Zig's Posts - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-29T15:45:05ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zighttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2192378025?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=1jaiaxnvx8bqs&xn_auth=noPlaying the 2lb. cardtag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2010-03-09:2036984:BlogPost:752732010-03-09T03:07:09.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
<p>Every so often I have a fishing trip that will remain in my memory for a long, long time. I can't say forever, as I haven't reached that stage in my life yet. I can remember unbelievable catch rate trips, first fish trips, and of course everyone remembers big fish trips. Today's trip doesn't fall into any of those trip types. In all actuality, the fishing was below average. The company however was top shelf material.</p>
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<p>I was to meet an indivual I knew only through the www.…</p>
<p>Every so often I have a fishing trip that will remain in my memory for a long, long time. I can't say forever, as I haven't reached that stage in my life yet. I can remember unbelievable catch rate trips, first fish trips, and of course everyone remembers big fish trips. Today's trip doesn't fall into any of those trip types. In all actuality, the fishing was below average. The company however was top shelf material.</p>
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<p>I was to meet an indivual I knew only through the www. world. I was late in getting to our planned meeting location.</p>
<p>Luckily, he was later.</p>
<p>It was my responsibilty to get him to a section of the Susquehanna River he had never been to before, and show him a fishery that had taken a nose dive over the last two weeks. The odds were certainly not in my favor.</p>
<p>The conversation flowed rather easily as we prepared ourselves for a day of bluegill fishing...........well, at least I was preparing for the bluegills. Jim Gronaw had smallmouth bass on his mind, and was planning a sneak attack before we ever left the parking area in the Saginaw area of the Susquehanna River warmwater flow. I had a travel route planned out in my head, one that took us past the same locations I had come to learn held panfish at all times of the day. They all had a few things in common: they were deeper then the surrounding areas, had a slower flow then the main channel, and they all had a soft bottom with sparse rock and/or wood structure.</p>
<p>We spent a good deal of time at our first stop, doing the best we could to figure out what was going to work the best for the day. We probed the bottom with jigs, and floated the middle water column with live bait and jigs under a float. A few bluegills were caught (nothing of any size to speak of), and the first indication the trip was going to be a multi-species trip - a small channel catfish.</p>
<p>We spent the rest of the morning moving from area to area with high hopes that each spot would be better then the last.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/JimGronawatSaginaw.jpg"/></p>
<p>I had forgetton my clicker when we left the vehicles, so once I had used all my fingers I gave up trying to keep count. It was slightly easier keeping track of Jim's fish count.</p>
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<p>Once we finished covering the areas known to me to hold fish, we decided to probe some water downstream that I had fished in the past w/o much to show for. While I managed to put another species into our day, the panfish didn't appear to find the faster, rockier water as appealing as what we had left behind.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/CreekChub.jpg"/></p>
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<p>Finally giving in to the fact the only way we were going to stop practicing our casting and get back to catching, was to return to where the fish were. The only problem now was getting back..................</p>
<p>A hike through uncharted woods, a climb up a rocky railroad bed, and a long hike back to the vehicles had us taking a hint from a local resident we had seen earlier:</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Turtlebasking.jpg"/></p>
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<p>After a short break, Jim and I headed to the same areas we had fished a few hours previously. Now is when it started getting interesting. While Jim had voiced his desire to fish for some smallmouth bass, he really didn't stray from the panfishing. I didn't want him to feel left out, so I took a few minutes to show him how the Strad handles a 12" smallmouth on 2lb line and a micro jig. Then, on the next few, consecutive casts showed him how well it presented the same bait to bluegill - the bigger ones:</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Handsizedbluegillrelease.jpg"/></p>
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<p>After I felt enough punishment was dished out, I stepped aside and gave Jim a chance to enjoy himself. It was at this time I learned a very, very valuable lesson - Do not, under any circumstance, give a guy that has caught 2lb. 'gills any tongue-in-cheek jabs about catching small bluegill! They pull out that, "The 2lb. 'gills I caught at......." card without any warning. It comes out swiftly and with enough force to move you out of hearing range.</p>
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<p>Obviously a day of catching catfish, chubs, rockbass, smallmouth bass, RBSxBG hybrids, and bluegill with an individual that I'm extremely proud to call a friend will remain in my memory for a long, long time</p>
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<p>Thank you Mr. Gronaw for a great day on the water!! I can only hope I will have the opportunity again.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/JimGronawwithBG.jpg"/></p>We got fed up!!tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2010-03-07:2036984:BlogPost:750762010-03-07T02:00:00.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
<p>There are so many trips that I run into an individual who looks down their nose and says, "Yeah, I like fishing for bluegill too when nothing else is biting."</p>
<p>Today, I was just waiting for that person to come along. I needed their help - badly. I needed someone, who believes that bluegill are so easy to catch, that pretty much anything will do.</p>
<p>It didn't.</p>
<p>It doesn't.</p>
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<p>I spent so much time simply trying to figure out what I needed to do and how I needed to…</p>
<p>There are so many trips that I run into an individual who looks down their nose and says, "Yeah, I like fishing for bluegill too when nothing else is biting."</p>
<p>Today, I was just waiting for that person to come along. I needed their help - badly. I needed someone, who believes that bluegill are so easy to catch, that pretty much anything will do.</p>
<p>It didn't.</p>
<p>It doesn't.</p>
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<p>I spent so much time simply trying to figure out what I needed to do and how I needed to do it, that I never took any pictures for the four(4) hours we fished today. I captured some video simply to take the situation we were in home with me so I could torture my self esteem and confidence level some more. I mean, these are fish, there's no reason angling for them should be this difficult! They avoid predators, try to stay within a certain water temp range with enough oxygen to keep them in good spirits, pass on their genetics, and eat. This is the part that got the better of us today - they eat.</p>
<p>I try very hard to teach my children good manners, one of which is to not eat in the company of others without asking if they would like to join you. Obviously BG don't care what you do while they eat.</p>
<p>As I type this, I have to wonder at what level BG comprehend? It was almost as if they collectively got together between last Saturday and today and devised a plan to show us they control the playing field, not us.</p>
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<p>The first factor that we walked up to was dirty, higher water. (up .15ft from last week)</p>
<p>The wind was the second factor that plagued Z and I. With gusts to 18mph hitting us face on, presenting our lightweight offerings was somewhat of an impossibility. I was fishing a 1/80oz. jighead rigged with a Maki Stoni, and Z was fishing his waxworm on a 1/64oz. jighead suspended under a slip float. It didn't take long for me to move up to a 1/32oz. jighead simply to cut the wind and avoid the dreaded line arc as the bait fell through the water column. Z was playing the wind by timing his casts between the gusts.</p>
<p>I managed to miss a few takes, Z managed to hook-up two(2), small BG. We tried moving downstream in an attempt to find some cut that would shield us from the direct hit of wind. We never did avoid it, but as the day went on it laid down enough to fish with a certain level of comfort.</p>
<p>An unidentified hatch took the spotlight today however, at least in the BG's eyes. Whatever winged insect was drifting on the surface film made our catch rate go down the drain. It wasn't enough that we could see the insects come by in three, fours, or even a single insect; no, we also had a front row seat to the BG coming out of the cloudy water to take these insects. By front row seat, I mean 1-2ft from our positions. While we were watching the circles disappear from the water we were watching, we could hear insects disappearing from everywhere else around us. We tried downsizing, down to a #18 scud hook with a single unweighted spike. We tried swimming baits. We tried vertical jigging baits so they stayed on the surface. We tried taking apart a dubbed jig and wrapping it on the scud hooks to get as close to the real thing as we could.</p>
<p>Just when frustration had gotten the best of me, and I went back to fishing a plastic bait on a jighead, I saw the line twitch from a take. A feeling of relief came when I saw the chunky 8.5" bluegill turn sideways to me to gain leverage. If there was a conspiracy in action, this was the fish that stepped up to give that false sense of security in my abilities. For the next hour, I (read:not Z) continued to hook fish on a 1/64oz. jighead and plastic bait.</p>
<p>Smallmouth bass after smallmouth would pick this micro bait up as more and more BG fed to their hearts content all around us.</p>
<p>To the casual observer, it was an embarrassment. How hard can it be to catch BG that are actively feeding (up)?</p>
<p>Being the Panfish Enthusiasts we are, Z and I know that days of catching less then ten(10) BG is simply the reality check that reminds us big bluegill aren't your children's fish.</p>An Afternoon of Firststag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2010-02-28:2036984:BlogPost:741832010-02-28T02:00:00.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
<p><strong>Location:</strong> Susquehanna River/Saginaw area <br></br><strong>Time:</strong> 11:30am - 3:50pm<br></br><strong>Water Temp:</strong> N/A <br></br><strong>Air Temp:</strong> 34-39</p>
<p><strong>River Stage:</strong> 4.23-4.22<br></br><strong>Bait:</strong> 1/64oz. jig heads tipped w/maggots<br></br>1/64oz. jig heads w/ Maki Maki<br></br>1/64oz. jig head w/ Maki Stoni</p>
<p>1/64oz. jig head w/ Maki Draggi <br></br><strong>Presentation(s):</strong> Cast and retrieve<br></br>vertical float/drift…</p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> Susquehanna River/Saginaw area <br/><strong>Time:</strong> 11:30am - 3:50pm<br/><strong>Water Temp:</strong> N/A <br/><strong>Air Temp:</strong> 34-39</p>
<p><strong>River Stage:</strong> 4.23-4.22<br/><strong>Bait:</strong> 1/64oz. jig heads tipped w/maggots<br/>1/64oz. jig heads w/ Maki Maki<br/>1/64oz. jig head w/ Maki Stoni</p>
<p>1/64oz. jig head w/ Maki Draggi <br/><strong>Presentation(s):</strong> Cast and retrieve<br/>vertical float/drift <br/><strong>Fish:</strong> Bluegill, Rockbass, Redbreasted Sunfish (55)<br/>Walleye (7)<br/>Smallmouth bass (1)<br/></p>
<p>As Z and I walked along the frozen dirt road, we discussed what was going to happen in a few minutes. The talk was about who was going to catch what and how many. Z had visions of grandeur as he proceeded to tell me how many more bluegills he was planning to catch then myself.</p>
<p>He was carrying his Micro Lite setup rigged with a single 1/64oz. jighead set to suspend 30" below a waggler style float. The plan was for him to fish live bait (waxworms and maggots) exclusively while I fished beside him with artificials. I was carrying The Strad rigged with an orange jighead and a black Maki Stoni.</p>
<p>The first stop we made was at an area that had produced well for us in the past. It was an apparently featureless, tapering bottom that offered a slower current area just off the main channel current. At the present river stage this area is an approx. 5.5-6ft. hole. It didn't take long for Z to connect with the day's first fish with his waxworm.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Zachwithgill.jpg"/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">I was carrying equipment to put togther a video along with the camera and dive case, which turned out to be a waste of resources. Z realized he was getting consistent action and felt the need to start smack talking my abilities. Now don't get me wrong, I love the child dearly, but he had to learn that in order to talk the talk, he had better be able to walk the walk. Being able to place my small jig directly at the seam between currents allowed me to fish an area he couldn't reach, which turned the tables to my advantage at a very fast pace. While the fishing was enjoyable, the quality of the fish wasn't what I was looking for. I opted to walk a few yards uostream and fish the area from a different angle to see if a new group of fish could be found that we weren't presenting to from the ground we normally fish this spot from. This decision turned out to be more of a test for The Strad then anything. On my second cast, while feeling for the jig to make contact with the bottom, I felt a fast tick-tick-tick take of a fish.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">If you have ever experienced the rod stopping weight of a fish during a hookset, you'll understand what I mean when I say I knew I just coupled with something more substantial then this rod/reel had ever experienced; something more substantial then this setup was designed for. While a normal individual's first thoughts would be "nice fish", mine were, "use the rod and work the drag". I instantly put the outcome of this battle in the hands of what I thought my abilities were.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Then it took to the air.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">The smallmouth bass cleared the surface by a full body length, head thrashing, and doing everything to rid itself of the object in its' mouth.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Then it took off to places unknown across the river.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">I left it go while slowly thumbing the spool to slow the fish down. This seemed to work, as it turned and finished its attempts at avoiding me by feeling my thumb on its' lower jaw.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/SmallmouthonStoni.jpg"/></p>
