Benson's 6/15

[Brian]

A super nice bluebird June day. Just about the right amount of N wind for slinging hardware. When we hit the ramp at 10:30 the water was 67, up to 70 in some spots when we quit at 6:30. Lake level at the Ferry dock was 96.7 something, but clearly the water was higher than it was last weekend. Maybe the rain, maybe the N wind.

Found Lm on shoreline grass 4' to 7' with spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and swimbaits (that's a lot of "baits"). Only saw a couple of alewives, but one bass spit up an 8 incher boat side. I could still see the roe in it's partially digested rib cage.

Tx rigs worked too as the bass weren't all that active. Later in the day we went to super shallow slop to see what may be lurking there. Not much as it turned out. Saw a lot of gills in some areas and figured bass should be around as well. If they were they weren't hitting our frogs, toads and spoons. Only got two bass and three pickerel, but it was fun. And no telling when we may get back at it.

Finally we boated a quality Pike this season as Diane bagged a 9 lb. 8 oz. beauty on her Vibratron spinnerbait w/ twin split tail trailer. All day between us we caught and released 17 LM (4 slightly over 3 lb.), 2 Pike, 3 pickerel and 1 jumbo crappie.



Diane battles a 3 lb. LM



Back you go.


Playing down a nice pike. I'm waiting for her to grab it so I can get an action shot............but it's becoming obvious that I'm to be the "gillie".


34" 9 lb. 8 oz. Healthy fish, probably likes alewives too.


This little guy ate my 4.8" swimbait. It's a Keitech Fat Swing Impact. I thought they were a bit pricey at $7.99 per 5 pack, but caught 7 LM and a pike on one bait before losing it.

[rvq]

Brian, Do you fish hardware mostly because that you think it works best down South, or you think it is most effective everywhere ?Choice C: you just like to fish that way ?
Thanks for the report.
Bob

[bassdude]

Brian
Interesting swimbait you have there
Color?

what was the general pattern? burning it up top or letting it bounce off the bottom

Nice Rogue...cool to see a good mixture of healthy fish

[Brian]

Jun 17, 2010 12:45:28 GMT -5 rvq said:

Brian, Do you fish hardware mostly because that you think it works best down South, or you think it is most effective everywhere ?Choice C: you just like to fish that way ?
Thanks for the report.
Bob

Bob,
Hardware works well in southern Champlain for us. When I fish other places I rarely use it. We mostly get to Champ. early and late in the season. Then the fish are eating and the weeds either aren't yet fully developed or are dying back.. We can cover a lot of water and hopefully attract some pike and pickerel too. It's also a technique that Diane likes to fish, I kinda like pitching jigs and worms, but I'm easy and it's all about having fun and seeing her have a good time.

[Brian]

Jun 17, 2010 12:58:08 GMT -5 bassdude said:

Brian
Interesting swimbait you have there
Color?

what was the general pattern? burning it up top or letting it bounce off the bottom

Nice Rogue...cool to see a good mixture of healthy fish

Bassdude,
I'm new to the swimbait game. Just started late last season. I just slow roll it trying to keep it so I can't see it and it's usually no more than 3' deep. Fishing around grass it's comes through pretty well.
That color is Sexy Shad on a 1/8 oz. Owner 5/0 hook, braided line.

[vtbass]

That's a sweet pike Brian! I don't see any hole punches in it's tale. I wonder where that one was this spring when I had my nets out!