Finally a good day on the water

[Ron Young]

I went out yesterday to a local state owned lake, Wye Mills (in Maryland). Slept in and got a late start, but was on the water by 9:30. Worked my way around the lake via fishing the shoreline. The rigs today were 1/32 oz. jig about 30" under a torpedo foam (weighted) bobber. I tipped the jigs with Berkely Gulp Alive 1" minnows. One was Chartruese, the other Emerald (dark dark green) Minnow. The method was cast out, let the bait settle a bit and reel it back in short jerky motions, pausing in between. The Gulp Alive minnows really work great for me! 

It was a bit slow at first, but I did catch several crappie. Many of those fish were micros (only 4-6"). After about a dozen of them I wanted something a bit larger, so I moved away from the shoreline into deeper (4'-5') water. Although there were still many of the micro crappies, I did catch several in the 9"-10" range. In addition to the crappies, I caught a few descent (6-7") bluegills.

 

The wind had picked up a bit and began to create a big weed line of fallen leaves out in the middle. So I started casting out to the edge of it. The fish I caught there were of better quality. One strike was really good and I had the drag start singing. I thought that I had hooked a small to medium large mouth. Much to my surprise it was a big Gill. Not only was she long 9 5/8", she was deep and wide as well. I didn't have a scale, but she felt really heavy. Had to be close to a pound?Of all days to have forgotten the camera? I did snap a photo on my telephone, but I can't figure out how to get it transferred to my (mac computer). I don't have a data plan or texting.

This was the best overall gill I have caught in a long, long time. Needless to say, she made my day. I caught 52 crappies and 21 Bluegills. Rain chased me off of the lake around 2:00 PM

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Glad you had a good day Ron. I like both of those Gulp minnow colors, been doing pretty good on the pumkinseed color as well if you see it on the shelf. Going up to Fort Meade next week for the birth of my third grandchild so I hope Maryland isn't frozen over by then! LOL Want to get my grandsons out to the lake on the base for a few gills.

[Jim Gronaw]

I used to fish Wye Mills back in the mid 1980's when my father was still alive. We would smash 9 inch class gills in June up along the right hand shoreline from the dam as the fish were spawning.  Almost the same rig you used... bobber/1/64th oz jig tipped with a piece of worm.

Glad you had a good day and congrats on that big bluegill!

[Anthony Palafox]

Cool report, does your phone have a micro SD slot that's how I take all my photos off mine.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Great write up, brother. I like the way you changed up as the conditions changed around you.

Nice.

[Ron Young]

Thanks guys for your good wishes. You make a relatively newcomer feel truly welcome.

David, I used to fish offshore (in the Atlantic) when I was younger. Out there if you found a weedline you almost always scored with the fishes. As the leaf line started to form I thought it might be worth a cast or two.

Anthony, I don't think my telephone has a card slot (would it be on the ouitside?). I'm not much of a gadget guy.

Jim, until Wednesday I didn't think the Wye held any slab gills. I couldn't break 8" there on all of my previous trips!

Jeffrey, I have often wondered about the pumpkinseed color. I'll get a jar next time I visit the Bass Pro. By the way there is a Bass Pro just a couple of miles from Ft. Meade. I hope that you and your grandsons knock the socks off of the gills when you come.

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Thanks Ron, I have visited that Bass Pro. I go out of my way to hit the different outdoor stores when I travel! I might have to take ice fishing gear! LOL

[Ron Young]

Jeffrey,

I spent way tooooo much time (and money) @ Bass Pro. I would have wondered why you mention ice fishing. But not after waking up and going outside today. When I was out on the lake on Wednesday, I fished in a long sleeved shirt and was comfortable. Today (just 3 days later) we are expecting a high of 40 and cold rain changing over to snow this afternoon.

I just hope that things improve by Wednesday this week as I would like to give it another try on the lake.

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Hopefully Wednesday will be nice for you Ron, it looks like we rebound to more Fall like conditions next week. I'm driving up Thursday and it looks pretty good for giving the lake a try. It won't take much to make my grandsons happy, just a few gills or Crappie and we'll be fine. ><}}}}*>

[Jim Gronaw]

Right now, it is snowing heavily and they are predicting 6 to 10 inches in my area. Sheeeesh!!!

[C Barb]

If your mac has bluetooth( and it probably does) you can send it that way