Easter Day Bass Fishing

NumenOn the Water

Date:  3-27-16

Body of Water:  Reeds Lake

Boat: Numenon

With:  Alone

Target:  Largemouth Bass

Time:  9:15 AM - 3:15 PM

Conditions:  Generally bright and clear, but developing clouds later; 36 to 65 degrees F; winds generally mild and ESE, but increasing to over 15 mph later; water clarity was several feet and water temps ranged from 42 F to 46 F (briefly), generally about 44 F.

After a couple of attempts in the cold and wind, Easter Sunday presented an opportunity to get on the water with unseasonably mild conditions.  It was a bit chilly at launch time, but temperatures climbed throughout the day, and wind presented no issues for boat control until near the very end.  Once again, I concentrated on known big-fish spots.  And while I utilized a variety of early season approaches (square billed cranks, flat-sided cranks, hair jigs, slowly dragged and yo-yo'd rattle baits and jerk baits), in the end, the pike and bass showed a clear preference for hard jerk baits.

After an hour or so of scouting the very shallows (visibility was much improved from my prior trip to this lake), I took a short break to scout some areas with side imaging sonar (successfully, I might add.)  That task done, I tied on a never-before-used Berkley Firestick jerk bait in perch color.  This bait just looked right to me; it has a smaller profile than most jerks and looked to be visible yet natural in the water.  On about my third cast with this bait over four or five feet of weedy water, I detected a tick on the line, and soon a short but fat pike came aboard.  The day's skunk was gone, but it still wasn't the desired species.

The next pike was in similar water and provided a super-cool, muskie-like strike.  She appeared from beneath the lure all lit up and with mouth gaping and turned.  I never felt a thing, but instinctively set the hook.  She was pretty nice, too, but still not the bass I wanted.  The water here was the warmest I found all day, but kind of murky and slimed with filamentous algae.  I decided to make a move to a favorite big-fish spot.

At this point I'd been fishing for quite awhile over the course of three trips without having touched a bass.  That could be discouraging, but it was so pleasant out, and I knew that any bass I encountered would likely be fat pre-spawn sows, so I kept at it.  Several casts in at my new spot (which just happened to be very close to where I caught my largest Reeds Lake ever a few falls ago), just as I watched my bait approach the boat I paused the bait at my feet, and a muskie-like bass swept up and ate it!  She wasn't a giant, but she was what I was hoping for, and my day was now made.  Fifteen minutes or less later, I set the hook into a heavy fish, and as I mentally crossed my fingers for it to a bass, she showed herself, and a close to five-pounder came aboard.

The first bass of 2016 hit a Berkley Firestick jerk bait in about 7 feet of water.

Good girth on Number 1; as well as all of today's bass.

First GoPro action of 2016; this one's worth it!

No. 2 was today's largest and pushed the 5-pound mark.  She was on a deep weed edge in about 8 feet and ate the same bait.

It took half an hour or so for No. 3, but the same bait in the same type of location worked again.  I figured I now had a pattern, and with an average size of well over three pounds per bass, I was on my way to a really nice virtual limit.   And then I snapped off my hot bait (of course the only one I own) on a cast where my bail unexpectedly snapped shut.  It's a suspending bait, and so of course although I saw where it landed, it was beneath the surface; and I never reclaimed this hot bait from Reeds.

No prob, I've got a lot of nice nice jerk baits!   But I tried several over the course of the next couple of hours, and none looked or felt quite right, and more importantly, none got hit.  Finally, a naturally shaded Rapala X-Rap got eaten for No. 4; and that was it.  It was definitely getting windier and more busy on the lake, and when I found my mind wandering to issues other than fishing; it was time to go. 

All the bass hits came from weed edges in about 7 or 8 feet of water.  All the bass were from the north side, where sun and wind were the most influential, and all came from distinct turns in the weed edge.  The bass seemed to prefer a faster cadence than I would have expected, but they definitely all hit on the pause.  I suspect I might have been fishing too fast near the end as I sought my last bass, covered water and fought the wind.  

No. 3 was average for today; about 3 pounds.  Same bait, same pattern and in a spot I knew I'd find her!

What do I have to say about this?

Nice weather, not much pressure, three pike to about 28 inches, four bass totaling 12 or 13 pounds and couple of very cool strikes.  What a nice day!  Finally, from now on, baits might get purchased in threes; one to use, one to lose, and the last as a daily backup.

