Fishing With Ike

[roadwarrior]

Ike made it to Memphis early this morning, kept me in bed past 5:00!

I decided to head over to the Secret Pond around 6:30. Light rain, 20-30 mph wind and a tornado watch...Oh well...

No baitcaster for me in these conditions, but fishing the 10" Anaconda on a spinning rig is not something I recommend. The first hour was rough in the wind, but I decided to fish the windblown shore and give it a shot.

The first hour was challenging, but I managed three tournament fish, probably around 9 lbs total (4-3-2). Oddly, my "big fish" Anaconda surprised me with these little bass. After fishing 2/3 of the pond, it was time to switch.

Decided to go with a 6" Senko, black with blue flakes (021). First cast was a long one with the wind, so I lit up a smoke...Well, "nothing" is sometimes the answer. Moved the Senko for the first time after two or three minutes and...FISH ON!

This fat girl fought like a tiger and I would estimate something around 5-6 lbs, but very fat. My pond fish are gorging themselves on threadfin and this girl had already had breakfast.

Thirty minutes later I had enough. Made a long cast into deep water off structure and "walked my line" down the bank just to give it a stretch. Without moving the Senko and having around 100 yards of line out, I got hung up...on some lips!

After a few minutes I landed the biggest bass I have caught on this pond. Probably not a 10, but it might have been! I'll say strong 8 that looked pregnant. Great fight. I knew from the get-go it was a cat...until she rolled over at the surface. Fought hard early, but gave up the ghost for the last ten yards.

That was it, the rain got a little heavier and I was outta there.

BTW, How 'bout them Broncos!

8-)

[MARSH MASTER]

Sound like a great time in the rain. Who's pond was you fishing Bill Dances?  ;D ;D ;D

[paul.]

way to go bud.  that's a great trip right there for sure.  and just like you, the broncos are a force to be reckoned with.

[Jimzee]

I went out tonight for a little while myself, tucked tail and ran when the "real" winds got there.  Good outing for sure.  I want to see some pics posted on here.  Get that digital cam a waterproof case.

[Catt]

All you guys asking about fishing & weather please read the above    

[Sam]

Roadwarrior,

I would have expected you to have taken your boat out in those conditions.  

Shore fishing?  I have never read any reports from you on shore fishing.

Great report.  My problem fishing in those conditions is spelled w-i-f-e.  She knows I am a little crazy but there is no way she would have let me go out to fish in that weather.  

You are "da man"!!!  

[roadwarrior]

Sam,

Most of my largemouth fishing is from shore. I fish a few reservoirs throughout the year, but the majority of my fishing is on the Tennessee River. Spring through fall is srtiper, not bass. We target smallmouth October through March when we have enough water release (current). So, if I'm not on the river, I'll be pond jumping locally.

8-)

[fishinfiend]

Very nice, RW!!  I can't wait to try out the anacondas.

[.ghoti.]

I just knew I wasn't the only fool out fishing in the rain yesterday morning.

I woke up about 5:30AM to the sound of rain and wind, and knew Ike had made it to central Illinois. It was one of the wife's rare "sleep-in" days, so I decided to not wake her up by fiddling around the house and went fishing.

Put on my Cabela's rain gear and said to myself, "self, you've never fishied in a hurricane before; now's your chance".

Spent the morning, until about 9:00AM, walking the bank, throwing topwaters. RageTail Toads, RageTail Shads, Paca Toads and Cavitron buzzbaits.

The wind was a challenge, and I'd left my spinning gear at home. Had a few over-runs when the wind changed directions on me, but nothing I couldn't pick out. Caught at least a dozen, the largest weighed 4. Missed quite a few. Actually, on several bites, I think the fish missed the bait completely.

The rain was pounding the water surface heavily, and I think the fish just misjudged where the bait was. Anybody ever experience this? I don't think I've ever fished in a downpour this heavy. I'm just speculating.

[Paul Roberts]

That's a heck of a day. Wish we had hurricanes up here!

[thetr20one]

Sounds like a great day RW. By the time the wind got really heavy up here, it was 4:00 p.m. My dads club had a tourney and did well. After 4 p.m. sustained winds were problably 30+mph with gust over 50. Massive power outages, school closings, downed trees, roof damage, etc. I wanted to go out on foot as well, but decided to watch movies instead. Anybody that bothered to watch Pittsburg at Cleveland could see that crazy wind. I sometimes light up a smoke to slow myself down. It seems to be an effective technique. KIDS DO NOT ATTEMPT THAT TECHNIQUE!  

[Bubba_Bruiser]

I fished Okhissa in South Mississippi last Friday when Ike was moving in. We had 25+ sustained winds and I would estimate gust at 35-45. And we had torrential down pours throught the morning. We did manage to boat 33 fish with 3 between the 16-20 slot. We found a protected point with a creek channel in 15-20' of water. They pretty much hit everything that we threw in the water as far as plastics go. That is the best day I have ever had on that lake. It was a good day to say the least.

[Catt]

That's a heck of a day. Wish we had hurricanes up here!

Uh no you don't  

[Mrs. Matstone]

Sounds like you had a great time. I personally LOVE to fish in the rain. It also sounds like you have yourself on great little secret pond there. Congrats on the day and thanks for sharing.

[JShrock07]

That's a heck of a day. Wish we had hurricanes up here!

Uh no you don't

HAHAHA ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[flechero]

Dang it, RW, if we take up a collection and buy you a camera, will you use it?   ;D

[roadwarrior]

Dang it, RW, if we take up a collection and buy you a camera, will you use it? ;D

You posted a picture from Lake Fork a couple of weeks ago with me and one of those ugly green fish. Maybe I'll catch something brown in a few weeks and post a "pretty" pic!

8-)

[flechero]

Color is not important.  Green, brown, white... as long as it's a fish!  We don't even care if there is an accidental Bud can left in the background!   ;D