Ondrejka

It's a great tool to have in your back pocket. Clients love fishing the Ned, 1) because it's a new technique they've never done before, 2) because catching Smallies on light tackle is just plain fun, and 3) because it produces numbers. My dad loves it now. When I do get to fish for fun (which is few and far between so far this year), I'm fishing for big bites. It sounds spoiled to say, but it's true. I've caught enough 1-2 lb Smallies to last a few lifetimes. It's just nice to branch out and have confidence that you can go catch the same amount of fish, and bigger ones, using different techniques. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Got off work about an hour early yesterday and took that opportunity to take the dog out to Lone Star for the first time this year (she absolutely loves being on the boat). I started in the homes cove, which in hindsight I should not have even bothered. Complete chocolate milk. Didn't see on fish in one pass down the docks, couldn't get bit on anything I had on the deck. Moved over to the east beach cove where the water was 100x more clear, and stumbled upon this guy. Fat, healthy, gorgeous fish. This makes the fifth Smallie I've caught from Lone Star in three years. The previous one I caught last summer on a jig and was 15". Every one before that was 6-9 inches. This one was 17 3/4" 3 lbs. 3 oz. I brought my GoPro bag...but didn't have the GoPro in it. Sure wish I had for this fish. I caught about 20 dinks in the last hour before it got dark and I left. Water temps were 54-55. That one made my night for sure.

I think he's talking about the weeknighters. Aka the beginning of Coty's actual fishing season, lol

Would have to agree on that. I took my kit to Canada with me and it was game over.

Agreed.

Seconded. I have fished Melvern consistently enough that most days I don't even show up with it tied on, and that's solely for the fact that I just straight up did not want to continue catching fish on that one bait and one bait only. Expand your brown fish horizons and sacrifice quantity for quality. Use it when plans C-Y don't work.

Took a half day (barely) on Friday to go to Lone Star. Fished for an hour and a half, if that. Nothing worth talking about, sucked for me. Fished through 3 hours of rain on Saturday and 2 hours of snow on Sunday with trooper clients. We were rewarded with some really good fish though. It was a good weekend for guide trips. Is it April 5th yet? Can it just be April already in general? BBB...can't wait. Oh, and Charles caught a 5-11 at LS yesterday afternoon with Brian W. on a chart Wobbler with no trailer. Pretty jealous/butthurt about it but he was way overdue for a big fish. I have a guide trip at Melvern on Saturday so I'm sure I'll see someone out there.

Those are always the best ones.

I have a feeling the majority of us have gone Garmin already. I still have an Elite 7 HDI up front, but I already have a ducer.

I saw that too. Would be hilarious if it was. Wouldn't put it past the 'dotte.

Originally from Milwaukee, transplanted to KS in 2000. Used to vacation in Minocqua for 13 years every summer. Miss it and the Northwoods every day and can't wait to get back for good. Would give anything to fish Chequamegon or Sturgeon Bay for those horse brown fish. Curious though, any idea what lakes in that area Joe Bucher fishes during his Smallie segments?

They just cannot resist that Ivy with a Rage Menace.

Our trips wouldn't be the same without an In-Fisherman Critical Concepts intro though!

Fished Melvern yesterday with Keith. Rough and windy start, but had a few fish on a jerkbait right off the bat. Winds laid down around 1 and we were still catching fish. Caught probably 15 big whites too. Zero Drum. Slim profile baits were the ticket for us-110s, Raps, and DT6. Caught a few dragging a tube and the Ned for a little bit too. Water temps 48-49 all day and never broke 50. Creek arms seemed to make up our pattern, we didn't have any fish caught on my mainlake spots with the exception of a few on the dam right from the get go.

WELL OBVIOUSLY COTY

Looks like the Shadow Rap Shad did work.

There is a meeting tonight at 6pm at Mondo in Lenexa for anyone wanting to fish the EKB series this year. Keith and I will be fishing some together.

Well obviously I certainly know where they all live at Clinton, but I also do at Melvern as well. I just never target them there, well, because brown fish.

Oh, and for the non-Facebooks dudes, here's the article and photo gallery from last weekend's trip with the Wichita Eagle outdoor writer. Stoked! http://www.kansas.com/sports/outdoors/article65708837.html

Lol neither did I. Of course they did! My biggest one that I didn't get on camera was 2-9 and it was on da wobbla too. I hung my Ivy from a tree, and then Bond was nice enough to donate another one to me. I was just wanting a good jerkbait bite so bad and got it, so I had a hard time putting it down until I was fishing >4 FOW. Yeah I was certainly not prepared for that one.

I'll provide the crappie and walleye.

I think 7 of my past 10 dreams I can remember have been bed fishing dreams.

Right on man, let me know what ya think! I won't be able to get the print version until they send it my way.

Channeling my inner Ned with using different verbiage. Didn't work out so well