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<p>This was a first for me: a legal Pa smallmouth taken on a micro jig, with 2lb, line and a 7.5ft 1wt flyrod blank...............who would have thought?</p>
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<p>As the afternoon progressed, more panfish were caught, along with a few incidental catches.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/framedwalleye.jpg"/></p>
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<p>Small walleye seemed to accept the Maki plastic as quickly as the panfish. More then a few toothy faces showed themselves as the sun reflected off the water.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Walleyedentalwork.jpg"/></p>
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<p>Z had voiced on drive in that he'd like to catch a walleye this year. I assured him that we would spend some time fishing for them on Lake Marburg this summer. As I felt the telltale head shakes of the walleye I was catching, his request continued to come to mind. I was contemplating giving him my jig to see if he could scratch another species off his list, but each time it was interrupted by, "Dad, I got another one. Click it!"</p>
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<p>We moved downstream a few times, stopping at deeper holes and any wood structure we came across. The afternoon was filled with laughter, smiles, and the ever present "my fish is bigger then yours" comparisons.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/GillandRockbass.jpg"/></p>
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<p>Z managed to catch his first rockbass. A very nice 10" fish that wanted very badly to get back in the water while waiting for a picture to be taken.</p>
<p>I ended up losing all the plastics I had built so much confidence with over the last two trips, but not before they raised that confidence a bit higher. They brought my personal best for this waterway to hand.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/BigBluegill.jpg"/></p>
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<p>Just to make things interesting, I asked Z if he wanted to learn how to rig spikes (maggots) on a jig. He of course jumped at the chance, so we switched him over to fishing with five(5) maggots allowed to writher on the end of a jig head. That is when the whole afternoon became one that will never be forgotten.</p>
<p>Since I didn't have any artificials to fall back on, I started fishing a maggot tipped jighead w/o a float. That is when the bruisers for the day started showing up. Z's handled his first redbreasted sunfish:</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/RedbreastSunfish.jpg"/></p>
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<p>A few mature 'gills couldn't resist the wriggling "fingers" of multiple maggots. This particular one carried an elevated attitude when being removed from his lair:</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/PureAttitudebluegill.jpg"/></p>
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<p>Since Z was on such a role removing fish from his list he wanted to catch, he felt the need to increase a personal best as well. I'm not so certain this 8.5" RB sunfish doesn't beat mine!! A very healthy specimen for our area:</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/BigRedbreastsunfish.jpg"/></p>
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<p>At 3:30pm we decided to call it quits. We had ventured into new water with very little to show for it, and figured anymore fruitless time would simply take away from the wonderful afternoon of angling we had together. The road we walked in on had gone from frozen and snow covered to a sheer mess:</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/MuddyRoad.jpg"/></p>
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<p>We walked out to the truck talking about all the firsts we experienced today. There was one fish that stood out from all the others however. It wasn't the smallmouth on micro tackle, or those first panfish species. As we talked about it, it wasn't completely the fish itself but moreso what it was caught on. See, as Z was busy enjoying the last hour panfishing with maggots he had his wish granted....................on a 1/64oz. jig tipped with maggots fished under a float!!</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Zachsfirstwalleye.jpg"/></p>
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<p>Just for the record: when asked which fish he liked catching the most was, his answer was..............."Big Bluegill."</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Zachwithbullgill.jpg"/></p>
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<p></p>Pluggin' awaytag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2010-02-27:2036984:BlogPost:740912010-02-27T04:01:35.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
<div>This week's challenge is in the title. <br></br><br></br><strong>Goals:</strong> - handle 10 bluegill. <br></br><br></br><strong>Limitations: (</strong>Self inflicted) <br></br>- fish with only micro plugs <br></br><br></br><br></br>The list is extremely short in detail this week. What it lacks in entry, it makes up for with difficulty. I'm leaving the jigs, plastics, and enhancements at home. I'm going armed with simple different sizes, styles, and weights of small crankbaits (plugs). <br></br>There's a few reasons for…</div>
<div>This week's challenge is in the title. <br/><br/><strong>Goals:</strong> - handle 10 bluegill. <br/><br/><strong>Limitations: (</strong>Self inflicted) <br/>- fish with only micro plugs <br/><br/><br/>The list is extremely short in detail this week. What it lacks in entry, it makes up for with difficulty. I'm leaving the jigs, plastics, and enhancements at home. I'm going armed with simple different sizes, styles, and weights of small crankbaits (plugs). <br/>There's a few reasons for this: <br/>- Mark's use of snaps intrigues me. One of the very first things I do with plugs is remove the split ring, but rather then replace it with a snap, I tie directly to the line loop. That discussion took my attention to a bait I normally use behind planers. <br/>- The stomach contents of the fish I kept last week continued pushing me toward small minnow style baits. I figured the use of plugs would weed out some of the smaller 'gills, and allow me to effectively fish a few areas more thoroughly then I could do previously. <br/><br/>I've severly dropped the number of 'gills I'd like to catch, and I really don't expect to even hit that number. <br/>I am hoping to have at least one(1) heavy hitter along with me to balance out the odds: ½ of Team Zig will be along. ZZ will have his choice of arsenal; I'm very curious as to what he'll go with. <br/>Hookset may also be making his first 2010 trip with us. He'll be using my equipment (he <strong><em>will not</em></strong> have the Strad); he will be fishing a double rig under a float. I've switched position of the Berkley angle worm for this trip - we'll see what comes out of that. <br/>Hookset shared an interesting story with me about last year, if he makes this trip it will be very special to myself. <br/></div>
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<p><strong>Location:</strong> Susquehanna River/Saginaw area <br/><strong>Time:</strong> 6:53am- 10:57am <br/><strong>Water Temp:</strong> N/A <br/><strong>Air Temp:</strong> 21-33<br/><strong>Bait:</strong> small/micro crankbaits<br/> 1/64oz. hair jigs<br/> 1/64oz. jig head tipped w/ Honey worm <br/><strong>Presentation(s):</strong> Cast and retrieve<br/> vertical float/drift <br/><strong>Fish:</strong> Bluegill (37)<br/> Largemouth bass (1)<br/> Smallmouth bass (1)<br/><br/> Hookset and myself found ourselves on the shore of the warm water area a few minutes before 7:00am this morning. <br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-23-10002.jpg"/></p>
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<p>He was carrying my 8' Slab Seeker rigged with double jigs under a float, and I was armed with a 10' Tony Edgar Ozark with a Pins Minnow ready for action.<br/>It was surprising that we were all alone at this point in time. There was a truck parked at the lower boat launch that we later found was a goose hunter, but as far as other anglers, we had the entire place to ourselves. I was looking forward to this trip, as I had a capable angler available to fish the same areas I would be with a proven bait/presentation while I broke ground on a different approach. This literally saves me a trip, and allows me to put together information in a more precise set of circumstances. (Fishing the same conditions rather then two(2) seperate trips under different conditions)<br/>When we reached the first area I wanted to fish, it was very obvious the water was at the highest level I had seen so far this year. I took a few moments to explain the layout of the area, how I fish it (and why), and warned of the now underwater snags he would have to deal with. <br/>Hookset's eye sight isn't as sharp as it used to be, so I helped with tipping of the hair jig and the threading of the angle worm. <br/>I waited to see what the fish would tell us about the day, and after four drifts I started to look around for Mark's skunk. This was the most drifts I've had to take to get at least a notion of fish being present. <br/>I set-up a few feet away to fish the head and middle of the pool, and started casting.<br/>Time continued to click by, and it started to become very obvious the day was going to be more work then play. I had Hookset start playing with the depth of the jigs, and I started changing crankbaits.<br/>Just as the sun started bouncing off the water, Hookset sent the skunk home - at least for himself. I was still throwing hooks.<br/><br/>Ever so slowly, 'gills started getting lifted from the water. Ever so slowly, I started losing confidence in the tackle I opted to use.<br/>While there were no fish breaking our lower slot length, Hookset was enjoying himself. We talked about how useless those GULP! Angle worms were (at least at this waterway), and how it was interesting to see how two(2) presentations could have such different results from the exact same spot. <br/>He continued to catch.......................I continued to practice casting.<br/>We worked our way downstream, stopping at known productive areas. At 9:30am I had enough. It was very obvious what stamp I was going to use on the crankbaits.<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-23-10010copy.jpg"/></p>
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<p>While I can't say I'm completely writing them off, I will say the 2" and smaller crankbaits - both standard and modified to suspend - will <strong><em>not be</em></strong> on the short list of 'must have' tackle for warm water 'gillin.<br/><br/>I switched over to a single hair jig under a float and very quickly went from casting practice to CPRing.</p>
<p><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-23-10007copy.jpg"/></p>
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<p><br/>As the morning wore on, more and more anglers started showing up - both shore and boat. <br/>I can't say I didn't see other anglers catching this trip. There was a slew of smallmouth being caught all around us. While I can't say for certain, it appeared as if shiners were the bait of choice. Hookset ended up latching into something substantial that took him directly into the limbs of a blowdown...................twice. He called me over and said, "You fish in here and catch that thing." <br/>I asked how we would know if it was the same fish (?)<br/>Had to chuckle at his response, "cause I've hooked it twice now and lost it both times, so it'll have two(2) of your jigs in its' mouth!" You have to know Hookset and how serious he can be to understand why I found it so amusing.<br/>One thing I noticed was the amount of activity that took place right at my feet. There were numerous times when the abundant YOY that cruise the surface would start getting real antsy. They wouldn't scatter - just start acting differently. My curiousity took me to changing to a Honey worm tipped jig head to do some vertical jigging w/o a float.............just to see.<br/>The first thing I saw came in the form of a 12" smallmouth......................and the story its' mouth told me:<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-23-10006copy.jpg"/></p>
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<p>More 'gills were caught with this presentation, but all were smaller then what I was looking for. Another rig change back to a single hair jig and float was the final proof I needed to see to anchor this presenation as the best for bringing the larger fish to hand.<br/>I drifted this rig within 3ft of the shoreline in open water to bring the largest fish of the day. In total, seven(7) 'gills over our slot limit fell for this presentation.<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-23-10008copy.jpg"/></p>
