The Final Push ~

[Further North]

10 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Just Muskies ?  I wouldn't want to be a Smallie in that lake  . . . . .

The past couple of weeks I've been on two basic types of lakes: Ones that are less than 25 feet and ones that are deeper - usually much deeper (60 - 100 feet.)   All the lakes are very clear.  The shallower bodies of water have more vegetation and are my Deep Jerkbait lakes. Smallies are often coming off the tips & sides of sloping points at the deep weed edge.  This bite is almost always a mid - late afternoon deal, unless there is some wind then I can be all day.

The deeper lakes have some vegetation but also have a good bit of clean / hard bottom areas as well - these are where the Blade bait does damage.  The sun & some wind helps this bite as well and it also can last all day.  These lakes are less affected by over night cold or rain where the shallower lakes can get a little dirty which often shuts off the jerkbait bite.

Past two days I was fishing a deeper lake but instead of a blade bait, I was throwing a rattle type bait.  I was using the same small, hopping & bottom hugging retrieve that I use with a blade.  Doesn't always work but it did today.

A-Jay

Thank you - the lake I fish most often is a deep, clear lake, I'll give your strategies a try.  I'm not very good at fishing deep water...have to learn to adapt.

[A-Jay]

Here in northern Michigan, we have largely enjoyed a warm and pleasant fall this year, though some dramatic changes are set to unfold this weekend. A cold front will be pushing through the state Saturday, with rain showers transitioning over to snow showers. Late in the day tomorrow, winds will start to ramp up as well gusting 40-50+ MPH at times. Lake temperatures remain very warm; therefore, we will be seeing some lake-effect snow too where places in typical snow belts could get 5+ inches.

 So with all that ahead, I was especially fortunate & happy to be on the water for the third day in a row.  Today was the coldest & windiest of the three.  The bite was a little sporadic as well.   About one an hour was the going rate.  I made the best out of the half dozen I did get and this one was the trophy of the day.  Came late and ended up being the last one as well. 

Here's a brief video capturing the tail end of the fight as well as some post catch comments.

A-Jay

 

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[Further North]

We'll get the same weather...minus the winds, apparently*...starting Friday.

Good video, nice fish...

Great net, almost the same one I use.

*That's what you get for livin' on the wrong side of the lake...

[kilroy9988]

Fished Monday, Friday, and Sunday last week and the fishing got slower every day. Monday I fished 4 hours in the afternoon and got 11 smallies total and the first 9 were between 18 and 20 inches, 4 were over 19 great day, that was the end of the fun, Friday was 3.5 hours on the water and 5 fish, Sunday was 3 fish in the same time frame. 

 

Changed the bottom end oil yesterday and cried. 

[A-Jay]

57 minutes ago, kilroy9988 said:

Fished Monday, Friday, and Sunday last week and the fishing got slower every day. Monday I fished 4 hours in the afternoon and got 11 smallies total and the first 9 were between 18 and 20 inches, 4 were over 19 great day, that was the end of the fun, Friday was 3.5 hours on the water and 5 fish, Sunday was 3 fish in the same time frame. 

 

Changed the bottom end oil yesterday and cried. 

Congrats on some great catches ~

And sorry about the sobbing . . . I certainly know the feeling.

A-Jay

[kilroy9988]

It's the same every year when you put away a Lund 

[A-Jay]

13 minutes ago, kilroy9988 said:

It's the same every year when you put away a Lund 

I know - and you're right.

 Still don't have to like it though.

A-Jay

[A-Jay]

Resurrecting this one, because it's still totally applicable.

While I am very close to putting the Pro-V bass up for the hard water season,

there may just be at least one or two more open water adventures ahead of me. 

The Old Town canoe will be making it's fall debut tomorrow morning.

Forcast is for clouds, a little wind but warm (relative term around these parts).

Hoping it goes something like last years final deal did.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

[Jar11591]

Knowing the hard water season is at my doorstep makes me more locked in. I always fish harder, faster, stronger in the final weeks. I know you’re the same way@A-Jay. Most of us northerners probably are. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing at least one more giant outta you before ice in. 

 

[A-Jay]

9 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

Knowing the hard water season is at my doorstep makes me more locked in. I always fish harder, faster, stronger in the final weeks. I know you’re the same way@A-Jay. Most of us northerners probably are. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing at least one more giant outta you before ice in. 

 

Thanks and right back at ya.

But Man, I hope you're right.

A-Jay