Pacemaker Fishing Forum

It was a crisp 43df when John and I met Travis Edens (Kingfisher Guide Service) at 8a at Lockes ramp. We got our gear in Travis' vehicle and drove down to Rt. 50 the ramp.



We has a HUGE almost full moon still showing below and the forecast was for clear skies and wind.

I suspect it was 9a when we got in the raft.



It did not take long for John to hook up and get the skunk off!



Followed by a nice long ear!



He stayed with the long rod all day.

I was struggling keeping fish on...I think I had 3-4 fish on (and lost) before I hooked up with this very nice long ear.





The bites were weird. They were not hitting it just mouthing it. I'll tell you later why I know this.

I used a spinning rod all day even though I brought my fly rods. I just had no interest in fighting the wind with the long rods.

Finally, I hooked up with a smallie.



I think John caught a few small ones as well before we beached for lunch.



Italian subs, fried chicken and fruit hit the spot. Travis provides lunch.

The morning was slow. Mid day was painful but we started to get some action in the afternoon.



BTW, only 1 fish was measured....it was this beast of 18.25"!



We should have taken the pic of the fish on the measuring board (the sides spilleth over) as the girth of this fish was impressive!

John caught this fish on a CK Baitfish pattern. He was in a push situation, right next to a rock and was not moving the bait. The fish picked it up and John was able to get a good hookset. A nice battle ended with Travis netting the lit up fish.

I was now on to how these guys were biting because we had stopped over a hole that had a big log to its perpendicular. I tossed my bait and saw a very nice smallie come out for a look. I stopped the bait and he sniffed it. I twitched and he sniffed again. Another twitch and he mouthed it. I set the hook and missed. Repeat what I just wrote and the next time he mouthed it, I got him! We were whooping it up because it was as if it was a You Tube video. Except he came off at boat side. Still, I learned a lot from the experience and proceeded to catch a bunch more.

We were getting tons of BG hits but they were well defined. One could tell and feel the tap tap tap. The smallie bites were so subtle that you had to guess and anticipate. I missed a bunch for sure.





Nice play house!



Still catchin'!!



I noticed that the sun was starting to hide and inquired about the time...




...Travis said that we needed to fire up the motor and get down river because it was past 5:30p. Yikes!

He wanted to stop at this particular sunken log right before the put out ramp. He told me to get ready and throw to the base of the log. I did and immediately got walloped. Not subtle at all. The fish took off and broke me off. A quick retie and I threw again and got nailed with a nice LMB.



And then two more smaller ones.

Now it was time to hit the top of the log. I did...right on the log. I was pissed but the slingshot did the trick and as soon as it came off, game on!



Another nice one.

All of that took about 10 minutes.  Now it was time to go.

As we got to the ramp (total of 7.5 mile float), I thought about that difference between running your own boat and going with a guide. The guide does all the work and worrying! The time flew by!

Anyway, despite the moon, the bright skies and the wind (it was gusting 30mph+ at times), we had a decent day of fishing and an excellent day out on the water.