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<p>So, the next trip will be taken w/o a challenge. I've seen enough to fill my confidence bucket to start exploring different areas. We certainly will not be seen 'gillin without what has proven to cover multiple conditions:<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-23-10016copy.jpg"/></p>
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<p></p>Team Zig unleashedtag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2010-02-27:2036984:BlogPost:740922010-02-27T04:00:00.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
<p>From my last entry, the area went through a high water period (a few days over flood stage). I did attempt a trip, as I figured I needed to fish in all conditions if I wanted to gain a true understanding of the waterway.</p>
<p>It was a bust.</p>
<p>Then we had snow...............record snowfall that kept us away from any fishing. When we did see a window, we took it. Following is how the few hours played out:</p>
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<p>I really don't know what to report from the trip Z and I took to…</p>
<p>From my last entry, the area went through a high water period (a few days over flood stage). I did attempt a trip, as I figured I needed to fish in all conditions if I wanted to gain a true understanding of the waterway.</p>
<p>It was a bust.</p>
<p>Then we had snow...............record snowfall that kept us away from any fishing. When we did see a window, we took it. Following is how the few hours played out:</p>
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<p>I really don't know what to report from the trip Z and I took to Saginaw today. Other then.......................Yeah!<br/>We planned an afternoon/evening trip to simply "go fishing". There was to be no notes, no measuring, no weighing - just plain and simple fishing. That is exactly what we did - well, at least everything but the note taking part. I took plenty of mental notes from this one!<br/>I fell again...............twice, the second of which aided in cutting our trip short along with a wader filled with water and entirely too much whining for my liking. We managed to get 2hrs. and 24 minutes of angling in. Within that time we cut triple digits for the first time in 2010. 102 panfish came to hand before I had had enough, and the best part of it..................they all came from the first area we fished!<br/><br/>Z decided to take our Leopard Gecko's food along for bait - waxworms. He fished these under a float threaded on a 1/64oz. jig head. He struggled with rigging them the way I wanted him to, and that was the start of his complaining. I take the worms and push the head inside out with the hook, then thread the entire worm on the hook much like the way we rig Honey Worms. This makes the jig head become the "head" of the waxworm while putting the hook right in the middle of the worm - making a very efficient rig.<br/>We didn't seperate how many each of us caught seperately, but it was very obvious my choice of baits well outfished this livebait simply because of time spent in the water.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/02-20-10001copy.jpg"/></p>
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<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">We started fishing a blind area, simply on a gut feeling. There was no visible structure, but a very visible current change from the main flow. I decided to stop and fish it figuring any slower current area had the possibility of holding 'gills. My decision was much better then I ever thought it would be, as the panfish were stacked along this seam like cordwood.<br/><br/>I started fishing a 1/80oz twister tipped w/a Crappie Nibble. There was a lot of time spent missing fish with this bait. A few 'gills were caught by bouncing it along the bottom. The first surprise was during a trial retrieve of swimming the twister. A small crappie inhaled the jig.<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/02-20-10004.jpg"/></p>
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<p>Z's live bait setup was on fire............when he had it in the water. It became obvious he would be hooked up on every cast. I mean every single time he landed a cast, his float was disappearing. There was no finesse watching the waggler style float - it simply disappeared. I had modified this style float for him by weighting the lower stem. This additional weight allowed him to cast further and more controlled then he could with a plain waggler and jig head. The problem he had was with deep set hooks and the need to constantly re-rig the live bait. I was getting 10-12 additional casts in the amount of time he took to release/re-rig/cast his setup.....................but it was catching fish at a higher ratio to cast then I was. <br/><br/>It was the change I made that really set the stage for catching. <br/>I was given a sample bag of Maki plastics from a customer a few years ago. I liked the way they looked and "flowed" in the aquariums, but never really paid much mind to them after that. I had grabbed the baggie on my way out the door with the mindset, "maybe I'll try one today". Well, I'm very glad I did, and may actually replace my twister tails with an assortment of these plastics from here on out. They fished GREAT! on their own today; meaning they didn't need tipped with anything to draw committed strikes. The only way I can communicate the strike experience was, the fish <strong>annihilated</strong> the baits. There was no additional weight when the rod was raised, no line watching for a subtle tick.................it was a rod-yanking strike. <br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/02-20-10009copy.jpg"/></p>
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<p><br/>While Z continued to bring 'gills to hand with the waxworms, the new-to-me plastic bait was working it's way through multiple species.<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/02-20-10006copy.jpg"/></p>
<p>'Gills, Redeye, Green sunfish, a few hybrid crosses, and the most crappie I've caught from the river. It seemed the more crappie I caught, the larger they got - which is odd for this species of fish.<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/02-20-10010.jpg"/></p>
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<p>The only thing I can't say I liked about these plastics is the direct result of what I really like about them. They are not impressively durable. It didn't take but 2-3 fish to tear them up that they needed attention after a retrieved cast. They still worked fine, but were torn up enough that they wouldn't stay straight on the hook. I understand this is due to their construction to be unbelievably fluid in water - they are as top shelf with action response to movement as they can be without being real. They just can't deal with the amount of fish they were being credited for catching. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing - I just expect more.<br/><br/>I made one last change......"just to see". I was curious what a larger bait in a different color would do, so I switched to a:<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/02-20-10012copy.jpg"/></p>
<p>You can see from the picture what I am talking about in regards to durablity. The left side "arm" has the end bit off, and you can see the numerous times I had to reset the hook placement to keep the bait rigged straight. However, it brought many, many fish to hand...........and they tended to be a bit "beefier":<br/></p>
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<p>Z had enough of this spot, I had enough of Z so we decided to try another area. We found the crappie tree mentioned in previous reports. It may play a part in future reports, but only if the water is high. It was moved 90 degrees from its original location. Rather then laying out into the river like it was before, it is now parallel to the shoreline; on the shoreline. Z and I waded out to fish the deeper water that I know is there, but I took him a bit too far. Seems as if I misjudged the top of his hip boots by a few millimeters. He made his first cast and announced, "Dad, my feet are getting wet." <br/>I hushed him, figuring it was a continuation of his complaining from the previous spot. He had never been this deep in water before, so I explained to him that water pressure on waders makes it feel as if they are leaking sometimes, but that is was merely the chill from the rubber he was feeling.<br/>I was wrong.<br/>He insisted his one foot was getting wet. We weren't getting any strikes within the few casts we made, so I pulled the plug on the trip. On the way home I kept hearing water sloshing around from the backseat. Asking Z what that was coming from (thinking it was a water bottle that fell on the floor), he said: "It's the water in my boot."<br/>I emptied approx. a half gallon of water out of his one wader when we got home..................<img src="http://static.yuku.com/domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/embarassed.gif"/><br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/02-20-10002copy.jpg"/></p>"You obviously didn't read the signs"tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2010-02-27:2036984:BlogPost:740892010-02-27T03:52:34.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
<strong>Location:</strong> Susquehanna River/Saginaw area <br></br><strong>Time:</strong> 7:03am- 11:19am <br></br><strong>Water Temp:</strong> N/A<br></br><strong>Air Temp:</strong> 36-48<br></br><strong>Bait:</strong> 1/80oz. twister(s)<br></br><strong>Presentation(s):</strong> Cast and retrieve<br></br><strong>Fish:</strong> You're gonna have to read it this week <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/happy.gif"></img> <br></br><br></br><br></br> The plan began right on schedule. I was setting the truck alarm at 7:03am while struggling to see where I was walking. It was…
<strong>Location:</strong> Susquehanna River/Saginaw area <br/><strong>Time:</strong> 7:03am- 11:19am <br/><strong>Water Temp:</strong> N/A<br/><strong>Air Temp:</strong> 36-48<br/><strong>Bait:</strong> 1/80oz. twister(s)<br/><strong>Presentation(s):</strong> Cast and retrieve<br/><strong>Fish:</strong> You're gonna have to read it this week <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/happy.gif"/><br/><br/><br/> The plan began right on schedule. I was setting the truck alarm at 7:03am while struggling to see where I was walking. It was that time of the morning when there is enough light to see, but not enough for the human eye to see anything in color. As I walked toward the river I started thinking about how few other anglers I saw on the drive to this location. I thought for certain there would be a crowd of anglers taking advantage of a warmer morning then we have seen in awhile. <br/>When I reached the bank I could easily see Mark's information was solid; the river was indeed down from last week, but not enough to completely eliminate my choice of starting point. My attention quickly turned to the Strad (formerly known as the Stardivarious II). It was moments away from making it's maiden presentation. <br/>It was rigged with a 1/80oz., chartreuse green jighead, tipped w/a white twister tail. The jig was left to dangle off the rod a few feet, then the brightness of the morning came back into play again. I couldn't see the jig. I could feel it, but I couldn't see it. This in itself posed a problem; how was I supposed to cast something I couldn't see, with a rod I had never cast, into gray moving water I could barely see? Somehow I did it.....................the next problem was I had no idea where I cast. I didn't know if my bait went straight, to the right, to the left..............I had no idea as I certainly couldn't hear the tiny jig touch down. The only option I had was to start reeling and hope for the best.<br/>I reeled, and reeled, and reeled, and began wondering if the line had broken and I was standing there just spinning the gears, and reeled some more. I had to actually reach out to make sure there was line coming off the rod - which there was. A few more turns and I could see the white twister come out of the water. <br/>I bumped up the concentration level a few notches for the second cast. This time I think I saw where it landed. <br/>Three cranks of the handle and I felt the first tap. <br/>It scared the wits out of me. My attention was focused on exactly where this new rod was putting this tiny jig, not on how the rod would transmit a strike. It was enough to make me knee jerk a hookset that Ali would be proud of. I struck back that hard the jig launched out of the water and landed in the dark abyss behind me. <br/>The third cast I saw for certain - right smack dap in the retrieval path of the most limbs the river has in right now. <br/><br/>It's a good thing my phone has an application for a light. Ever try to re-rig a 1/80oz. jighead with 2lb. line against a grey sky? It's almost as hard as doing it above a phone light. In any event, I got the hot pink jighead rigged and was finally able to place a cast. A few hops of the jig and I set the hook home into the Strad's first fish. It's not the biggest 'gill I've ever seen, in fact, it was about as mediocre as they come, but it was the first fish on the system I put together specifically for this purpose. <br/>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-16-10001.jpg"/></p>
