Post by mwardncsu on Feb 26, 2017 21:36:33 GMT -5
Weather: Upper 40's; winds from NW at 5-10; mostly sunny
Water: 50-52, visibility of several feet
Techniques: freeline planers (3) with 9 - 12" gizzards
Time Fished: 5:45p - 6:30p
Went out to catch bait around 1 or so today - hit a few different creeks and caught bait in each - the 1st creek was the least productive - found one good pile holding in around 12 feet of water but had a hard time staying on top of them - but did get 5 or 6 out of there. Next creek I struggled to find anything but the little dollar bills that were back in 2 feet of water till I was giving up on that creek and working my way out - and found the bait moving in a few pods in 10-14' of water - worked those a while and got another 15. Moved on to another creek and found some larger piles - of larger bait - filled the tank beyond capacity and run to drop the off at the shed tank.... put 44 nice baits in the big tank and kept about 16 for the evening / tomorrow.
After tucking the gizzards into their temporary home, and putting a little gas in the boat I headed back towards the dock - but with a little under an hour of light left I decided to make a quick side-step into a creek which treated me well in the evenings a few times last week. I put out a simple 3-bait spread and started pulling. About 3/4 down the stretch the inside bait - a 9 inch or so gizzard got very nervous and then eaten.... not sure if the fish spit the bait or was swimming fast to the boat as I felt the line go slack, but I let it sit a second and it came taught again - fish on!
Nothing to get overly excited about - a 10 lb / 29" striper - but fish is fish....
Made another pass - noting on that stretch but as I approached a rip-rap point the middle board with a 12 or 13" gizzard when absolutely flying - in seconds it had ripped a few hundred feet of line, running like a scalded dog. Got a little back on the fish and it made another run - and came up and rolled on the surface - and then as I reeled a bit more on the fish I felt that feeling I've gotten too familiar with lately - the "pop" of the hook pulling free from the fish. Got my rig back to find everything intact - along with a little souvenir....
Don't know if I foul hooked the fish or if the hook just found scale for some reason and not lip and thus did not get a hook-set...... guess I'll never know... but I'll be back to try and find that one again.....
Water: 50-52, visibility of several feet
Techniques: freeline planers (3) with 9 - 12" gizzards
Time Fished: 5:45p - 6:30p
Went out to catch bait around 1 or so today - hit a few different creeks and caught bait in each - the 1st creek was the least productive - found one good pile holding in around 12 feet of water but had a hard time staying on top of them - but did get 5 or 6 out of there. Next creek I struggled to find anything but the little dollar bills that were back in 2 feet of water till I was giving up on that creek and working my way out - and found the bait moving in a few pods in 10-14' of water - worked those a while and got another 15. Moved on to another creek and found some larger piles - of larger bait - filled the tank beyond capacity and run to drop the off at the shed tank.... put 44 nice baits in the big tank and kept about 16 for the evening / tomorrow.
After tucking the gizzards into their temporary home, and putting a little gas in the boat I headed back towards the dock - but with a little under an hour of light left I decided to make a quick side-step into a creek which treated me well in the evenings a few times last week. I put out a simple 3-bait spread and started pulling. About 3/4 down the stretch the inside bait - a 9 inch or so gizzard got very nervous and then eaten.... not sure if the fish spit the bait or was swimming fast to the boat as I felt the line go slack, but I let it sit a second and it came taught again - fish on!
Nothing to get overly excited about - a 10 lb / 29" striper - but fish is fish....
Made another pass - noting on that stretch but as I approached a rip-rap point the middle board with a 12 or 13" gizzard when absolutely flying - in seconds it had ripped a few hundred feet of line, running like a scalded dog. Got a little back on the fish and it made another run - and came up and rolled on the surface - and then as I reeled a bit more on the fish I felt that feeling I've gotten too familiar with lately - the "pop" of the hook pulling free from the fish. Got my rig back to find everything intact - along with a little souvenir....
Don't know if I foul hooked the fish or if the hook just found scale for some reason and not lip and thus did not get a hook-set...... guess I'll never know... but I'll be back to try and find that one again.....