Mardi Gras Beads

NumenOn the Water

Date:  3-20-16

Body of Water:  Big Whitefish Lake

Boat:  Numenon

With:  DC

Target:  Largemouth Bass
Time:  10 AM - 1:30 PM

Conditions:  Clear and bright; N/NW winds to 12 mph or so; water temps 38 to 42 F; air temps 28 to 42 F; about 8-10 feet of water clarity

This was another early-season bass expedition that was more about trying than about catching.  Once again, it was fit-to-schedule as opposed to optimized for results.  There was one other bass boat out there, despite the chilly start.

We worked mostly the weed edge with some forays into shallower water.  We didn't see a fish until after Noon (it was right on a sand/weed edge in about seven feet of water), and it was the last stop of the day (at last year's big bass spot) when DC got the only bite of the day; a beautiful, post-spawn pike of over 30 inches.  That fish ate a small KVD square-billed crawdad crank over dark bottom in about five feet of water.

I'd started the day recalling my Rhode Island days of early season bassing, when small cranks in shallow water ruled the day.  I should have taken my own advice, but I was seduced by the deep Shadow Rap jerk bait off the edge and hair jigs up shallow.

DC was good company and provided some good info on a day that I might have skunked if I were alone.  He's a good partner.

What do I have to say about this?

Once again, it was great to be out, there were no battery issues (so I guess it was the connection), and I had something happen that had never happened to me before.  I felt a slight "tick" on my DT3 crank and set the hook; and brought in about 20 inches of green Mardi Gras beads!

Fishing with Kate

NumenOn the Water

Date:  3-18-16

Body of Water:  Reeds Lake

Boat:  Numenon

With:  Kate

Target:  Largemouth Bass

Time:  10 AM - 1:30 PM

Conditions:  Overcast but clearing; 36 to about 45 degrees F; NW winds < 15 mph; water was cloudy, high and 41-42 F

With Kate in the boat for the first time in quite a while, the goal for the day was to enjoy each other's company!  That goal was easily met, but of course I was doing my best to get her a fish (any fish) and to get myself the biggest bass possible.  I fell a little short on those, but they were distant secondary goals at best.

This is the first March with legalized bass fishing in Michigan, so other than my distant Rhode Island past, this was a New World to me.  With water temps in the low 40's, more wind than I'd like, reduced water visibility and no real chance for water temps to climb during the day, I reduced our arsenal to this: jerk baits, float and fly and shallow cranks for Kate; and hair jigs, jerks, cranks and rattle baits for me.  Hair jigs weren't used much because of the limited visibility, and I ended up throwing mostly jerk baits (shallower) and crank baits (deeper.)


I converted two hits into two pike, but never encountered a bass (to my knowledge.)  I know it could have happened, so that plus the enjoyable day were enough for me.  I also know that our timing was a little off (the weather was modestly ameliorating as we got off the lake), but we were home, clean and ready for a fun evening by the time the rest of the family arrived home.  We did things right!

First Casting Fish of 2016 was a small pike.

The Rapala Shadow Rap did its work.

A beautifully colored and fit pike

Pike No. 2 ate a Rapala No. 7 Tail Dancer.

Just off the spawn, this pike was skinny!

What do I have to say about this?

Other than not catching a 7-pound bass (or, indeed, any bass), it was a good day!  Kate enjoyed herself, she was warm and dry, and we relaxed together.  The only real issue of the day was a failed battery right at the ramp on our way home; and I'm pretty sure that was a loose connection as opposed to a function/reliability issue.  We'll find out next trip, but in the meantime I've got cables and an extra battery in Numenon, just in case.

Brownie

NumenOn the Water

Date:  3-13-16

Body of Water:  Lake Michigan, Pt. Sheldon

Boat:  Numenon

With:  Alone

Target: Brown Trout

Time:  8 AM - Noon

Conditions:  Overcast and rain showers; east wind about 15 mph; 45-48 degrees; water temperatures of 37 - 41 degrees F, but generally about 38 F

After a warm stretch and a couple of sunny days, it was time for Numenon's 2016 debut.  Of course a wet front was sliding through, so although I had the boat rigged with 8 rods and the mast and tethered boards ready to go, nobody chose to accompany me.    I launched, alone, into a steady drizzle that lasted all day.