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<p>The ice had been broken. I started seeing color. I sent another cast out. <br/>The bluegills started coming to hand throughout the 10 casts I allowed myself along the blowdown I started fishing at. Just as I took a few steps to position myself to work the current seam that ran along this hole, I turn around to see a Regional police car sitting in front of my truck. The driver's window was down and I heard the officer yell to me, "You obviously didn't read the signs when you came back here."<br/>"What signs?" probably wasn't the most thought out response I should have gave him. He proceeds to point to five(5) "No Parking" signs along the side on the road I parked on. <br/>We hollered back and forth to each other as I started collecting my things. He ended up getting out of his cruiser and meeting me halfway. Turns out he was a really down to earth officer. The Game Commision and the township has taken action against those who are using the lower Saginaw area as a 4wd park. He told me stories about broken down vehicles that were abandoned, left stuck in the river, rolled over in the river, etc. We talked for the better part of a half hour about how the anglers end up getting the short end of the stick in the whole deal. He informed me that the Regional police would not be the governing body, but the Game Commision and the township would be the ones handing out the fines for not obeying the signs. He was merely giving me a heads-up, as he knew I wasn't there to cause problems - simply to fish. I took the time to move my vehicle and on the way back in, I passed him coming back out. He rolled down the window again and said, "Hey, I have your license plate number and vehicle description on the exemption list. That gets your vehicle overlooked if you forget to read the signs again." He smiled and moved on.<br/><br/>I had to get back to the fishing. I had 30 'gills to handle and the clock didn't stop ticking.<br/>I had given myself a personal challenge of catching 30 'gills on twister tails only + measuring and weighing them.........................I really wasn't thinking. That takes time, especially when you're waist deep in water and have to walk out every time to record the numbers. I ended up using a bag and digital scale to get the weights.<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-16-10003.jpg"/></p>
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<p>The fish that is in the bag was one of the slot fish I kept. It was an 8.5" fish that weighed just a touch over a half pound (9ozs.) Some of the other numbers are tagged with the day's smallest contribution.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-16-10006copy.jpg"/></p>
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<p>The 30 'gill mark? <br/>I had that covered at 10:13am. Putting three(3) twister tail combinations together, and using them exclusively, brought my clicker to rest at 42 'gills for the morning. The one part I didn't make good on was the 10 slot fish for a meal. I brought eight(8) home - which are on ice until I get time on Sunday to fillet them.<br/><br/>So, all in all, a good morning, But it doesn't end there.<br/>While bluegill made up the majority of that 42 number, I had a few of my favorite river sunfish mixed in.<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-16-10010.jpg"/></p>
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<p>But that's not all....................<br/>Seven(7) of the most intriquing panfish didn't get included in the count, but were forced to pose for pictures.<br/></p>
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<p>Does it end there? <br/>No.<br/>Part way through the morning, I lost a rig to an unseen snag. Taking advantage of a re-rig, I switch colors again - this time to an all orange bait. I made this move because I knew the Marburg 'gills respond well to orange and I had remembered a bright orange plug that used to be the rage at Saginaw in the late 70's. What happened next, I wasn't prepared for mentally. Five(5) casts were made into the same area I had just caught 'gills from, without so much as a tap. I shifted my target spot downstream approx. 10 ft, let the jig fall, made three turns on the reel handle, let the jig fall, and saw the line tick. The Strad doubled over farther then it had all morning and started throbbing from the head shaking that was going on at the other end.<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-16-10002.jpg"/></p>
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<p>Here again, while they aren't they largest things that are swimming in these waters, catching them on micro tackle, with a rod build to maximize panfish enjoyment - they were a welcome species to the hands. Five(5) walleye ended up taking that orange twister, well actually six(6), but the last one being more substantial then the previous was only willing to let me know he was down there before seperating my twister and myself.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/01-16-10008.jpg"/></p>
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<p>Just for one last kicker, the Strad even showed it was up to the task of yet another river resident. Mark one(1) smallmouth up on today's roster.<br/></p>
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<p></p>Perfect panfish system?tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2010-02-27:2036984:BlogPost:740862010-02-27T03:39:49.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
<p>I haven't even put a reel on this rod yet, and I know my quest is complete. I have never, and I mean never, held a rod like this one before. <br></br>Built by the Rodmakers Shop in Strongsville, Ohio "The Stradavarious II" has completed my requirements for the perfect panfish system.<br></br>This is a hybrid of sorts. The butt section is "based off" a 2wt fly rod, the tip section is "based off" a 1wt fly rod. Then there is a one foot piece of graphite extending the butt section farther into the…</p>
<p>I haven't even put a reel on this rod yet, and I know my quest is complete. I have never, and I mean never, held a rod like this one before. <br/>Built by the Rodmakers Shop in Strongsville, Ohio "The Stradavarious II" has completed my requirements for the perfect panfish system.<br/>This is a hybrid of sorts. The butt section is "based off" a 2wt fly rod, the tip section is "based off" a 1wt fly rod. Then there is a one foot piece of graphite extending the butt section farther into the handle. <br/>Overall length is 7'6". <br/>I'm quoting "based off" because if I understand Frank properly, these sections are being purchased as raw stock. The characteristics of the tubes are the same as the above mentioned ratings, yet not rated as such (?) <br/>It didn't make much sense to me at first either, but the materials he uses to make these are that raw, they have no identifying marks on them. (this is as close as I'll get to NASA technology without actually having it Mark) <br/>Frank and I talked at length about what would suit my needs, and during the course of conversation I asked if he'd be willing to go yet another step and put together a 1wt/0wt combination w/a 1½ft. graphite extension. <img alt="image" src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/eek.gif"/> <br/>It was at this point that I really felt comfortable having him as a rod builder. We discussed the strength of a 1wt lower section and decided that while it would be a "technically" great combination, the strength of the cross matched sizes (1wt/0wt) just wouldn't work in concert as well as the Stratavarious does. (almost too "whispy" to effectively cast the weights I use against a firmer butt section) <img alt="image" src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/nerd.gif"/> <br/><br/>I'll get pics up once I anchor what I want to use. I hit a snag with the reel I had planned to use. It balanced at the handle/rod juncture, and I don't want that point with this setup. I want the balance point to be directly above the spool of the reel, so I'm trying to decide if I want to go to a heavier reel or if I want to add weight to the rear of the handle. I'm leaning more to the larger reel as that puts the end of the harmonic resonance directly into my hand rather then continuing past into the handle. Once I get it together the way I want, you guys will see it - seeing it is one thing, you really have to get this thing in your hand to appreciate exactly what it does.</p>
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<p>I had a plan going into this. It was formed from 34 years of chasing panfish, trying an unknown amount of rod/reel/line/bait size and weight combinations. Just when I thought I finally found the answer....................I picked up my calipers. <br/>I <strong><em>thought</em></strong> the system would use 1lb. test main line with a 1/2lb. leader. That changed over the course of the last two days.<br/>We'll start with the rod:<br/>As mentioned before this is a custom 2-piece based off flyrod blank ratings. <br/>The handle/rod seat end consists of cork and a Fuji reel seat:<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/Zachsadaptationproject004.jpg"/></p>
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<p>I opted to match a Quantum Kinetic PTi20 to it, due to it's long spool throat and weight. I had a desired balance point for this setup, and this reel hits it dead center.<br/>The guides are all single foot spinning with polished inserts:<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/Guidecloseup.jpg"/></p>
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<p>To get an idea of the overall size of this setup, here are a few comparison pics against a standard BIC #2 lead pencil:<br/></p>
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<p>As I mentioned before, I wanted this rod to balance directly over the center of the reel spool. I feel this location exaggerates the feel and control of the rod when it loads up both during the cast and when fighting a fish:<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/Zachsadaptationproject012.jpg"/></p>
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<p></p>One year later...........tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2010-02-27:2036984:BlogPost:740842010-02-27T03:20:57.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
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<p>The years seem to go by faster and faster the more often they happen. After losing the majority of 2009 to a second back surgery, I have found myself and my children once again fishing for panfish. Starting in 2010, we have ourselves starting again at the same place we left off - the warmwater flow of the Susquehanna River.</p>
<p>This year started off much different then before - here's the start from the first weekend in January:…</p>
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<p>The years seem to go by faster and faster the more often they happen. After losing the majority of 2009 to a second back surgery, I have found myself and my children once again fishing for panfish. Starting in 2010, we have ourselves starting again at the same place we left off - the warmwater flow of the Susquehanna River.</p>
<p>This year started off much different then before - here's the start from the first weekend in January:</p>
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<p align="left"><strong>Location:</strong> Susquehanna River/Saginaw area<br/><strong>Time:</strong> 9:15am - 11:35am<br/><strong>Water Temp:</strong> 58<br/><strong>Air Temp:</strong> 21-27<br/><strong>Bait:</strong> Artificials</p>
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<p align="left"><br/><strong>Presentation(s):</strong> free line<br/> pegged float<br/><strong>Fish:</strong> Bluegill (19)<br/> Redbreasted sunfish (1)<br/><br/><br/> Mrs. Zig thought I had officially lost my mind. "You do realize it's only 19 degrees out there right now................and windy." is what I heard as I gathered a few more last minute items. <br/>She was right - it was cold. However the chill was forgotten very quickly once I made that first cast.<br/>I headed to the warm water discharge flow area of Brunner's Island:<br/><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10019.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left">I was carrying an 8' Zebco Slab Seeker matched w/a "new to me" Plueger Trion reel. Spooled w/4lb chartreuse Sufix Elite mono and rigged with a double jig rig, I had a high feeling of confidence. I was curious how this line/reel/rod combination would work with a pair of 1/64oz. jigs. I was curious how well I would be able to see strikes with the bright chartreuse line. I was very curious how the Berkley angle worms I had along would work. <br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10002.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left"><br/>When I reached the first area I wanted to fish, I tipped the pearl white/pink marabou jig that anchored the rig w/a white Crappie Nibble, and opted to thread an angle worm on the 1/64oz. Firetiger jighead that hung 16" above the marabou jig.<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10003.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left"><br/>Response was swift and immediate. The very first cast was answered by what turned out to be the days average bluegill:<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10007.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left"><br/><br/>The fact that it took the marabou jig over the angle worm made me start paying attention. While I had full confidence in this new bait, the facts started adding up a different picture. There were a few things that became obvious early on; the marabou jig was outfishing the jighead/angle worm, the marabou jig was bringing in the largest 'gills, a Crappie Nibble was of utmost importance, as the first fish that came on the angle worm was a result of an untipped marabou jig.<br/>While the 'gills weren't trophy class, their size would make any panfish angler smile. Who doesn't like a bluegill with shoulders?<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10006.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left"><br/>I ended up losing the original rig to structure, and opted to stay with a jighead/jig rig. I was curious if a suspended presentation would do any better, so I added a pegged float to the rig:<br/><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10010.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left"><br/>The marabou was swapped out w/a blue/chartreuse green hair jig and the Firetiger was replaced with a hot pink jighead. The float was moved around from 28 to 32" to keep the lower jig just above the bottom. (Set point adjusted to allow an even drift with the current - no drag on bottom)<br/>This choice of jig brought the largest fish of the day to hand, a flawless 9.25" double hump bluegill:<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10011.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left"><br/>There were a few times that the double jig rig messed with the numbers. What I found interesting was that each double always brought the smallest 'gills to hand - both in length and weight.<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10005.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left"><br/><br/>While I mentioned the angle worm not performing like I had hoped, I do have to clarify that thought. It was cold. Very cold. Cold enough that I really didn't want to take my gloves off as often as I did. That being said, the angle worm was always in the upper water column. Had I really wanted to see an accurate view of the true potential of this bait, I should have switched it to the lower jig location. The chance that the 'gills were willing to feed no higher then just above the bottom may very well have everything to do with the success of the hair and marabou jig success. <br/>Every 'gill came from the upstream side of wood cover - not a single fish was caught on the downstream side of any cover:<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10013.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left"><br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10016.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left"><br/><br/>No matter where I looked there was ice; on the opposite side of the river, flowing by:<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10017.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left"><br/>Or at places much closer:<br/></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10018.jpg"/></p>
