


T-Rig Rage Lizard -Green Pumpkin (1 Bass)
White Swim Jig w/ Big Hammer Tail (1 Bass)
Pumpkinseed and Green Swim Jig with Big Hammer Tail (1 Bass)

Ned Rig 1/16 oz with Finesse ShadZ -Green Pumpkin (3 bass including 12" and 1 Crappie(9")

All Bass were caught on top of the weeds or outside edge of weed line. 4' to 10' of water.  Three bass were caught at location 4, One bass each at 1,2, and 5.  The crappie was caught at location 3.

The lake was extremely crowded, very little wind, high sun, and very clear water.  All created pretty tough fishing conditions.

First Day on the Water 2012

April 25, 2012
Lake Bloomington
6:45-8:45 AM
Temp: High 40's-Mid 50's moderate wind (10MPH)(Partly Cloudy)
Days High in the Upper 70's very windy.
Water Temp-High 57-58F

SM Bass-1 Runt (Spot 1) (1/16 oz Ned Rig-Zinker Z PBJ)  less than four feet of water

LM Bass -4 - Runt, 10.5", 13", 13.5"

Crappie- 11.5" (parallel to road by spot 2) (1/16 oz Ned Rig-Zinker Z PBJ) less than 4' feet of water

LM Bass- Runt, 10.5", 13" (parallel to road by spot 2) (Ned Rig-Zinker Z PBJ) less than 4' feet of water

LM Bass-13.5"  (Spot 2) drifting quickly with the wind blowing out of the cove on White 3/8 oz John Graham Swim Jig with 3" big hammer tail, I was fising it over the top of weeds in less than four feet of water