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APRIL 2004
| Submitted by George 4/26/2004 The fishing on the Marsh/Farm has seen its ups and downs over the last few days. We have had 70 fish days and we have had to work to get 40. On the 21st I went out to see what I could find. The weather was great but the area that produced so well yesterday didn't start out great. I bumped into Don about 9:00 and he came on board to help me with my search for some cooperating bass. In the area the only thing you can work would be top water, or something such as a fluke of Senko, but these just weren't working for us. At about noon I finally got one on a Senko off the edge of the east ditch that made the effort well worth while.
The breeze stopped, the gnats got bad and I called it quits at 1:00. Don continued fishing but on the Stick Marsh side. On the 22nd Scott and I and Don headed back to the Farm and found a bonanza of fish willing to play. Along the south end of the west N/S ditch 70+ bass were landed by 2:00. Weightless Senkos in watermelon shades did the trick. On the 23rd Sean Groer and his crew arrived. With two on my boat and two on Scott's boat we headed south. A change in the weather would make for a change in the bite and although we had to work hard for what we got. They were still scattered along the ditch, but we found more out in the heavier grass and our best bite came when the wind got up and we drifted from the east to the west in the heavier stuff. No top water bite, no spinner bait bite: Senkos and flukes were the producers. On the 24th Sean's group grew by 2 more and Stan Daniels came along to help out. We thought the fish were a bit stingy on the 23rd, but that paled in comparison to 24th. With high pressure hanging over us the bass had moved into the real heavy slop. By throwing Senkos into the pockets some nice fish were caught, but it was work for each and every one produced. As the day wore on the wind came up from the east and Scott, who stayed put had some good results drifting along the mat. Stan's group quit by 11:00 and me and my group moved to the Marsh. We managed a couple of bass on white spinner baits, but the results were meager for a full day of fishing. Top water has been very sporadic and pretty much limited to the morning for us. Only a few bass have hit chug bugs, buzz baits, and walking type baits. I did have a couple of fish on a soft jerk bait, but no size. Plastics on the bottom have been the most consistent and productive and particularly Senkos worked weightless. Spinner baits haven't produced much although the two in the Marsh on the 24th came pretty much back to back and we thought we had something going there for a bit. The spillway has flow and there have been some good shiner catches down there. Quantity and quality are showing up in that area for the shiner fisherman. There has been some top water bite on the flats off the C54 but nothing of size that I have heard about. See you on the water. |
| Submitted by George 4/20/04 Today's foray was again on the south end of Farm13. I left the ramp this AM a bit late and fishing alone. My client fell yesterday and was sore so cancelled his trip for today. I had no sooner started fishing when my phone rang and I heard this plaintive cry, "George, where are you?" It was Don, "the World's Worst Fisherman" looking to scare my fish. However, in a moment of pity I allowed him to come aboard and off we went looking for our friendly bass. Things were tough, what with having Don on board, but we managed to eke out a few bass. Again the Senko did the trick and turned a few. Below are some pictures for your perusal. I can't say we aren't having fun out there. It's a shame that I can't get more of you out there.
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| Submitted by George 4/18/04 Today we returned to the south end of the Farm and as it has been lately it yielded a lot of quality fish. We tried top water but to no avail and then switched to black/blue flake 5" Senkos worked weightless and below are some of the samples of fish that we caught.
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| Submitted by George 4/15/04 John Haycock and his father Tom hung out the "Gone Fishin" sign and met me for a day filled with anticipation of catching a lunker bass. Leaving the ramp at daylight we headed to the south end of the Farm and I recommended top water lures to start the day. The first big fish to the boat came on a "Spittin Image" as John got the day off to a good start. By the time the top water stopped: (about 9:00 AM) we were well on our way to a good day. The next big fish of the day, (I don't have the photo yet), came on a weightless Senko and was caught by me. It was a twin to John's fish. We had both drift socks out as the wind blew with gusto from the NW. Using the socks keeps the boat slow enough to work the Senkos out in front of the drift with no weight, which is the way they work the best. As the day moved towards the noon time frame, Tom latched onto the beauty below. A weightless Senko did the trick. As so many of the big fish do, this one didn't let us know that she was big until she was within sight of the boat. She tipped the Boga Grip at 11-pounds, and measured 27 X 19. Tom who is down visiting his son is going home to NJ one "happy camper".
As you can see from the pictures, the sky was clear, but with the wind blowing the air temperature never really hit the warm mark. Water temps are holding in and around 70. With all the wind we have had lately a lot of the lake is a bit muddy, but the south end of the Farm has absolutely clear water. The fish are well away from the south levy. Dark Senkos worked without weight were the best bait for the day, but the early AM top water bite was pretty good. We do still have a few openings for the month so if you can make some last minute plans you can give us a call. See you on the water. Say hi if you get the chance. |
| Submitted by George 3/26- 4/5/04 We have been on a whirlwind of activity over the last two weeks and spent time both on Ansin/Garcia and Stick Marsh/Farm 13. Frontal conditions and high winds dictated some time be spent on Garcia and the fishing their has been very good. On Garcia the northern impoundments have provided both plenty of activity and good bass with the big fish over 10 pounds of the period. Mr. Don Willis, (aka The World's worst fisherman managed a 10.5-pound bass off a grass line using a weightless Senko. On the Marsh side Scott had several trips with shiners and big fish was a 10-pound bass caught by John Allan on 4/5/04. Plenty of bass over 5-pounds found the shiners to their liking. Free-lining the shiners in deeper waters of the C54 was the answer for successful days. The weather should stabilize as we move into the end of this month and the top water bite should get going. We have had some sporadic success with a buzz bait, and soft baits on the top. The Yamamoto 6" single tail grub worked like a buzz bait really turned on some good hits. Artificial baits have been producing well out in the middle of the Marsh when the wind lets us work out there. Weightless Senkos fished slowly in the wood have produced some really nice fish.
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