<p align="left"><br/>But I didn't care - the 'gills were fiesty, willing, and full of warmth.</p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Warmwater%202010/Warmwater01-09-10015.jpg"/></p>
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<p align="left">I hope to get the other past journals posted so I can get myself caught up for tomorrow's trip report.</p>Super Sundaytag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-02-05:2036984:BlogPost:204982009-02-05T03:30:00.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
The deeper I dig into this love of panfishing, the more I am beginning to enjoy what comes after a fishing trip then the actual trip. Sure I still lose sleep the night before I know I'll be either on, in, or next to the water with a fishing rod in hand; there's always an anticipation while enroute to the destination, and having a sudden tug or seeing a float disappear still puts a smile on my face.<br />
This recent foray into the unknown has really focused my attention away from the angling and more…
The deeper I dig into this love of panfishing, the more I am beginning to enjoy what comes after a fishing trip then the actual trip. Sure I still lose sleep the night before I know I'll be either on, in, or next to the water with a fishing rod in hand; there's always an anticipation while enroute to the destination, and having a sudden tug or seeing a float disappear still puts a smile on my face.<br />
This recent foray into the unknown has really focused my attention away from the angling and more toward the diagnosis of both my own abilities and the ability of the fishery.<br />
Follow me for a few minutes and I'll show you why I say this.<br />
<br />
Sunday afternoon, ZZ and myself had a planned return trip to the Saginaw area below Brunner's Island on the Susquehanna River. I have been on a mission of sorts to see what kind of bluegill fishery this flow had. I hadn't had the results I was hoping for, yet there was just enough being seen to fuel more field research.<br />
As we turned onto Gut Rd. we immediately noticed the drive wasn't going to be a fast one. The road was a sheet of thick ice.<br />
There were more angler's along this stretch of water then I had seen all year, and the parking area at the railroad bridge was overflowing with vehicles.<br />
I opted to continue down the "path" to the lower boat launch - planning to fish our way upstream. The lower parking opportunities were no better then the first lot, so I backed the truck into a small hole off the path halfway between each lot.<br />
The whole area was full of anglers. Some were chest deep in water, others had lawn chairs set up right beside the water enjoying the afternoon.<br />
ZZ and I turned and headed down river.<br />
The water was exceptionaly clear, and with polarized glasses I was able to see everything from the elevated shoreline. The first hole we came to held a small collection of carp, and a submerged tree trunk with a lone branch sticking off it. I didn't see any fish holding around it, but couldn't resist unhooking my rig to present a jig along its' length.<br />
I was rigged with a 1/32oz. hair jig set 24" under a pegged float. (There's a little more detail behind the actual rigging, but we'll get to that a little later.) The idea was to let the current move the jig along as if it was a baitfish being swept by the current. Numerous passes in this pool produced nothing quickly so we continued to walk downstream, peering into the water as we went.<br />
The next stop was another blind chance spot. I had noticed a flow break along an otherwise smooth section of water. As we got closer, I could see it was a piece of driftwood that had gotten wedged on the bottom. What interested me was the washed out area this wood created just below it. It was just deep enough I couldn't make out the bottom. ZZ still hadn't made a cast, and the height of the shoreline combined with the melting snow made me a bit uneasy to allow him much closer then where he was behind me. I took him to an open area downstream that allowed clear casting and the tail end of this "divot" to fish. He was rigged with a 1/64oz. jighead tipped w/a Honey Worm set to suspend 22" below a slip float.<br />
I walked back upstream to float past the driftwood.<br />
The intial cast landed on target about three feet above the rippled surface, allowing the jig to be at set depth just as it entered the washout area.................the float hesitated. I reared back and missed.<br />
A repeat cast of the first was rewarded this time with the float popping under the surface. I reared, felt the weight of a fish...............and promptly lost it.<br />
A deep breathe was taken before I placed another drift into motion. This time I was ready. The float never made it past the wood - the float completely disappeared, I waited a second, then lifted the rod straight up.........................fish on!<br />
I could see right away as the fish came up to the surface it was a small panfish, but I wasn't prepared for what I was about to see.<br />
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/?action=view&current=02-01-09027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/02-01-09027.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a><br />
When I first saw the gillflap angle, length, and lack of bright orange on the breast, the redbreasted sunfish wasn't one of my guesses. Thinking I had a real gem in my presence, I quickly took a picture and released the fish. I must have been speaking my thoughts out loud, as ZZ appeared at my side scolding me for letting it go before he could see it.<br />
We spent a considerable amount of time here; I was hoping for a repeat, and it looked like the spot held potential for other sunfish. It wasn't to be.<br />
Moving farther downstream, we came to a large pool off the main flow of the river. Here again, I could see every rock and pebble.<br />
There were no fish to be seen, but I set ZZ up to fish an area, while I postioned myself to fish another section.<br />
I set up from an elevated location so I could keep an eye for any movement within the pool. My first cast didn't drift 3 ft. before I saw the white head of the jig disappear. I never did look at the float, but instinctively pulled up on the rod. The fish did not approve of this action, as it rolled sideways giving me an eyefull of silver flashes then took off across the pool. I know I was smiling as it put up a fight, but even more when I had it in my hand.<br />
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/?action=view&current=02-01-09030.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/02-01-09030.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/?action=view&current=02-01-09029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/02-01-09029.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a><br />
<br />
Originally thinking I was handling longear sunfish - which are an endangered species in Pa - I was quite taken by their appearance. Looking back at the pictures, I realized these are redbreasted sunfish and not longears. By this point in time, my trip had reached it's pinnicle. How could it possibly get any better?<br />
More casts throughout the pool did just that - made it better. The fish were slowly getting bigger:<br />
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/?action=view&current=02-01-09028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/02-01-09028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a><br />
<br />
ZZ had yet to get a hit.<br />
<br />
It was getting closer to kick-off, and I noticed we suddenly had the area to ourselves. We packed up and headed upstream to see if we could get into the area I had originally wanted to fish. The move paid off, as there was only one vehicle left when we reached the area we started in................my truck.<br />
The sun had dropped down below the treeline now, making the spot and fish technique I was using less then ideal. We came to the backside of a large blowdown that looked as if it just had to hold some panfish. I placed the float farther back from the tree then I wanted, but immediately saw the swarm of fish competing for a bite of my jig. As quickly as I saw them, I was hooked up.....................and I knew when I saw it turn it's side against the resistance of the rod I was into a good bluegill.<br />
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/?action=view&current=02-01-09033.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/02-01-09033.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a><br />
<br />
We had found what we had been looking for - fish that had "the helmet."<br />
After a picture and a few more moments of admiration, it was released and I turned my attention to ZZ. He took the spot for best presentation, and placed his Honey worm right where it needed to be. We watched his float intently...................waiting....................waiting................nothing doing.<br />
Another great placement............................and more nothing.<br />
A third cast that went slightly off target, but still well within the range I witnessed the fish willing to move around in.....................................nadda.<br />
<br />
I picked up my rod, set the hair jig right against the tree, in the flow, and no sooner did it touch down - it disappeared. Add another oversized gill to the count.<br />
I had ZZ put the Honey Worm back in again, and nothing.<br />
I wasted no time changing him over to a 1/32oz. hair jig. This is what the doctor ordered, as now he was into fish on nearly every cast. Once I picked up my rod again, the doubles started and we began comparing who had the biggest ones. It was a fun time.<br />
Before we left I wanted to hit one more spot, so we left these fish only to find another collection of 'gills upstream farther.<br />
The new location supplied us with yet another species - the green sunfish:<br />
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/?action=view&current=02-01-09034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/02-01-09034.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a><br />
<br />
I noticed as it grew darker, the fish changed how they reacted to the presentation. Rather then a slow drift next to cover, it appeared as if the larger fish had moved away from the cover and wanted a pull-stop-pull presentation with the floats. It worked like a charm. ZZ had it down to a science, so I turned to the logjam I was standing next to and changed gears from a cast/retrieve to a dabble. I stuck the 6'6" rod I was using as far out as I could, and dropped the jig-n-float into a small opening deep in the jam.<br />
I'm pretty sure the jig was taken before the float ever touched the surface, because it certainly didn't stop once it hit the water.<br />
I missed what ever it was.<br />
Not to be beaten, I copied the presentation. The reward came in the form of a repeat performance from my dance partner:<br />
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/?action=view&current=02-01-09039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/02-01-09039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a><br />
<br />
HA! It was the icing on the cake. I wanted to find big bluegill; I found not only them, but also a few cousins. I wanted to get into some rockbass, and there was a whole mess of them underneath the logjam I was standing next to.<br />
ZZ was having a blast; it just couldn't get any better.<br />
<br />
Or could it?<br />
<br />
When we finally decided to pull the plug, I looked at the counter I was hitting in my pocket during this trip. It was settled on the number 44.<br />
I looked at the stringer of fish I purposely kept to start a running documentation of facts from this waterway. It held 5 fish - (4) bluegill and (1) rockbass. As I turned to head up to the truck, I saw this out of the corner of my eye:<br />
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/?action=view&current=02-01-09041.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/General%20fishing/02-01-09041.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a><br />
