Super User WIGuide Posted September 26, 2016 Super User Posted September 26, 2016 This past Saturday, after some plans got canceled, Dad and I found time to have our 3rd round of our bass battles. We had a decent amount of time to fish, but with days getting shorter, we decided to stay somewhat close to home so we wouldn't waste as much of the day traveling. The venue dad chose (since he won the last one) was the Dairyland Flowage. It's an 1870 acre impoundment that is unique that it is situated in between two dams. Roughly half of the flowage is no more than a river. It has a few various wider points and few places small streams run in. The southern end is a much larger open bowl of a lake. There are some interesting structural features as well as plenty of cover now that the DNR has made a large effort to help bring back the lake. In 2007 it was drained down to the level of the original river as repairs to the south dam needed to be made. Unfortunately, I had never went up there to look at the lake when it was low, otherwise I would have a much better knowledge of the structure out there. I did find a few pictures online that I included. With the incredible amounts of structure that has been added to the lake, I have no doubt that it's going to be a great fishery one day. At the present time, it's a good fishery, but many of the fish haven't grown to maturity yet. This smallmouth only fishery is better for numbers than it is for size, there are however decent fish to be caught. With all the rain recently, I had figured they'd be running water through the flowage. After launching on the north end I ran up towards the dam and started tossing a tube to all the eddies thinking that the fish that are up there should be stacked up to stay out of the swift current. Unfortunately, for me there weren't many fish that I found up there. I managed to boat a few dinks, one that was just a hair under being a keeper and a northern. In hindsight I wasted too much time up there. I believe my one almost keeper came off this rock structure in the middle of the river, but it gives you an idea of what I was targeting. I rand down to the main lake and cycled through a few spots, fished about 1/4 mile of riprap without even a bit. Things were looking bleak, especially knowing dad was going to be catching plenty of fish with his wacky worm. He always seems to do well enough there and cycles through enough fish to find at least a few keepers. Meanwhile, once coming down to the main lake I hadn't as much as a tap or anything. I had cycled between lipless crankbaits, crankbaits, tubes, a jig, things were not looking good for me at all. With about 2 hours left I ran over to a few cribs I had marked a few years ago before I had side imaging, or at least I thought they were cribs. I had scanned a little bit trying to find a few more. I was close to a point I thought I remember being rock, so I was trolling that way just tossing my jig out and hopping it a few times as I was cruising up on it. I managed to catch one close to the point, threw the marker buoy over while I unhooked it and dropped it in the well. I got back up to my mark and made another cast and got bit but wiffed on the hookset and then nothing. I moved to the "crib" that was closest and looking at side scan, it looked more like 4-5 logs stacked up. The rest of my fish came off and around this piece of cover that was close to a weedline as well as I alternated back and forth between the jig and DT-10. When I left, I had 3 in the livewell as well as catching a bonus walleye and a few other shorts. I stayed as long as I could hoping to put one more in the box to seal the deal. I made it back to the ramp with only 2 minutes to spare. When dad pulled up I could hear his livewell pumps going so I knew he had something. Final catch totals had dad in the lead with 13 bass, a northern, and a walleye to my 7 bass, a northern and a walleye. Round 3 Results Dad - 4 fish for 7 lbs 0 oz. Me - 3 fish for 8 lbs 7 oz. I lucked out that the ones I caught were all solid, with the two big ones being a smidge over 18" and just a smidge under 18" my 3rd was about 15 1/2". Had dad been able to find one more keeper, it would have been super close Series Score Me -2 Dad - 1 The pictures are horrible, but at least the important part turned out ok haha In case you missed the first two battles, you can catch up here 5 Quote
Bass Turd Posted September 26, 2016 Posted September 26, 2016 I enjoy reading these very much. Can't you go more often... ? lol. 1 Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted September 26, 2016 Author Super User Posted September 26, 2016 2 minutes ago, Bass Turd said: I enjoy reading these very much. Can't you go more often... ? lol. I'm glad you like them! I do wish I could go more often, if it wasn't for that nuisance of having a job and all that, I could probably make a daily thing of this! Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted September 26, 2016 Super User Posted September 26, 2016 Another good contest. Keep them coming. 1 Quote
Super User Further North Posted September 26, 2016 Super User Posted September 26, 2016 That really sounds like fun. I've never fished Dairyland, but I spent an afternoon on Big Falls Flowage chasing teeth a while back. There's fish in there... 1 Quote
Jtrout Posted September 26, 2016 Posted September 26, 2016 Sweet! Those are some beautiful looking smallies! 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted September 27, 2016 Super User Posted September 27, 2016 Sounds like you both made the best out of what seemed like tough sledding ~ Congrats on squeaking out a win and taking the lead. A-Jay Quote
Super User Darren. Posted September 27, 2016 Super User Posted September 27, 2016 Sounds like I need to get out with you guys... Can you move to Virginia? LOL Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted September 27, 2016 Author Super User Posted September 27, 2016 15 hours ago, Jtrout said: Sweet! Those are some beautiful looking smallies! Thanks, I love the markings on them. It's funny how they can come and go though. 13 hours ago, A-Jay said: Sounds like you both made the best out of what seemed like tough sledding ~ Congrats on squeaking out a win and taking the lead. A-Jay Thanks, it wasn't my best outing up there quantity wise, I'm just glad that didn't matter! 13 hours ago, Darren. said: Sounds like I need to get out with you guys... Can you move to Virginia? LOL Haha I wish...especially with what I know is coming soon here :/ stupid winter haha. Not that Virginia is a balmy climate either I'm sure, but I'm guessing you don't have nearly as many days below 0 as we do. 2 Quote
Steveo-1969 Posted September 28, 2016 Posted September 28, 2016 On 9/26/2016 at 8:53 PM, Darren. said: Sounds like I need to get out with you guys... Can you move to Virginia? LOL And on your way to Virginia can you guys stop in West Virginia first? 2 Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted September 28, 2016 Author Super User Posted September 28, 2016 13 minutes ago, Steveo-1969 said: And on your way to Virginia can you guys stop in West Virginia first? I supppppose I could since it is pretty much right on the way haha 1 Quote
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