18 Apr 2024 ~ Jerkbait Smallies in the wind (video)

[A-Jay]

Spent most of a killer a day out on Lake Menderchuck today.

I was on the water early and had the lake to myself, big fan of that. 

Air temps were in the low 40’s as was the surface water temps.

An on & off NW wind and cloud cover kept me company most of this trip and seemed to increase a bit as the day wore on.

I was dressed for the wind chill which was right on the edge of uncomfortable.

  The previous night’s rain had added just the right amount of ‘color’ to the water. 

I arrived early and already rigged up with a selection of jerkbaits so that’s where I started and stayed. 

The Megabass Vision 110 + 1 in perch did most of the heavy lifting.

I was fishing edges & inside turns of some main lake points & drop offs – ALL in the wind. 

Fish were hitting the bait near the bottom in 6-8 feet.

 For whatever reason my stern GoPro decided not to record any sound. 

Both my cameras have been operating somewhat sporadically, and I’ll need to address that sooner rather than later.

Either way all the views from the back are coming to you in radio silence. 

Once the fish gets on deck its ops normal.

Overall I enjoyed this one. 

Got a couple of dozen brown bass to pull my string. 

First two ended up being the Best two. 

They went 5.58 lbs. and 6.48 lbs.

Still trying to get the math right when it comes to taring out the weigh bag weight but I’ll get there - Eventually.

 

Point of interest; After upgrading my electronics package late last summer, I decided to dump all my way points and start from scratch.  

And so this was my first adventure out on this lake since dumping my pins.

 It was interesting fishing it all new & free. 

Even managed to drop a few new points of interest as I went. 

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[LrgmouthShad]

31 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

summer, I decided to dump all my way points

Why did you do this?

Great day and great bass though

[thediscochef]

I would have a medical event if I caught brown bass like that. Great work! 

[MIbassyaker]

Just a casual "couple dozen" brownies with a 6.48lb kicker.  Another day at Menderchuck...

[TnRiver46]

I have missed these videos and judging by the reaction of the first fish , so has A jay!  In the bag!!!!!

 

for the record, I still count the one you hooked under the chin with the jerkbait. Why? Cuz it’s in the bag!!!

[A-Jay]

7 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Why did you do this?

Habitats change continuously;

month to month and especially year to year.

Clearly a special piece of cover or section of structure might not change a ton,

but the bait, water depth and a few other variables certainly can & does.

That often changes how the fish set up or even if they continue to use it.

Starting with a clean slate, forces me to relearn how all that relates.

Sort of turns an old 'familiar' body of water into something new again.

Todays was a perfect example of that.

Finally, I will say that I freaking love the feeling I get when I find

'the right water' when I'm casting.

And then 2 seconds later, I'm hooked up.

Just doesn't get any better than that.

Well, it does help when the camera operates properly.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

Please post your strongly worded email to GoPro 😂 😂 

[Swamp Girl]

You emphasize the wind in your recounting and I'm wondering if you view the wind as more of a help or hindrance. I've enjoyed great fishing in the wind and especially in a motor boat. I've never owned a boat as heavy as yours and I'm guessing you have SpotLock, so the wind wouldn't bully you like it does my canoe.

 

So, is the wind more your friend or foe?

 

I think back to some of the times I had a heavier boat with an anchor and motor and fished windswept shores and enjoyed fast fishing in the wind.

[A-Jay]

4 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

So, is the wind more your friend or foe?

I'm sure through all your years of wetting a line,

you've come to your own conclusion.

 Personally the wind for me is neither a friend or a foe.

When it comes to locating biting brown bass for me,

on it's own, the wind is just about meaningless.

It's ONE Single factor that when combined with the many others,

might determine if I'm using my net or if I'm even on the water at all.

Structure, cover, seasonal pattern, bait & boating traffic,

just for starters, trumps whatever the wind is doing.

At least in my book. 

Using this trip as a specific example:

I believe the wind was helping to 'position' the fish I was looking to catch

in very small specific 'spots'. 

These spots needed to be a certain depth, they needed to be oriented a certain way

(especially if there was sunshine), the water temp needed to be at least 45 degrees,

the angle of the drop off had to be a certain way, 

having a defined 'edge' where dark bottom (emergent weed growth) met clean sand,

seemed very helpful and the WIND had to be blowing Right On it. 

 I feel confident listing all that because most every fish I caught yesterday,

came from such a spot or something pretty dern close.

Areas missing much of that were fishless for me. 

Requires covering water, the 'spots are small'

 and usually quite a distance apart.

Each held one or two biters.

That's what was happening on this trip,

the next one will most likely be completely different. 

Finally, when it comes to hunting down big brown bass here in northern Michigan, I will admit to 'using' that type or style of fish locating procedure, 

in every season and on most every body of water I fish.  

Sometimes it's repeatable and sometimes it's not. 

A-Jay

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

very nice. I love how on the first fish it didn't even seem like you had a hit.  Then even after you set the hook it didn't even look like it was much of a fish.  Until it was...  they must still be just a little cold yet.

 

On a separate note for your weighing procedure, you could drop the fish in the bag, throw it on the scale and hit tare.  it should zero at that point.  Then release the fish and the weight on the scale will show a negative fish weight.  Probably the easiest way to do what you're doing without actually doing any math.

[pdxfisher]

Wow awesome day and video! The fish you catch are the fattest smallmouth. Just amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[roadwarrior]

Beautiful fish!