Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Ernie · Oct-05-21 1:44PM

Heartbreak Hotel! More on that later...

Bob and I met up at the ramp at 7a and splashed the boat shortly thereafter.

The forecast called for cloudy skies but...

...but there were only a few!

We stated close by by throwing top water. Bob had a small fish sniff at his, but no takers. So we threw the in-lines for a bit before we went upriver.

We both got our skunks off!

Bob is always so happy when he catches kitties!

We headed up river as as we got closer to our target...it was soup on. The fog was thick enough that I slowed down a bit until we got to our 1st spot. Of course, someone was already there. We only saw 2 boats today. That guy and one on the way home. Anyway, he took off and we decided to give it a shot.

This is where the first of many heartbreaks occurred. The water was clear and Bob saw his bait get inhaled by a very nice smallie. But since he saw it, he yanked the hook right out of his mouth!

The 2nd heartbreak was mine. I caught a smallie but was over Bob's line. That was not the problem. The boat was spinning in the current and the fish dove under the back of the boat. As soon as the line hit the side of the boat...smallie off. He gave me a nice jump too!!

Bob then gets his smallie skunk off...

...after we went downriver a bit. Heartbreak 3-8 happened in a matter of 30 minutes. Bub had 4-5 fish on and they all got off. Two of them jumped. One was very nice. Same thing happened to me...once.

We missed a boatload of fish. Yes, we got some other bites but I am talking about fish that we were able to turn the reel handle a few times before losing them.

I think George's theory of small hooks is correct. Unless you get the hook set in good, you are toast. We were!

It was now cloudy as forecasted. Had been that way since the fog.

Water temps were between 68-70df. Clear water too...about 2' at POR.

towards the end of our expedition, Catfish Bob got another one. Very pretty fish!

Then..he gets slammed. I am yelling at him to keep the fish down so he doesn't jump. We had so many misses that I was afraid this would be another one.

But nope! Bob coaxed it in and I was able to net this nice 17.5"er!

We quit just after 1p but had a long ride back to the ramp. I need white's Ferry to open up. My SUV gets way better gas mileage than my Tohatsu motor.

We got back to the ramp around 1:45p and the sun was out again.

Great day and fun to be out but too many heartbreaks for these two old farts!

drxfish · Oct-05-21 2:14PM

At least you guys got bites, and a few fish. I went out last week and got skunked. The water was pretty stained, but I could not buy a bite. I was planning to go out today, but had car issues pop up yesterday. Maybe Thursday.

In-lines can be thrown easily and hookups are not always good. I have felt mine get smacked or felt slack in the line from bites.

Was the 17.5" the catfish or are you missing a picture?

Ernie · Oct-05-21 2:18PM

drxfish wrote:
Maybe Thursday.

Good luck if you go.

drxfish wrote:
In-lines can be thrown easily and hookups are not always good. I have felt mine get smacked or felt slack in the line from bites.

Interestingly, I only lost 1 fish on the last 2 trips...

drxfish wrote:
Was the 17.5" the catfish or are you missing a picture?

Will fix.

drxfish · Oct-05-21 2:52PM

Great fish, Bob! Very cool.

Osprey · Oct-05-21 3:29PM

It was a fun day even with all the near misses. Thanks again to Ernie, he's the man when it comes to de-hooking catfish

Ernie · Oct-05-21 4:47PM

I forgot to add that I got slammed (in-line spinner) by something really big. I saw the belly. Bob swears it was a 26" smallie !

I think it was a carp...broke me off when I turned him.

Nothing but heartbreaks all day!

drxfish · Oct-05-21 4:53PM

That would have been a fight!

hookup · Oct-06-21 6:19AM

Ernie wrote:
I think George's theory of small hooks is correct.

And the reason is:

Ernie wrote:
Heartbreak Hotel!

In-lines can be thrown easily and hookups are not always good.

Mine are. But the in-lines I throw are either hand-made or modified

These work on smallies too

drxfish · Oct-06-21 6:37AM

Those are nice jig-spinners, George!

I was talking about Mepps style in-lines which the UP smallies are seeming to like now. I bought the stuff to make them a few years back and made a bunch, then did not use them. I am dragging them out now. The #3 size seems to work well. They do twist line, so swivels are a must.

hookup · Oct-06-21 6:39AM

drxfish wrote:
I was talking about Mepps style in-lines which the UP smallies are seeming to like now.

Me too.

Very easy to modify to become more effective

Ernie · Oct-06-21 6:54AM

Just to be clear, my spinners all have singles hooks (size #1 & #2), one or two of them. I use them for pickles as well. Bob's had small trebles, not modified. No clue how a smallie can spit out a treble hook. It takes me a few minutes to untangle them form my rubber net.

I stand that my hook up ratio is as good with singles as with trebles. And if someone can prove me wrong...good. I ain't changing a thing as I hate trebles.

Ernie · Oct-06-21 7:03AM

Later in the trip, I also used a spinner just like the one in George’s pic but got no love. Should have thrown it earlier.

Pacemaker Fishing Forum

#1 Oct-05-21 1:44PM

10-5-21, UP

#2 Oct-05-21 2:14PM

Re: 10-5-21, UP

#3 Oct-05-21 2:18PM

Re: 10-5-21, UP

drxfish wrote:

drxfish wrote:

drxfish wrote:

#4 Oct-05-21 2:52PM

Re: 10-5-21, UP

#5 Oct-05-21 3:29PM

Re: 10-5-21, UP

#6 Oct-05-21 4:47PM

Re: 10-5-21, UP

#7 Oct-05-21 4:53PM

Re: 10-5-21, UP

#8 Oct-06-21 6:19AM

Re: 10-5-21, UP

Ernie wrote:

Ernie wrote:

#9 Oct-06-21 6:37AM

Re: 10-5-21, UP

#10 Oct-06-21 6:39AM

Re: 10-5-21, UP

drxfish wrote:

#11 Oct-06-21 6:54AM

Re: 10-5-21, UP

#12 Oct-06-21 7:03AM

Re: 10-5-21, UP

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