Pretty much still the same this past week. Pretty good fishing, still pretty rainy and still pretty White Bassy. Not much has changed since the last report. Aboard “The Trophy”, we had a perfect week this past week of perfect limits for however many people we had onboard each day. Some days easier then others but we got them. Seems like if I have 4 people, we get our 24 in a reasonable amount of time before they shut off each day. But when I get 5 people, that last limit is a deal breaker and a real SOB. We end up spending hours and hours trying to get those last few after the bite dies off. We got them this week when we needed to but I wasn’t too terribly impressed. I always strongly suggest keeping the group size to 4 people which is PERFECT for everyone involved. Five people anymore is just plain tough. We’re out there for hours sorting thru trash fish and tangles trying to pick up just a few more Walleyes. I see a day in the future in my final few years of my career where I may just cap it at that. Four people. Anybody that needs a bigger group can just go to one of my competitors that is much younger then I am and utilizes a first mate rather then me who does all the work by myself. I’m just dreaming right now but that’s what I’m thinking for future years should I hang in there much longer. Can you tell I’m starting to tire a bit already this season? Lol
And this rain. Wow. Another rainy week for us. Fishing in soaking sneakers and wet to the bone again. Docking the boat a few days has been a real adventure as well coming back in as the Ashtabula River has really been flowing after some of the torrential rains we have been receiving. The run offs have been significant at times and anybody that has ever tried backing a boat into a raging current can attest to the fact that it is nerve racking and not very easy to do. No matter how experienced you think you are or however sharp you think your skills are. The river will humble you in a hurry as soon as you get sideways to it. We managed to dock safely thru all the big flows that we have had this whole month of June but there's a few people back at the marina that have helped catch me at the end of the day that have arms a few inches longer then they did at the start of the month!
The fish themselves have not moved much since the previous week. We are spending most of our time now in 70 foot plus of water, or about 7 to 9 miles out. Not horrible yet, but just far enough to notice a big jump in fuel bills and make it quite choppy when the south winds pick up. We had a couple mornings this past week where we were tested with an extremely stiff south breeze in the morning and subsequent very choppy conditions. Fortunately each day the lake settled down eventually but not before making a few of my guests slightly uncomfortable and wishing they had taken a motion sickness pill. As I have always preached, if you’re not sure of yourself you should take something just to be on the safe side. Also, taking a motion sickness pill just before you board does not cut it. If you get sick, that is the first thing you are going to throw up! The pill! Lol! Most of my crews that have had issues over the years have learned that if you are susceptible to motion sickness, you need to take the pill the night before fishing already so that it can get into your system and then again another in the morning before heading out. And as always, if you’re not sure of yourself, stay off the alcohol the night before. Don’t eat a big spicy meal and try to get a good nights rest. Eat a light and dry breakfast also. I know that might be asking a lot of some that are enjoying possibly their one getaway of the year but being sick is not fun either and a big price to pay the next day when you should be enjoying your fishing trip.
So we have one final day of June left before we flip the page to July. It’s been a heck of a month. We went from fishing all by ourselves on most days out there earlier on to now where “everyone” is a Walleye fisherman out there and being quite congested at times here recently. Little do most of these folks know how easy it was early on when the fish were only a mile or so off shore and before the White Bass invasion got real bad. Nice short leads on the Jet Divers worked with the fish high in the water column. Man, that was fun. Now the fish are moving out, dropping deeper and getting scattered out in the offshore vastness. Aboard “the Trophy” we are already dabbling with our deep water fishing presentation program. Wire line, downriggers and the whole nine yards. In my opinion, the real easy fishing is behind us now and we are going to have to work a heck of a lot harder in July then we have been. I am already having wire line tangle flashbacks in my sleep! Lol! But we’ll get thru it all. We always do. We’ll continue to catch fish and we'll keep marking the days off the calendar. The summer is really starting to fly by now. By the time I report back here next week, heck the 4th of July will be behind us and we will be entering the 2nd week of July already! Wow! Guess I’ll see everyone again “next” month right back here!
Capt. Walt
* It is imperative to be setting lines with the very first hint of daylight. And with that said, I would like to have all of my upcoming trips that might be reading this report to take note and PLEASE be at the dock between 4:30 and 5:00am at the VERY latest. Fishing is the very best the first few hours of daylight and we DO NOT want to miss out on that opportunity! Also, please remember that there are no fishing license sales at the marina and that those must be secured else where ahead of time. Any questions, call me 216-387-2656
|