<br />
Couldn't help but wonder if I was seeing the future of the sport develop right before my very eyes.<br />
<br />
The trip was fun, but the real exciting stuff happened after the football game. Just how big were those fish we were into?<br />
I won't go into great depth with these numbers, as I have something brewing that will only elevate whatever I could do right now. This is the part of the trip that really had me excited.<br />
I took the fish we kept, measured them, weighed them, and aged them. Here's what I found:<br />
Bluegill:<br />
8" - 6.0ozs<br />
8" - 6.2ozs<br />
8.25" - 7.4ozs<br />
7 15/16" - 5.7ozs<br />
Rockbass:<br />
6.75" - 3.3ozs.<br />
<br />
I'm still working on getting a firm age class on each of the fish. I've found that the warmwater these fish are living in seems to extend their growth period. Not a single fish had prominent growth markings on either the otoliths or the scales. As of right now, the two 8" fish are between 3.5-4.5 years old.<br />
I took these numbers and compared them with what the Pa management has documented as "averages":<br />
Bluegill:<br />
8" - 4.8oz - 5.5 years<br />
8.25" - 5.6ozs - 6.0 years<br />
<br />
It has taken three(3) trips, to find bluegill that can be considered above average from a new-to-me, public waterway. Having Wr numbers from 82 to 98, are there bigger bluegill still elluding us within this flow?<br />
<br />
The quest goes on......................The Experience Continuestag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-01-26:2036984:BlogPost:180832009-01-26T02:30:00.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
Somewhere between coning the hubs on BSA wheels and doing the final alignment test run on my son's Pinewood derby car, I heard the words, "When are we going to that warmwater place again?"<br />
When these words are spoken, by anyone, within the confines of our household it means only one thing - someone's going fishing.<br />
<br />
I took my oldest along on yet another exploratory trip to the warmwater discharge from a local power generating plant. This waterway gets quite a bit of angling pressure for…
Somewhere between coning the hubs on BSA wheels and doing the final alignment test run on my son's Pinewood derby car, I heard the words, "When are we going to that warmwater place again?"<br />
When these words are spoken, by anyone, within the confines of our household it means only one thing - someone's going fishing.<br />
<br />
I took my oldest along on yet another exploratory trip to the warmwater discharge from a local power generating plant. This waterway gets quite a bit of angling pressure for smallmouth and walleye, yet very little for bluegill or rockbass.<br />
My last trip consisted of low water and massive quantities of falling water, so I figured a sunny afternoon would at least take one, less then ideal, condition out of the equation.<br />
This is shore angling with a good deal of chest deep wading thrown in for good measure, or at least necessary to achieve the needed angle to drift baits along the numerous seams and ledges. ZZ (my oldest) didn't have waders, so we used the next best option we had - his snow boots. Armed with a vest full of jigs and small crankbaits, we started at a location a few hundred yards downstream of the actual discharge. I wish I could say we had the place to ourselves, but the scenery looked more like an ESPN commercial then a postcard of solitude.<br />
I situated ZZ on a rock that gave him a little extra casting distance for the jointed Rapala he chose to use. After I felt he was secure enough to fend for himself, I started wading upstream from him. This move was done to accomplish two things: 1) I was hoping the disturbance I made as I walked may stimulate some feeding activity in front of his postion, and 2) I wanted to be able to make a quartering upstream cast with the 1/32oz. spinner jig/twister combo I was starting with along a downed tree trunk.<br />
After a few casts, I realized the water I was fishing wasn't anything more then a large flat that didn't even come above my knees. The current break the tree created didn't show anything for my efforts, so I turned back to tell ZZ we needed to move on. As soon as I turned, I saw him set the hook.<br />
No sooner did the image register in my mind, I heard, "Daddy, I got one!"<br />
<br />
It's quite amusing at times to see the excitement of a young angler. Here was one that had just hooked up with a fish that instantly drew the attention from those anglers closest to him, (it didn't hit me until after the picture was taken that I hadn't seen anyone else catching anything), reeling for all his might against a drag that obviously wasn't tight enough. Somehow he managed to land his first fish of the day, a small largemouth:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Collect%20all/01-23-09001.jpg"/></p>
<br />
I knew I had a problem on my hands now. How was I going to convince him we needed to move?<br />
I figured it wouldn't hurt anything to work the flat a little more thoroughly.........maybe he was on to something.<br />
20 minutes later we both knew he wasn't, so we moved down river a few hundred more yards. We stopped at the first location that offered him a chance to cover some water that held a few eddies and some structure. Once again, I went knee deep into the unknown.<br />
I gave the area the best attempt I could, but just couldn't get my mindset past the thoughts of needing to find some type of deep hole or larger eddy then we were finding. To say my confidence was low was an understatement. I had myself convinced the area wasn't going to hold what I was looking for and it could be seen in my lack of attentiveness. Wading out of the water, and walking back to were I had left ZZ, I was presented with this picture:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Collect%20all/01-23-09002.jpg"/></p>
Fully expecting to walk over and see both treble hooks embeded in either his gloves or jacket.............or both, I was quite surprised when he stood up, admired another largemouth and gently release it.<br />
He heard me break a twig walking over to him, turned around, smiled, and said, "Hey Daddy, I just caught another one."<br />
This wouldn't have had such an impact on me had I actually been getting any kind of action. The fact that I had yet to even have a tap, and he was nonchalantly voicing that he had caught "another one" kinda rubbed me the wrong way.<br />
I love the child dearly, but thoughts of just giving him a shove into the water were beginning to materialize in my head.<br />
We fished for a few more minutes then decided the wind was just too wicked to deal with anymore. The long walk back to the truck was what memories are made of. His excitement was showing in his never ending conversation, and I was relishing every word, knowing he may very well never forget this time we were spending together.<br />
On our way home, I drove over to the power plant to explain the processes that made this warmwater fishing possible then we drove downstream for a few miles just to see what other anglers were doing. We reached the end of a dirt road that I had used on my first trip this year and was surprised to see no other vehicles there.<br />
"Let's take just a few minutes to check this one spot down here before we go home" I offered to ZZ. He was fine with the idea - for a few minutes.<br />
I had just enough time to get a few casts into an eddy that had much deeper water then where we came from to pull my second panfish from this section of the river - a short pumpkinseed:<br />
<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Collect%20all/?action=view&current=01-23-09003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Collect%20all/01-23-09003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a><br />
<br />
I say short, because the thickness of this fish seemed inflated for it's length. This single fish brought hope to my beliefs that there is an untapped bluegill fishery here. Another cast along the wood pile that had collected in this eddy produced a solid take, but no hook-up. My white twister tail was torn off just behind the hook.<br />
ZZ was losing interest quickly.<br />
I started wondering about larger pumpkinseeds.<br />
ZZ started voicing his lack of interest.<br />
I looked at the water and started wondering about rockbass, smallmouth, and walleye.<br />
ZZ was at my side saying he was ready to go.<br />
I looked at the openings between the floating logs and thought............I'll vertical jig them next time.....................<br />
<br />
Sunday afternoon found ZZ telling anyone that would listen about his fishing trip.<br />
I was just as proud of him taking 3rd. place out of 48 cars at his Pinewood Derby.Did it................won't do it again.tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-11-20:2036984:BlogPost:108432008-11-20T18:00:00.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
Well, I did it. I stepped out of my comfort zone and into uncharted waters..............literally.<br />
<br />
I'm strapped for time, so I'll have to keep it brief................for now.<br />
The weather forecast called for rain as I loaded the truck with chest waders, wading boots, and a tackle vest that was carefully packed with "first assault" gear. The destination was a local river for some exploritory bluegill angling.<br />
<br />
The result was less then appealing, however not because of angling success.<br />
I'm going…
Well, I did it. I stepped out of my comfort zone and into uncharted waters..............literally.<br />
<br />
I'm strapped for time, so I'll have to keep it brief................for now.<br />
The weather forecast called for rain as I loaded the truck with chest waders, wading boots, and a tackle vest that was carefully packed with "first assault" gear. The destination was a local river for some exploritory bluegill angling.<br />
<br />
The result was less then appealing, however not because of angling success.<br />
I'm going to blame it on the weatherman.<br />
After covering just short of a mile and a half of extremely low water, working every eddy, and slow water edge I could find, my phone rang.<br />
Now, I don't carry a phone when I'm angling because I feel the need to talk; I carry it in case of an emergency - a way to keep contact with someone, anyone, who can help me if need be.<br />
I pull it out of it's place in my rain gear, see it's my wife, and conveniently tuck it right back in its' spot. I know if it's a matter of life or death she'll call right back....................................<br />
<br />
Then it really started raining.<br />
<br />
I mean <i>really</i> started coming down.<br />
<br />
I seem to remember the wind being able to take my casts and place them anywhere other then were I had intended them to land as well.........................<br />
<br />
When I arrived safe and sound back home, I found out the phone call was for a life or death matter........my own.<br />
It all made sense; I wondered why I was the only one fishing. I'm guessing most individuals have enough common sense to stay somewhere safe when tornado watches are posted for the area.<br />
<br />
I caught one 'gill for my efforts, and that solitary bluegill has opened up a whole new experience for myself.<br />
<br />
What I won't do again however, is carry a digital camera along during a severe storm fishing trip.<br />
I <i><b>will</b></i> go back again after the bluegills!<br />
After all, I have to justifiy the new dive camera..............................................Just a little bit of funtag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-11-09:2036984:BlogPost:100712008-11-09T07:32:00.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
My oldest wanted to do some bluegilling.<br />
I wanted to actually find a few decent fish in this water hole we call Lake Redman.<br />
Ever since I met this Dr. Bruce Condello guy and his blasted Relative Weight chart, I can't seem to look at bluegills, or any other local fishery the same any more.<br />
It's a the mixed feelings of desire, restlessness, desire to learn, and sheer determination that guided me to hook the boat up again this morning.<br />
Besides, I had something new I wanted to try.<br />
<br />
I've seen this…
My oldest wanted to do some bluegilling.<br />
I wanted to actually find a few decent fish in this water hole we call Lake Redman.<br />
Ever since I met this Dr. Bruce Condello guy and his blasted Relative Weight chart, I can't seem to look at bluegills, or any other local fishery the same any more.<br />
It's a the mixed feelings of desire, restlessness, desire to learn, and sheer determination that guided me to hook the boat up again this morning.<br />
Besides, I had something new I wanted to try.<br />
<br />
I've seen this view many, many times over the last few years. Even though the scenery may change, the clothes may change, and it seems as though he's getting a bit taller - I still enjoy this view more then any other when I go fishing:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/internetcopymirror.jpg"/></p>
<br />
Things just seemed out of sorts from the time we pushed off the dock; everything from just last week had changed. The leaves were off the trees, surface temp. was up 2 degrees, the water was more stained, and I couldn't buy a bite.<br />
How in the world was I supposed to selectively target the largest 'gills in the waterway when I couldn't even coax a yearling to feed?<br />
We tried shallow, we tried wood, we tried mud flats, we tried shallow wood on mud flats, we tried deep, we tried manmade structure, we tried creek channels, we tried manmade structure along deep creek channels.<br />
<br />
Nadda.<br />
<br />
In all of the above locations we tried vertical jigging, long line trolling, slip floating, horizontal jigging (Musky Mods goto presentation), and tightlining.<br />
<br />
Nadda.<br />
<br />
We went throught the whole list of must haves: live bait, hair jigs, feather jigs, plastics, small crankbaits, casting spoons, micro blades (in-line worm harness spinners).<br />
<br />
Nadda.<br />
<br />
