12/23/15 - Pre-Holiday Close-Out
Dec 24, 2015 16:07:31 GMT -5
Live Bait JunkEE and drag4striper like this
Post by mwardncsu on Dec 24, 2015 16:07:31 GMT -5
Weather: Picture perfect Striper Weather - overcast, foggy, drizzle, some rain off and on until the rain set in on the ride back. Temps in the 60's, no wind to speak of
Water: 48-50
Techniques: Large and mongo gizzards on freeline planers and light-lines
Last day of our pre-Christmas fishing.... we had till around noon to fish. More rain moved through in the early morning hours but moved out around 7 or a bit after so we headed out. We were on a bigger fish mission today. Stopped and worked a stretch of channel to try and load up on some more mongo baits - spending 30 or 45 mins before we headed to the fishing grounds.
Setup along a channel bank and started a pull and it was not long before Charlie was working a bent rod - smaller side striper but fish is fish..... no skunk today!
We doubled back on that stretch and ended up getting several more on that pass and then a return pass - all fish in the 6-8 lb range.
We pulled on up a ways - picking up another against a rock flat but kept pulling....
Pulled on towards a flat and things got a really good.... the fog laid in, there was no wind and we saw one other boat all morning that was out looking for bait. We stayed on fish until just before we had to pack it in and head back to the house to head home. I hooked into one that was a beast - could barely get it turned to the boat and when it surfaced it shook its head and threw the hook.... that fish very well may have been foul-hooked based on the way it was pulling me - but man I sure wish I could have known for sure....
My new boat beating stick....
A fantastic end to a great couple of days of fishing. We never landed the monsters we were hoping, but it really didn't matter - we had good solid action and non-stop laughs. Great times and look forward to the next time.....
Merry Christmas to everyone here on Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Forums!
Water: 48-50
Techniques: Large and mongo gizzards on freeline planers and light-lines
Last day of our pre-Christmas fishing.... we had till around noon to fish. More rain moved through in the early morning hours but moved out around 7 or a bit after so we headed out. We were on a bigger fish mission today. Stopped and worked a stretch of channel to try and load up on some more mongo baits - spending 30 or 45 mins before we headed to the fishing grounds.
Setup along a channel bank and started a pull and it was not long before Charlie was working a bent rod - smaller side striper but fish is fish..... no skunk today!
We doubled back on that stretch and ended up getting several more on that pass and then a return pass - all fish in the 6-8 lb range.
We pulled on up a ways - picking up another against a rock flat but kept pulling....
Pulled on towards a flat and things got a really good.... the fog laid in, there was no wind and we saw one other boat all morning that was out looking for bait. We stayed on fish until just before we had to pack it in and head back to the house to head home. I hooked into one that was a beast - could barely get it turned to the boat and when it surfaced it shook its head and threw the hook.... that fish very well may have been foul-hooked based on the way it was pulling me - but man I sure wish I could have known for sure....
My new boat beating stick....
A fantastic end to a great couple of days of fishing. We never landed the monsters we were hoping, but it really didn't matter - we had good solid action and non-stop laughs. Great times and look forward to the next time.....
Merry Christmas to everyone here on Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Forums!
..... learned that the fish are always hungry and not always where you think they should be at a given time based on past years...... explore - try new places, break out of your rut or routine.... might just pay off......
