Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Air temps yesterday were in the 60's.  Cold front moving in, severe storms were expected in the afternoon/evening, according to the weather shamans.  It was foggy when I woke up. 

It was dead-calm when I arrived at the launch, but by the time I actually got into my kayak and paddled off, a breeze picked up from the southwest.  There was one other truck/trailer in the parking lot.  After paddling out and approaching the upwind bank, I spotted a camoflaged boat with a spread of duck decoys.  I immediately turned away, with the wind, dropped my drift sock over, and let the wind push me away from the duck hunters.

I got three bites that did not hook up on the minnow crankbait I was using on *one* cast.  Several minutes after that, I caught a barely-keeping sized Yellow Perch.  20 minutes later I tagged a keeper LMB.  Those ended up being the only fish I caught.

I paddled upwind again, and set up a drift in a different part of the main lake body.  After about 15 - 20 minutes, I could hear a boat engine approaching.  About the time I finally spotted it (25hp engine pushing a pontoon), I thought I heard a rumble of thunder.  I pulled out my phone, checked the weather, and sure enough, the leading edge of a massive area of rain was getting close.  I pulled in my drift sock and started a fast paddle back to the launch.  Just as I finished loading, and pulled out of the DNR Launch area, it started sprinkling.

Temps tonight (Monday) are supposed to drop down to about 32.  Over night lows the rest of this week are going to be in the 20's.  I need to winterize my kayak.  Drain the water out of the hull (it has a few small leaks), pull the scupper plugs under my seat, tuck away all the rod leashes and paddle leash, and flip it on it's side, up against the house.  Time to inventory what little ice-fishing equipment I have and see what I need to get.

Views: 154

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

SMH I don't know Allen. More likely your new type of adventure just begins. Call it ice-akying adventure. Time to retrofit that kayak with some ice fishing equipment.

Hope you had an enjoyable open water season Allen… over –all how do you like Michigan fishing compared to other states?

Yeah fishing from my small SOT kayak is warm water summer type fishing… id like to get a larger model with an elevated seat… something like the Pelican Catch 120… always getting wet in my current model.

I’m getting all the ice – gear ready for the upcoming season. I may have a window of opportunity to fish down in Florida for the winter to early spring. Either way I’ll be getting some fishing in.

Good luck on the upcoming hard water-season

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

In the Net….4/20/2025

"Look how little my popeye jig looks by the tail.......catch so many bass every year on these small…"
13 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

491836771_10238604253985122_2836813665102144302_n

"Mid-May is a guess without checking my records, Jeff. "
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

wacky Bass on the Flats

"Thanks Dick, this lake is not producing like it has for Greg and I like it has in the past. We hope…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Pretty Colors to the East Minutes Before Sunrise…..4/20/2025

Beautiful sights fishing so close to the ocean…..
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Finally had winds below 20 knots this am so I splashed for three hours ….found 66 degree surface temps…..20 bites, caught 19 bass on jigs"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

491836771_10238604253985122_2836813665102144302_n

"Glad you guys were able to get out…….when do you typically hit 60 degree water…"
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

wacky Pickerel

"Another toothy critter, awesome."
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
Friday
dick tabbert commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003809

"Nicccccce"
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003809

"Nice Shellcracker Troy……..hope you and your family have been blessed during all the…"
Apr 14
Troy Dorman posted a photo
Apr 14
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"We went to every takeoff and weigh-in…….it is amazing and Bruce he caught all of them…"
Apr 13
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"That Welcher was unbelievable!"
Apr 13
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"This s my backyard Bruce……I’ve posted from every river on the Albemarle…"
Apr 12
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Apr 12
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Apr 12
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Hi Jeffrey! I've been watching the bass master tournament. It's so refreshing not to see…"
Apr 12

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service