Went on tuesday 10/20 but the boat launch was closed to high winds. Need to get my weekly fishing trip in, so I woke up early the next morning (Wednesday 10/21) and head out. Got to Gallions and got my large Italian combo and headed up the hill to the lake. Here's how the day went:
This is the secret to catching fish. If you dont have this sandwich, you are not going to catch fish. This is considered kind of small. If Steve is making your sandwich the meat would be piled on 2x as much. This one is made by George, but it still delicious and big. Half for breakfast and half for lunch.
I woke up super early and still I am not first in line. One day I will beat all of them!
Here is how the day started out. Plug in my fish finder and found out it is not working. The cord near the transducer is cut. I know it is going to be a bad day. Now I can not rely on the fish finder to locate fish. Then I find I forgot my fish bait too! Ugh! Plan B was to troll all day and fish some ledges I had stored in my brain. Pull out trollers and got bit in less than 5 minutes.
These are the first two. They are being bled before transfer to the cooler. Pick up another one later on in troll but did not brother getting a picture. They all look the same.
Went to one of my morning ledges that I knew by heart. Threw out the plastics and boils on my rubber. No need to find boils when you got ledges like this. Added a few stripers to the bled bucket. Got a few nice size large mouth bass, but they were not the intended target.
After I got tired of all that plastic throwing, I went back on the troll. Not even one bite. Trolled up and down the lake. Happen to run into Dan (lowe boat) again. Chatted for a few and Dan gave me some rotten sardines =X.
Since trolling is not producing and I got a short amount of time before I head to work, I tried the bait and wait method. Instant Bendo on the first drop.
Caught a few of these and a few stripers on the rotting sardines!
Did one last drop and hit the jackpot. Took me about 40 minutes to bring this girl up on 6 lb test. I thought it rocked me or got caught up in my anchor line a few times, but it was just a big fish on the other end. Took my time and only gain line when she allowed me. While I was fighting the fish, Dan came by. Got the fish to the surface, but my net doesn't not fit! Dan got his big net and netted her for me. Barely fits in the net. Thanks Dan!
I did not know what I was going to do with her, but while driving back to the ramp, my conscious got to me. It such a beautiful old fish. It was just living all this time under this ledge, avoiding all these hooks line and sinker and wham...a jerk sob catches her. What a bad day for this sucker. I was having bad day early this morning, so I know how she felt. Called up mom and pops and told them about the catch. They agreed that it would be good karma points if I released her. I need all the good karma I can get! So I dumped out my cooler and added water. I wanted to go take one last picture then let her free.
Here is another shot of her. Her body was almost the size of the cooler!
Dan's estimate was 20 lbs. My estimate 200 lbs =).
I got my picture and went down to the boat launch to release her. Can you see how happy I am? Life guards were telling me to eat her! After a few revival tugs, she was ready to. Took off like a mean beefy shark. Wished her well and hope she doesn't run into another jerk sob.
Here is the parting striper slay shot. Easy fishing.
Thanks Dan for the rotting sardines and the net job. I owe you one.
Hope you all had fun fishing with me.
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