Trip with Triton21

[CWB]

Last week I had the pleasure of fishing with Triton21, known to you older members as Kelley. We fished a lake neither of us had been to in south central Illinois.

All the reports and advice we got said fish the coves and creeks where the bass ought to be gorging on shad. Well, nobody told this to the bass. The water had warmed significantly in the few days before we got there and threw everything out of whack. We spent the first half day fishing where we were supposed to find fish and had 3 small bass and a few white bass to show for it. We decided to go hunting and use our instincts. We headed for the dam and started throwing cranks at the rip-rap. Started to get a few nicer bass. We then headed up the lake and stopped at every rip-rap stretch we could find, and got fish off all of them. We found one point that was loaded with white bass. Kelley got a 17"er and for about 45 minutes, we got a fish ,or at least a bite on almost every cast. Then Kelley got all excited and landed this lunker:

I thought I had something to blackmail him with until about a half hour later when I got this hawg:

Kelley screamed for the camera and said now we're even. The rest of the trip was spent fishing rip-rap almost exclusively. 1 small stretch by a railroad bridge never failed to produce 10-20 fish, especially if there was wind blowing on it. We averaged about 30 LMB a day and at least that many White Bass and a few Walleye mixed in. I lost my Fat Free Guppy that I had been slaying 'em on and Kelley handed me a bait and said try this. Got this on the last day on it. Solid 3.5 lb.

He swore me to secrecy as to what bait it was.

You might be able to find out by looking at his picture.

He let me keep it if I promised not to tell about his flirting with a clerk at Walmart. Oops. my mistake.

Fishing with Kelley was truly a great experience. Even if we didn't get a bite, it would have been one of the best trips I've had. Uncle Leo and Cranky came down and we got to fish with them also which made it even better. Man, the stories Kelley told. I was fishing with the Wilt Chamberlain of bass fishing. Can't wait for the next trip!

[roadwarrior]

Looks like tournament fishing to me!

[Big-O]

That's Great Ken and glad you two got to fish together...Kelley is a Nice Ole Codger, huh!

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[oteymc]

Good story, good pics.  I love these kinds of posts

[Long Mike]

Ken, if Kelly said one word about me, it's a lie!  I never did or said that. 

[Triton21]

We had a wonderful time.  We fished a lake without the multitude of houses on the water.  Saw deer, a Eagle, and many other animals and birds.  Truly nice to be just woods, water and getting your line streched.

I don't tell tales out of school so won't go into Ken's escapades.

Kelley

[Triton21]

Ken, if Kelly said one word about me, it's a lie! I never did or said that.

Like I said in my post Mike "I don't tell tales out of school".

Kelley

[Long Mike]

BS aside, I'm glad you guys had a great trip.  Wish I could have been there.

[firefightn15]

Good job guys, glad you made it happen! 8-) Kelley, when you said you two caught a couple smaller ones you didn't say how small. Looks to me like the blue gill you caught would have given a couple of the bass a run for their money in the "fight" department.

[Uncle Leo]

Well guys at least you got em. Thanks for the tip on the RR Bridge we fished it a half day Saturday before we had to head north. It pretty much saved the trip for us. By the way we did get a mixed bag there. LMB, White Bass, Crappy and Walleye. If you were not crankin you were not catching. I hate it. Did get a nice 3lb 8oz Jig Fish thanks to a secret jig NewAngler sent me which is stuck in the Rip Rap at the dam. If anyone snags it I want it back!

By the way I do think Kelley is a Horn Dog. The man can put the move on the ladies for sure.

[CWB]

Just kidding about Kelley. He is one of the most genuine guys you would ever want to meet. We had some pretty deep discussions about life, marriage etc.

He helped me out. He is a devoted husband (called his lovely wife at least twice a day) and a great fisherman.

He also survived my cooking.

Mike- he did say he remembers fishing with a tall, lanky greenhorn novice and by the end of the day, actually turned him into a slightly above average bass fisherman. Was that you? ;D Leo gave us the tip about the rip-rap by the dam before we even left. The rest fell into place. I know Kelley was antsy to get back home for 2 reasons. He missed his wife and the bow season for deer is open. Not sure which one drove him more but after spending time with him, I'd say he missed his wife more. Thanks again Kelley. You really made this a special trip for me. Lake Fork next?

[Long Mike]

Lake Fork?  Did someone say Lake Fork?

[CWB]

Lake Fork? Did someone say Lake Fork?

I'm still waiting for my MOOK shirt.

[Dwight Hottle]

Great post & pics. Sounds like you guys had a great time fishing & catching.

[Nice_Bass]

What lake did you all get to fish- just curious since I live in the area. 

[Uncle Leo]

It was Shelbeyville.