I was mildly pleased to find 37-38 degree water along the north shoreline as this is at the lower end of the range where I can reasonably expect to encounter a brown, and as I set the second rod, I noticed my inside board slide back.  (I was now using in-line boards since I was alone.)  It didn't feel like much; but it was the first fish of the Open Water season, and it was the targeted species!  But at maybe 12 inches, it was possibly the smallest brown trout I've ever caught on Lake Michigan.  I let it go to grow, and given this fast start, expected some more action.

This fish had eaten an F9 Original Rapala in Brown Trout pattern.  The bait was trolled at about 2.2 mph and was in about 8 feet of water on the outside edge of the first or second sand bar when it was hit.

But four hours and 8 or 9 miles later, All spent in about 7 to 16 feet of water, I'd not had another bump.  There would be no trophies or gift fish by which to remember this trip.  I'll have to remember it as a quiet, problem-free start to a new season.  That's enough!

What do I have to say about this?

A quiet, problem-free start to the season is enough!  Good gear makes bad weather more tolerable, and I was only slightly damp around the edges when I went home for lunch.  I knew odds for memorable success were stacked against me with cold water and easterly winds.  Plus, the season is very young, and I may even have the chance to chase Browns again this season!  The last few have all been one-and-done for Browns, for me, and yet I love fishing for them so much.

First Cast 2016

NumenOn the Water

Date:  3-11-16

Body of Water:  Reeds Lake

Boat:  None, Shore

With:  Alone

Target: LMB

Time:  1 PM - 2 PM

Conditions:  Sunny and 50 F; dead calm; super clear water; day after ice out

Reeds Lake gave up her ice on March10, 2016, and on Friday, March 11 I found myself at my work desk, but without a vehicle and looking for a ride home later that day.  I ended up with two choices; one a bit after my regular work time, and one at Noon.  My first inclination was to work all day and take the later ride, but it was, after all, Friday.  It was also so sunny and calm, and I haven't yet made a cast in 2016, and I'd tied all those hair jigs all winter, and a couple of rods were already rigged, and in the end, it was a foregone conclusion that I'd leave work early and at least make a few casts.

I fished from shore because the docks are not yet in and I had no partner help launch Numenon.  That was OK, though, because it forced me to fish slowly and carefully with hair jigs and jerk baits, perfect for the cold-water conditions.  I could only reach a certain amount of water, but my reach did include some weeds, edges, rocks and flats.  There was a chance for success, but I never had any indication of a fish.   That was OK, too, because it was a beautiful, generally carefree day and the catching will only get better as the season progresses.

First Cast 2016!  I selected a 1/16-ounce black bucktail jig to slither and scratch the bottom.

What do I have to say about this?

I am now willing to consider winter to be over.  We might have some more crappy weather before spring really settles in, but the ice is gone, I think I will have a chance to get the boat out soon,  I've made a few casts and my hair jigs look sweet!  I used both a 1/16-ounce black bucktail and an olive 1/8-ounce football-head silicone-and-rabbit craw, and they both exceeded my expectations with how awesome they looked in the water.  Of course, I lost both of them (one to a rock and one to a snagged line), and that hurt more than usual.  But I think these will be important lures for me in this and future seasons.  I have no doubt that they will produce.

Presidents' Day 2016

NumenOn the Water

Date:  2-15-16

Body of Water:  McEwen Lake

Boat:  None, Ice fishing

With:  Alone

Target:  Crappies

Time:  1 PM - 5 PM

Conditions:  Overcast with snow flurries, about 25 F with southerly winds; about 6 inches of solid ice with an inch of snow cover.  Several other groups on the ice targeting both shallow pike and basin panfish.

This year's version of the Polar Vortex just skirted Michigan on its way to the East Coast.  It brought cold, but not super-cold conditions to West Michigan for this past weekend.  This glancing blow made it easy to stay inside, tie more hair jigs, and wait for more amenable conditions on President's Day.

Conditions on Monday were more amenable, just less so than predicted.  It was still quite fishable, local ice conditions had finally firmed up, and light snow cover made moving on the ice easy.  But it was cold enough to make the pursuit of comfort a task, and not a given.

Once again I targeted suspended crappies, and I encountered similar, although diminished, conditions.  The fish were there*, but in lesser numbers.  They were feeding less and refusing more.  The ones I did catch** were generally smaller (two crappies in the double digits among the eight assorted crappies and bluegills I landed.)  It was usually just one from each hole, and each fish took some effort to coax into biting.  All in all, it felt like mid- to late-winter; as I guess it actually is.