So, after 3 hours of this nonsense, I figured now was a good time to teach my oldest how to vertical jig with a 12' rod. He did quite well for his first attempt.<br />
Have you ever watched the body respond to a sudden fish strike through Fireline and a long rod?<br />
It's quite interesting. Add in the element of a less experienced angler and you have a cross between an '80's break dancer and cat that just got startled - a sudden, full body contortion.<br />
How he ever managed to boat that first fish I'll never know......................how he managed to loop the line around the line guide during said reaction breaks almost every law of physics.<br />
It was the beginning of many firsts for both of us during this trip. My oldest learned a new presentation option, at the same time boating the first golden shiner I've ever seen in this lake.<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/11-07-08015.jpg"/></p>
<br />
Not wanting to just walk away from a challenge, I grabbed a new-to-us bait.<br />
They call them waxies, but I believe it's a typo. It should say maggots, because that's what they resemble in size, shape, and texture.<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/11-07-08005.jpg"/></p>
<br />
Whatever they are, they saved the fishing trip for us. In a little under 45 minutes, we boated 32 panfish. My oldest fished them on a 1/100oz. jighead under a slip float, and I fished a 1/100oz. chennille jig tipped w/a single waxie (fake maggot) under a slip float.<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/11-07-08006.jpg"/></p>
<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/Bigbluegillcomcopy.jpg"/></p>
<br />
It was quite interesting to see these two baits being fished side by side. Even though the floats were preloaded exactly the same, the set depth was exactly the same, and there were times the baits were being presented closer then 2ft. apart - my oldest caught nothing but bluegill, and I had a hard time keeping crappie off long enough to get a 'gill bite.<br />
We didn't break any records with our catch:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/11-07-08004.jpg"/></p>
<br />
We did gain another chip of understanding, added a new playing card to our deck of tricks, and left feeling a certain sense of contentment.<br />
The last thing I heard was, "Dad, I had fun. Can we go again tomorrow?"<br />
<br />
I'm looking forward to it.Making orange juice from a lemontag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-11-04:2036984:BlogPost:97282008-11-04T13:30:00.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
The beginning of November greeted us with a crisp wind, and seasonal air temperatures. GZ's last soccer game was Saturday morning, making Saturday afternoon open game for a little panfishing. The plan was to launch the boat just after lunch and fish for bluegill till dark.<br />
Plans never quite seem to work out for myself.<br />
After an hour of waiting in our local Red Lobster, we were informed our lunch orders had been "lost".<br />
That little fiasco took a 2hr. chunk of time out of our plans.<br />
Faced with…
The beginning of November greeted us with a crisp wind, and seasonal air temperatures. GZ's last soccer game was Saturday morning, making Saturday afternoon open game for a little panfishing. The plan was to launch the boat just after lunch and fish for bluegill till dark.<br />
Plans never quite seem to work out for myself.<br />
After an hour of waiting in our local Red Lobster, we were informed our lunch orders had been "lost".<br />
That little fiasco took a 2hr. chunk of time out of our plans.<br />
Faced with only a couple hours to fish before darkness set in, we launched the boat in hopes of at least finding a few fish.<br />
<br />
What we found wasn't what we were after...................but we took advantage of it regardless. I called it adaptation, GZ called it "a blast".<br />
We had the typical scenery:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/Redmancolors1.jpg"/></p>
<br />
The sonar showed us the ever changing natural structure:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/11-02-08027.jpg"/></p>
<br />
Armed with thoughts of fall bluegilling, and ultra light tackle, we settled in for some vertical jigging. The first fish in the boat was fiesty, young bluegill. The second was a white crappie. Then it started..........................<br />
The laughing, the shear joy, and look of complete contentment on the face of a young child made time stand still.<br />
Even though it was a very short trip, plans were made to return the next day to continue making the memories.<br />
<br />
Sunday dawned and found my boat partner invited to a fall hayride and party, and my other succumbing to a cold. I was now alone to face cold water panfish.<br />
When the dust finally settled after vertical jigging 1/64 and 1/32oz. hair jigs for a combined 10 angling hours over two trips, the counter stopped at 143. Unfortunately this wasn't a bluegill catch - the white crappie were just too challenging to walk away from. While there were incidental bluegill caught, none were what we had targetted.<br />
<br />
The small picture showed some outstanding angling on a waterway that was dishing multiple plates of humble pie to the numerous anglers on the water with me.<br />
The larger picture continues to show either my complete lack of skill to catch mature fish, or the severe shape the fishery is in on this waterway. While some lengthly fish were handled (and lost boatside), the weight just wasn't present.<br />
We ran, what I believe, is the complete gauntlet of year classes:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/Redmancrappie4.jpg"/></p>
<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/Redmancrappie2.jpg"/></p>
<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/Redmanwhitecrappie1.jpg"/></p>
<br />
<br />
Each fish caught came to the same end:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/Lake%20Redman/Redmancrappie3.jpg"/></p>
<br />
The chance to offer someone else the same joyful memories they gave us.Why did I put off the chores so long?tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-10-28:2036984:BlogPost:94282008-10-28T17:08:46.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
Week 2 - I've almost resorted to fishing in the aquarium........again.<br />
Everytime I walk through the door at BigBluegill.com, I'm reminded why I'm getting so grouchy.<br />
<br />
There are only two things I can hope for right now, and my actions seem to control either direction that is taken:<br />
1) I can finish painting the window trim on the second floor, and still have a few weeks to float the boat before the water starts doing that hardness thing, or<br />
2) I can dig out the ice fishing rods and vertical jig…
Week 2 - I've almost resorted to fishing in the aquarium........again.<br />
Everytime I walk through the door at BigBluegill.com, I'm reminded why I'm getting so grouchy.<br />
<br />
There are only two things I can hope for right now, and my actions seem to control either direction that is taken:<br />
1) I can finish painting the window trim on the second floor, and still have a few weeks to float the boat before the water starts doing that hardness thing, or<br />
2) I can dig out the ice fishing rods and vertical jig the aquarium.<br />
<br />
...........guess I won't need the Aqua-Vu.The chores can waittag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-10-15:2036984:BlogPost:85302008-10-15T02:22:19.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
My home is in shambles. There are window frames in various stages of paint, vehicles that are in desperate need of a wash and polish, and I believe I overheard my wife talking to the local farmer about renting sheep. I can only presume that means she thinks the grass is too high……..again.<br />
Anyone with any lick of common sense would start working to alleviate this list of priorities. I decided to go fishing.<br />
Who wouldn’t rather spend an hour by the water with a fishing rod in hand rather then a…
My home is in shambles. There are window frames in various stages of paint, vehicles that are in desperate need of a wash and polish, and I believe I overheard my wife talking to the local farmer about renting sheep. I can only presume that means she thinks the grass is too high……..again.<br />
Anyone with any lick of common sense would start working to alleviate this list of priorities. I decided to go fishing.<br />
Who wouldn’t rather spend an hour by the water with a fishing rod in hand rather then a paint brush? GZ saw no problem with my decision to forgo chores for an hour or so………..of course he is 6.<br />
At any rate, we hit the IWLA pond again this week. GZ was my guinea pig, and since he started blowing his mouth off about catching more fish then me on a previous trip this summer, I made certain he was rigged with something I figured wasn’t going to work.<br />
I have spent a few trips here recently only to watch fish surface feeding the last few minutes of light. Each time I was punishing myself for not having a different tool to work with. This time I had a fly rod along.<br />
I kept GZ rigged with a slip float to suspend a 1/64oz. jighead tipped with our go to Honey Worm. I was handling a 5 weight fly rod matched with a floating line, 12ft leader and 2ft. of 1lb. tippet. On the end of the tippet material was a #18 dry fly. I’m not really certain what it is, but it was the closest thing I had to the bugs that were the presumed target of the fish that seemed to enjoy the art of flight.<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-10-08010.jpg"/></p>
<br />
This first in a pair of trips was somewhat uneventful – not because of the lack of action, but simply because it had become less challenging since this pattern developed. I needed something more intellectually stimulating.<br />
GZ on the other hand started the whining.<br />
I switched him to a micro twister tail.<br />
He managed to experience line twist the likes of a thrill ride blueprint.<br />
I switched him to a heavier twister tail.<br />
He said he was cold.<br />
I know he was bored out of his mind, and quite perturbed I was having a constant flow of action.<br />
A few minutes of humbling his earlier attitude, of which I found quite enjoyable, I offered to let him control the fly rod.<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-10-08005.jpg"/></p>
It was getting dark, and I was beginning to have a hard time seeing the minute spot of a fly on the shadowed water, but he did manage to hook-up.<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-10-08006.jpg"/></p>
<br />
One thing perplexed me during this trip. While I had no reason to experiment with different flies, I did notice differences in the surface activity. There seemed to be three(3) distinctive feedings going on.<br />
There was the fish that came completely out of the water. These were easily identified as being bluegill.<br />
There were other fish that made a much larger “splash”, but never cleared the water.<br />
Then there was the occasional dimple. This take reminded you more of a single raindrop hitting the water. There was no splash, no audible slurping sound, just a dimple; a subtle, single ring appearing in the water.<br />
I wanted answers to my question: What was making those other signs? Were the larger ‘gills feeding differently? Why haven’t I seen any bass this year?<br />
<br />
The next evening found me once again avoiding the necessary and standing by the water, flyrod in hand. This time I was ready to experiment. The mind was geared to accept failure as a result of finding answers.<br />
The small dry fly was switched to a #6 dry in hopes of attracting the “other” feeding fish. The first of many answers came on my second landing.<br />
The light touchdown of the fly was immediately disturbed by a violent explosion of water. Not only did I begin putting the pieces together, but I also landed the first of many largemouth bass for the evening. They weren’t anything spectacular – not even enough to turn the camera on, but the 10-12” fish made me smile non-the-less.<br />
The rest of the evening was filled with sudden, violent strikes (bass) and the ever popular aerial strikes of the bluegill. It seemed as if the larger fly was attracting larger ‘gills then the previous evening.<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-11-08031copy.jpg"/></p>
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-11-08032.jpg"/></p>
<br />
Those single dimples began to show up again. Try as I might, I just couldn’t get a fish to, at the very least, drift up to take a look at my offering. I didn’t even care if they took it or not – I just wanted to see what type of fish was showing so little of itself.<br />
As I saw a dimple, I would place the fly within a 2” circle around it……………..to no avail. Either a largemouth or a bluegill would decide to interrupt my plans. It was almost as if the game was being played on me.<br />
Darkness wasted no time taking away the final five minutes of my natural light left. The final cast of the evening was placed gently into an area of water that had no recent signs of activity. I had to keep every ounce of focus and attention to the spot where I saw the fly land, as I could just barely make out it’s location on the water.<br />
<br />
Then it just disappeared.<br />
<br />
There was no splash. There was no noise. It just went under as if a vacuum had been turned on under it. This was it! The strike I had been looking for!<br />
I gently but swiftly raised the rod to sink the hook into the unknown creature on the opposite end of my line.<br />
The initial weight of the fish turned my excitement into letdown.<br />
“It’s just a bass” I thought to myself.<br />
But while it held the same resistance of all the largemouth previously caught this evening, it acted differently. I almost thought I felt a slow pulsing headshake………….then it made the initial horizontal dash of a bluegill.<br />
Yet another feeling of remorse of it being nothing more then a decent bluegill.<br />
