Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Doug and I decided to go all the way down to dike 3 in my boat this morning (17 miles).  I had heard that some bigger fish had been breaking down there the day before.  We got there a little after 7 am and started looking.  Saw nothing the first hour.......and then we saw breaking fish about 200 yds away.  Got on top of them with the trolling motor and Doug had 3 in the boat before I could hook up.  Mostly hybrids in the 12-14" range.  We got a total of six out of that school.  Got back on the big motor and idled around the area for a while until we found a different school.  Doug hooked up first, but ended up with a bad tangle, so I put the next 4 in the boat before they sounded.  Motored around towards dike 2 and saw birds working.........off we went.  Got there and the fish were knocking the bait clear out of the water and then eating it.  We would have several hits before one would actually try to eat the lure......knocking our Pop-R's a foot out of the water.  We followed that school of breaking fish for over an hour and over a mile with the trolling motor.  Final tally, Doug: 9 stripers/hybrids and 2 bass, me: 13 stripers/hybrids and 2 bass for a total of 22 stripers/hybrids and 4 bass.  Biggest fish was 19", so no keepers, but a blast to catch.  Doug with a typical 14" hybrid today that fights like a 24" striper.

That's McCotter in the background with 3 clients.