July 14, 2011

Date: July 14, 2011
Location: Lake Bloomington
Time: 4:15-6:15 PM
Weather: Low 80's and sunny with a light breeze
Water Temp: 84F
Result: 2 LM Bass 11" and 14" caught on 1/8 Shaky Head and KVD Finesse Worm

Same 11" fish, had to use
the camera on the phone
my wife had the
camera.

I made a quick trip out to the lake after work.    I thought I would fish boat docks, but I decided to try the football head jig first.  I went to the little point straight out from the boat ramp and threw a 3/4 ounce Jig into 10'-20' of water.  I actually hooked one and got it close to the boat when it jumped and threw the jig.  This seems to be happing pretty frequently this year.  I was happy to hook one out away from the bank though.  The fish looked to be about 13".  Within a few more casts I snagged the jig and had to break it off, this has also been common this year.  I decided to go with the shaky head in closer to the seawall and managed to catch the fish noted above in about 7' to 10' feet of water.  The 14" fish actually followed the shaky head to the boat as I was reeling it in, after I saw it turn I cast back towards it and it almost immediately picked it up.  I did not manage a picture of it because as I was measuring the fish it flipped out of the boat.  I still was not feeling well and I wanted to see the girls so I cut the trip short and was content to catch the 2 fish.                                


Year to date results:  23 Bass, 2 Legal Fish

11''  Caught on Shaky Head

4th of July

Date: July 4, 2011

Location: Lake Bloomington

Time: 5:45-8:00AM

Weather: Low 70's, days high around 85, gradually clearing skies, sunny by 7:00 AM

Water Temp: 81 F

Results:  LM Bass (Runt) 1 SM Bass (Runt)  1 Hybrid Striped Bass (Approx. 16") All caught on Shaky Head and KVD Finesse Worm except the smallmouth was on a Rio Rico Top Water Popper

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.

Memorial Day Weekend

Morning with Darrin

Date: May 28, 2011
Location: Lake Bloomington
Weather: Overcast mid 50's (Stormy afternoon high in the low 70's)
Time: 5:45-9:45 AM
Water Temp: Mid 60's
Results: 1 runt largemouth (White Swim Jig) 1 runt smallmouth (SK Series 3 crankbait sexy shad color)

Runt Smallmouth on
SK Series 3 Crankbait

Runt Largemouth on
White Swim Jig

It was nice to get to spend a morning with Darrin I don't get to see my friends very often with all of my family and work responsibilities.  There was not a whole lot of serious fishing going on but that can always wait for another morning.  Darrin was nice enough to bring whole package of deersticks.  I am pretty sure I ate to many of them.  I started off throwing crankbaits  along the seawall across from the boat launch.  I was trying to catch a quick walleye for Darrin to take home for lunch.  No such luck.  I missed numerous fish before I finally hooked up with a runt largemouth on a swim jig, followed by a smallmouth on a crankbait.  I also missed a few fish on a shaky head worm fished along the boat docks on the east side of the lake.  Will finish updating tomorrow.

All told I probably missed four fish but nothing to large.

Memorial Day

Date: May 30, 2011

Location: Lake Bloomington

Weather: Sunny high 70's to mid 80's very windy (High of 90 for the day)

Time: 6:-10:00 AM

Results: 3 largemouth (13" and 2 runts on 1/8 Oz shaky head w/ KVD finesse worm)  2 smallmouth (10.5 on SK Bitsy Jig Blue/Black with Berkley Havoc Deuce Trailer and a runt on the shaky head worm)  14.5" Walleye on SK Series 3 crankbait sexy shad color)

Very windy day focused on Shaky head most of the day by boat docks and seawall across from the boat launch.  Large catfish probably 8 or 9 lbs broke my line fishing with the shaky head.  Lost a sure keeper size largemouth  on the shaky head, but did not get a look at it.   All fish were caught around docks and seawall across from boat launch. 

Will update with more details and pictures tomorrow