Don’t get me wrong, I love every bluegill I tussle with – I just wanted to see something new; something that fulfilled my desire that the signs I was reading were indeed different fish.<br />
This final fish of the evening, didn’t show it’s true identity until it reached the shallow shoreline water.<br />
<br />
I smiled the whole way home.<br />
<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/IWLAtopwatercrappie.jpg"/></p>
<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-11-08036.jpg"/></p>Doozie or Woozie I'm not sure whichtag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-10-13:2036984:BlogPost:83932008-10-13T13:00:00.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
This entry is merely an outlet for my excitement.<br />
While only fishing for 1 hr. each day, this past Friday and Saturday evening are going very deep into the memorable fishing trip vault.<br />
I need to get some photos hosted, then put my weekend into words...................if I can find the right ones.<br />
(My personal journal reached six(6) pages - from a measly two(2) hours of fishing.)<br />
<br />
Teaser: What does one get when you mix flat water, a child, a flyrod, and an educationally starved panfish…
This entry is merely an outlet for my excitement.<br />
While only fishing for 1 hr. each day, this past Friday and Saturday evening are going very deep into the memorable fishing trip vault.<br />
I need to get some photos hosted, then put my weekend into words...................if I can find the right ones.<br />
(My personal journal reached six(6) pages - from a measly two(2) hours of fishing.)<br />
<br />
Teaser: What does one get when you mix flat water, a child, a flyrod, and an educationally starved panfish enthusiast?<br />
The answer is currently being researched. I'll either be adding a doozie of a journal, or start feeling woozie from the effects of the memories.<br />
<br />
Until later...............................The beat goes on.tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-10-09:2036984:BlogPost:81112008-10-09T13:00:00.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
It's getting dark here much earlier now. I continue to hang onto the thought that I have until 9:00pm to get some form of time into a fishing trip........................the honeymoon is obviously over.<br />
I also seem to have contracted a new disease - AllIseearefeedingbluegillitis. It's an extremely horrid infestation. The only relief seems to come when I stand beside the water with an ultralight in hand.<br />
So, seeing as how my fever spiked last evening (measured by the knee-jerk invitation to my…
It's getting dark here much earlier now. I continue to hang onto the thought that I have until 9:00pm to get some form of time into a fishing trip........................the honeymoon is obviously over.<br />
I also seem to have contracted a new disease - AllIseearefeedingbluegillitis. It's an extremely horrid infestation. The only relief seems to come when I stand beside the water with an ultralight in hand.<br />
So, seeing as how my fever spiked last evening (measured by the knee-jerk invitation to my neighbor to spend about an hour panfishing), I took my medicine.<br />
<br />
On the short ride to the IWLA pond, I did nothing but elevate the expectation of catching handsized 'gills to my guest. He has only recently found sheer enjoyment in the art of angling; however has only been able to spend most of his time trout fishing. I feel it's my obligation to invite him to the dark side of panfishing.<br />
<br />
As we walked across the grass hill to the pond, I could see it starting to happen again - surface feeding fish.<br />
I offered suggestions as to how to start working the pond, based off it's physical make-up, then picked up where I left off last time - a 1/64oz. jighead tipped w/a yellow Honey Worm under a foam strike indicator. My trout fishing guest started throwing an inline spinner.<br />
The clock continued to count down our 45 minute adventure. Had it not been for the distant laughing I heard from time to time, I would have completely forgotten I had brought a friend along. (It was nice fishing with an adult - the sense of responsibility was at a much lower level)<br />
While I was being blessed with enough action to keep me busy, I realized I had actually stopped fishing for a few minutes.<br />
<br />
I was mesmerized.<br />
<br />
The water clarity does not allow an angler the ability of spotting any fish unless they are directly at surface level. yet these fish had the ability to key in on minute bugs that would get stuck in the surface film when they flew a little too close. Then there was the occasional fish that would completely clear the water not a rod lengths away from me to take a bug in flight.<br />
I found it to be quite amazing.<br />
<br />
My guest found his way to my side, grinning from ear to ear, holding a "I didn't think they got this big. This is a blast" bluegill. He had found that a small twister allowed him to experience not only the pond's bluegill population, but also a few largemouth thrown in for added flavor.<br />
He had a great time, making my time just as enjoyable.<br />
The ride home had us comparing notes, and if I did my addition correctly we managed to handle a baker's dozen of fish within those 45 minutes.<br />
<br />
A quick check of the conditions showed a barometric pressure reading the same as a few days ago. While tonight's trip differed from the previous by being a steady pressure (last trip was the peak in a rising barometer), everything else remained the same.<br />
I have a flyrod in the vehicle..................just in case I get a few free minutes tonight.Here today, better tonighttag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-10-07:2036984:BlogPost:80122008-10-07T02:10:57.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
The USPS has it made. 1.5hrs. for lunch.................do you have any idea how much fishing I could get done in that time?<br />
<br />
Probably 1hr. worth.<br />
<br />
And I did - by proxy.<br />
<br />
I had a few shipments to go out a few days ago, and was greeted with the "We'll be back at 12:30pm" sign on the door. It was 11:20am.<br />
I had ZZ (my oldest) along and asked him if he wanted to get some fresh fish for lunch.<br />
He needed some persuasion, but finally gave in. I grabbed a rod, some Berkley Honey worms, a bucket (shore…
The USPS has it made. 1.5hrs. for lunch.................do you have any idea how much fishing I could get done in that time?<br />
<br />
Probably 1hr. worth.<br />
<br />
And I did - by proxy.<br />
<br />
I had a few shipments to go out a few days ago, and was greeted with the "We'll be back at 12:30pm" sign on the door. It was 11:20am.<br />
I had ZZ (my oldest) along and asked him if he wanted to get some fresh fish for lunch.<br />
He needed some persuasion, but finally gave in. I grabbed a rod, some Berkley Honey worms, a bucket (shore angler's livewell), and the camera.<br />
We spent the hour at the IWLA pond again, fishing a mud flat for what I hoped would be some 'gills moving from their summer haunt to start feeding more often in preparation for a time of less.<br />
By fishing a 1/64oz. jighead tipped with a yellow Honey Worm, 27" under a slip float, ZZ managed to handle 8 'gills. Six(6) of them went into the bucket for lunch, and two(2) of them went back - not making our minimum slot size of 8". Considering the fact we were fishing a stiff breeze and high, bluebird skies, I think ZZ did fairly well.<br />
What started as a very short fishing trip, turned out to be one of our most memorable.<br />
It started with an unexpected catch:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-02-08001.jpg"/></p>
<br />
Was fueled by ZZ's newest PB 'gill:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-02-08003-1.jpg"/></p>
<br />
Any guesses as to the specs on this one?<br />
<br />
Lunch had to wait until after the biology lessons were over:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-02-08005.jpg"/></p>
<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-02-08004.jpg"/></p>
I took the opportunity to explain parasites and diseases to ZZ. The example shown is the common Black Spot disease we have in our smaller waterways locally.<br />
Thankfully it didn't keep us from enjoying a fresh meal for lunch:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-02-08010.jpg"/></p>
<br />
What I find during the filleting process still interests me more then actually catching the fish. Maybe it's my yearning desire to learn, or maybe I'm just a dork. There's just something intriguing about stomach contents to myself. I use them to learn the lifestyle of the fish I catch:<br />
<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/TCnimrod/IWLA%20pond/10-02-08006.jpg"/></p>
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What I find most interesting about these is the shear diversity of the contents between the different fish; even though they were all caught within a 20 yard area, all females, and all relatively the same size.<br />
(All the fish we kept had egg sacs in an advanced stage of re-absorbtion)<br />
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<b>Later that evening</b><br />
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I was faced with yet another open hr. of time later in the day, so what was I to do then grab GZ (my youngest) and enjoy the time with him by the water. This time I grabbed two(2) rods, and the camera.<br />
As we crested the hill at the pond, my heart sunk. The conditions we experienced earlier in the day had taken a 180 degree swing. The water lay dead still, and the barometer was rising. The very first thing we noticed is the fish knew things had changed as well - they were on a major surface feeding binge!<br />
I reset the slip stop on GZ's rod to suspend his jig just under the surface, and I swapped out the slip float I had in favor of a much lighter, foam, strike indicator (designed for fly fishing rather then spin fishing). I knew from experience, any kind of surface disturbance was going to send the larger 'gills for deeper water. I was hoping by setting my jig behing this indicator 12", I would be able to keep the presentation as light as possible.<br />
It was a painful lesson for GZ, as the less-then-subtle splash down of his float did absolutely nothing for his catch rate. After I handled fish #11, I offered for him to at least reel one in on my setup so he wouldn't forget what they felt like. (We share a common love of harrasment between father and son)<br />
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<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc83/CrappieZig/?action=view&current=10-02-08013.flv">Short, dark video of what the evening was like.</a> Take notice how many fish I miss before I get a solid hook set.Stormy fall angling in Pa.tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-09-29:2036984:BlogPost:77302008-09-29T14:07:06.000ZZighttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Zig
The rain set in here in southern Pa on Friday afternoon. Saturday morning we received the cancellation calls from the soccer coach, followed very closely by the afternoon baseball game cancellation.<br />
Both were ok by myself, as that merely opened up quite a few hours to get some work done. Sunday morning greeted us with more showers, and passing downpours - so more time open.<br />
One can only work with lure making so long before it gets the best of them, so I made the announcement that I was heading…
The rain set in here in southern Pa on Friday afternoon. Saturday morning we received the cancellation calls from the soccer coach, followed very closely by the afternoon baseball game cancellation.<br />
Both were ok by myself, as that merely opened up quite a few hours to get some work done. Sunday morning greeted us with more showers, and passing downpours - so more time open.<br />
One can only work with lure making so long before it gets the best of them, so I made the announcement that I was heading out for a few hours to walk around a local lake with a fishing rod. GZ was on my heels before I even made the door.<br />
"Get some boots on and your raingear, we may get wet." was the only direction he needed.<br />
We started the day walking halfway around Lake Williams, which is supplied by overflow from our home lake - Redman.<br />
Using hair jigs, micro nymphs, and micro chenilles fished under slip floats turned very few responses for us.<br />
GZ chased the skunk with a small crappie that took a 1/100oz. nymph:<br />
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A few hundred yards later I found a collection of small gills and this big mouthed fellow that were willing to take an all black chennille jig:<br />
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The quantity and quality just wasn't worth the time we were putting in, so I decided to change waterways.<br />
I was gambling on the notion the cooling weather may have pushed a few mature 'gills back onto the spawning flats. If I was right, I knew the fish wouldn't be there with reproduction on the brain - they would be there to feed.<br />
Taking this one final step, I put all our efforts into one presentation: 1/64oz. jig heads tipped with Honey worms. I figured if the fish weren't following warm water yet, our tim ewould be better spent out of the elements.<br />
<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc83/CrappieZig/?action=view&current=3fb39117.pbw">We stopped at a medium depth mud flat first.........................and last</a><br />
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Yellow honey worms put the red to shame, and a hot pink head topped chartreuse green, pearl white, pearl yellow, and orange.<br />
GZ's slip float was set to suspend the jig 3ft. under the surface, and I rigged with a foam strike indicator (used for fly fishing) to present a honey worm tipped jighead 2ft. below the surface.<br />
The light landing strike indicator was used to eliminate spooking shallow cruising 'gills - which told us where they were in the water column by telltale surface disturbances when they competed for a morsel.