bassnleo Posted July 13, 2009 Posted July 13, 2009 I was lucky enough to spend the last 5 days on Lake Erie, what a fishery! I spent last Wed and Thurs practicing for 2 tournaments that took place Fri and Sat (2 day T) and a single day T on Sun. Wednesday the lake was pretty flat. I ran around hitting various spots, not fishing much, looking for new spots. I did manage 2 nice keepers both in the 5 pound range. Thursday morning the Lake was flat again, did catch 1 keeper. The bonus was marking a bunch of new structure. Tourney day 1 dawned to a flat Lake and winds light out of the South. I ran to my first spot and immediately caught a 4.98 smallie, then the wind quit and so did my bite. Later in the morning I hit a deeper rockpile and caught 2 more 3.5 lb class fish. With only 2 hours left I really needed a limit (4 fish) and ran to Presque Isle bay to flip up a largemouth. Managed to find a 3.5 lb largie to round out my limit of 15.57 and in about 8th place for day 1. Day 2 the wind howled. Lake was off limits due to a small craft advisory and we were restricted to Erie bay. With the flippin stick I caught over 60 largemouth but only managed 3 keepers that weighed just under 6 lbs. Going in I figured I was out. I needed to get into the top 6 to qualify for our federations state classic. Low and behold, the leaders above me did not catch 'em and I snuck into 2nd place with a total of 20.93 lbs. Nice payday at $870 plus I made the state classic Sunday was our second district event and we had it connected to the other event figuring we would get additional boats. Day 2 dawned with a fishable lake at 1-3 footers. I started just outside the bay and could only catch freshwater drum :-[ About 9AM I ran to a spot where I caught 1 fish in practice. I pull in and in the first 1/2 hour only catch rockbass. Finally I boat a 5.18 smallie but the bite dies and so does the wind. I make a short move and it's slow with the drop shot. Ready to leave I fire out a tube and WHACK, another 5 lb class fish. Next cast, WHACK, a 3.5 class fish. Hmmmm, am I on to something? I run back to the spot I caught my first one on, and long story short I boat 5 more smallies culling up to a pretty big bag (so I thought). I head in to weigh in thinking that I had enough to be in the top 5. Low and behold I weigh my fish and the scale settles on 18.91 lbs for a 4 fish limit, my largest limit to date on the lake. To my surprise I win that event and another $644 payday Soooo, 5 days and $1500 later I'm a pretty happy guy! The place is so diverse, and awesome to fish! Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted July 13, 2009 Super User Posted July 13, 2009 Outstanding. We both know it's its a great fishery. How was the boat traffic? Quote
bassnleo Posted July 13, 2009 Author Posted July 13, 2009 Bass boat traffic was minimal other than the tournaments participants. Recreational traffic was really bad around Presque Isle. Walleye traffic to the West of the Penninsula was HORRIBLE. The walleye trollers were targeting 20-30 feet, unfortunately the same depth as bass structure. I had walleye boats trolling around me all day out on the lake. I had one boat actually take away my marker buoy! I could see that they were going to be really close, I was yelling and pointing MARKER MARKER MARKER to the crew. One of the mates ran to the front and finally saw the buoy, he yelled "Awww, we're alright" disgustedly. Whelp, I knew they weren't, the buoy passed between their boat and one of the planer boards. One of the rods out the back of the boat got my buoy line and they drug it awhile. They finally reeled it up, wound it up, then the friggin mate tosses it over board about 150 yds away from me and yells "HERE IT IS, COME AND GET IT". I was a little jerked but decided cooler heads prevail, I idled out, picked it up, then went back to fishing. My Co-Angler told me he would have flipped. It wasn't worth it far as I'm concerned. Quote
sodaksker Posted July 13, 2009 Posted July 13, 2009 Leo, Great performance. Good luck with the state classic. I'm sure you will do fine. Quote
Bass-1 Posted July 13, 2009 Posted July 13, 2009 Sorry man, but if someone is "dragging" my makers away from where "I" put them, they better have a clue what "self defense" is, because SOMEONE is going swimming, and broken bones aren't out of the question... JMO. Quote
SuperNewbie Posted July 13, 2009 Posted July 13, 2009 wow nice five days may last five day have landed me 0 bass and around 11 mosquito bites Quote
bassnleo Posted July 14, 2009 Author Posted July 14, 2009 Sorry man, but if someone is "dragging" my makers away from where "I" put them, they better have a clue what "self defense" is, because SOMEONE is going swimming, and broken bones aren't out of the question... JMO. I have not had a week off from work since last October. I was in low stress mode and little stuff like that didn't bother me. I deal with enough crap at work and don't let minor issues get to me when I'm relaxing. No big deal Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted July 14, 2009 Super User Posted July 14, 2009 Back to the fun part... Quote
NewAngler Posted July 14, 2009 Posted July 14, 2009 Congrats, dude. And to the fella who said breaking bones isn't out of the question, what will that get you? Not anymore fish. Maybe an over nighter... Call me crazy, but I see fishermen sort of as a brotherhood.. We're all after something, we should all just helpo eachother get there- unless some loot is on the line.-still not just cause to get violent. Jmo. Quote
reo Posted July 14, 2009 Posted July 14, 2009 Congrats!! Nicely done and well deserved!! Perhaps good karma from the help you have given myself and others about the area 8-) Quote
Don B Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Wow, that was a pretty cool story. You didn't just go out there and reel in hawg after hawg and collect without much effort or challenge. Sounds like you had some difficulties, figured them out, and ended up the better fisherman for the tourney in the end. Those winnings paid for your weeks meals and lodging, plus some spendin' bucks left over! Congrats! Quote
ToledoEF Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Sounds like you had a great time, I am lucky enough to live 20 minutes from lake erie, and within an hour of a lot of great fishing on erie! Quote
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