10-22-2023, 04:43 AM
Haven't been fishing since the end of September. After seeing a couple of decent reports from Willard, I decided to give it a try this morning. Launched from the South Marina before sun-up along with several other boats. It was a balmy 38 degrees, not quite the weather for wearing the shorts i had on, but i did bring a jacket and it was all i needed. Once the sun peeked over the Mtns, it warmed up quick. Slow trolled fligs tipped with chub north from 16 ft out to 21 ft and back. Couple of rattle-rattle perchy type hits, but nary sniff from anything else for a couple of hours. Didn't see much on sonar either. Other boats came and went and I didn't see anyone catching fish. I finally pulled up and motored over to Freeway Bay.
I started searching again and was seeing a bit more promising marks, but no takers. I then passed over a big school of large fish down about 15 ft in 20 ft of water. They cast big shadows below the side scan. My first thought was they had to be wipers. I marked the spot, but pulling the fligs through the area produced nothing. I went up and down the length of Freeway with nothing to show for it.
It was nearing the time I needed to leave, so I switched it up, put on some deeper diving cranks, put down the big motor, and practiced June trolling techniques and headed towards where I had marked that big school of fish. As I neared the mark, one of my poles got slammed as I was cruising along at 3.1. Yep a great chunky 18" wiper that even took a little drag in a last ditch effort to free itself from those nasty hooks. Finally that stinky smell floated away with the breeze. But that was it. I trolled the area for about another 1/2 hour, then trolled back to the south Marina with no other hits . Not many boats left on the lake except a few power squadron boats heading out.
It is always great to get out, just wish the catching would have been better.
![[Image: 20231021-185036.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/7Gwb9yNj/20231021-185036.jpg)
I started searching again and was seeing a bit more promising marks, but no takers. I then passed over a big school of large fish down about 15 ft in 20 ft of water. They cast big shadows below the side scan. My first thought was they had to be wipers. I marked the spot, but pulling the fligs through the area produced nothing. I went up and down the length of Freeway with nothing to show for it.
It was nearing the time I needed to leave, so I switched it up, put on some deeper diving cranks, put down the big motor, and practiced June trolling techniques and headed towards where I had marked that big school of fish. As I neared the mark, one of my poles got slammed as I was cruising along at 3.1. Yep a great chunky 18" wiper that even took a little drag in a last ditch effort to free itself from those nasty hooks. Finally that stinky smell floated away with the breeze. But that was it. I trolled the area for about another 1/2 hour, then trolled back to the south Marina with no other hits . Not many boats left on the lake except a few power squadron boats heading out.
It is always great to get out, just wish the catching would have been better.