What do I have to say about this?

Black/White or Yes/No are too simplistic notions for fishing, and so I tend to think at least in trinary terms.  Here I think the individual legs for my functional 3-legged stool are Comfort, Ease and Efficiency.  I tend to seek easy and efficient ice fishing opportunities (at least for panfish; I can work or suffer for trout and pike), but let's face it, these factors are enabled or limited by comfort.  In this case, I chose to maximize ease and efficiency by traveling light, that is without the portable shanty.  It just turned out to be too darned cold for this strategy to work out.  The cold diminished my enjoyment out there and sapped my sonar's battery such that I was getting off the ice just as Prime Time was settling in.  This was probably no big loss (the bite was hardly ramping up when the sonar finally quit), it just left the trip something short of perfection.  This is what I'll remember the trip for; leaving early had a bigger impact on me than hunting the fish successfully.

Of course, lugging the shelter up from the basement, fitting it into the truck and dragging it across the ice and from hole to hole would have diminished my ease and efficiency; it's all work and it all takes time.

I'll just have to continue to seek my Personal Balance with every trip.

Meanwhile, Facebook reminds me that two years ago I had AmyBaby22 parked in our temporary back yard, I was making bait with ease and my biggest problem was hooking up with toothy predators.  (Of course, anchor and wind issues had not yet arisen as part of that trip.)

*  I fished in the deepest part of the main lake basin, and generally from 35 to 40 feet of water.

**  All my fish succumbed to a small, plain gold Swedish Pimple tipped with maggots.  More aggressive and less aggressive baits were consistently ignored.  The bait was usually just hanging there after a small lift.  Generally the highest fish in the column would be the biter.

...And Again

NumenOn the Water

Date:  1-31-16

Body of Water:  McEwen Lake

Boat:  None, Ice Fishing

With:  KS

Target: Panfish and Pike

Time:  8 AM - Noon

Conditions:  Overcast, calm and above freezing; rising to near 50 degrees F before raining

Today's experience was very similar to yesterday's, except it was less crowded and so there was more room to roam, I had a friend along, and we added some tip-up action to the mix.  And while the panfishing was tough once again, another meal or two was provided to my friend's family, and all in all, it was a more pleasant experience. 

We arrived to a lake apparently without suspended panfish.  We scouted a few holes in the basin and generally came up empty.  We therefore took our time setting four tip-ups targeting pike in 7 to 25 feet or so of water (half suckers, half shiners), and when we returned to base camp, some fish were now beneath our feet!  I immediately enticed the highest fish to eat a small gold Pimple with maggots, and once again, it looked like it might be easy.  Of course it wasn't; while I fished over fish for most of the day, they were generally difficult to fool.

By running and gunning over a milk run of a dozen holes or so from 30 to 39 feet of water, and by concentrating my efforts on the highest visible fish (and not wasting too much time on visible fish lower in the water column), I pieced together a decent catch of a dozen panfish.  All but one were crappies to over 11 inches, the other was a nice suspended bluegill.  The gold Pimple was by far the best producer, although a teardrop with maggots produced two bonus fish in quick succession.  The Jigging Rap was an obvious turnoff today; it resulted in firm rejections.  KS was unable to land any fish on the slab spoon.

While all this was going on, we entertained six flags.  Four were "empty" and probably caused by small fish harassing the baits; the others produced a 14-inch bass and a 20-inch pike.  Both of these ate shiners suspended about half-way down over 11 feet of water, right on the edge of some nice green cabbage.

At this moment, the possibilities are unlimited; this could be a 45-incher!

OK, it wasn't 45 inches; it wasn't even 24; but it did provide that initial excitement!  Note too, no gloves!  Baseball cap instead of a knit cap, and no coat!

I'll remember this trip for the fish I didn't land.  I lost a very nice (14-inch class) crappie at the hole.  It became entangled in my transducer; I should be more careful, and I know it!  The fish totally obscured the hole; it's nice to know that there are some even larger crappies out there.

What do I have to say about this?

This is one of KS' childhood lakes, and so he always enjoys his time out there.  I enjoyed his company, but I also appreciated songbirds and a bit more solitude than the previous day.  Plus, I was able to cover more water today, and if there was a secret for today's "success" it was to find as many fish high in the water column as possible, and to focus on those with a bait they would eat.