jbird
06-01-2014, 09:26 AM
I met a couple buddies about 3 hrs north of here to pursue some TEETH. The rivers are extremely high with pretty unpredictable fishing. But, it is what it is, so off we went. The day was very quiet for the first couple hours. I finally saw a big Musky tracking my fly but didn't commit. After a while, Eric tired of casting the 10wt and tried for smallies. He loves fishing glass. So both his 7 and 10wts are glass rods. He was fishing a crawdad looking thing for bass and whamo! Big ole strike! No wire bite leader. Just straight 1X. He played the fish really well and luckily the tippet never crossed over those teeth. Fish to hand! Eric was quite amused :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2263_zps6ce58c94.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2263_zps6ce58c94.jpg.html)
The business end
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2281a_zpse2db49f0.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2281a_zpse2db49f0.jpg.html)
Right after releasing this fish, I had a vicious strike by a surface slashing musky, but came up empty. Then, crossing under the bridge and angling into the take out at the end of the float. I hooked a monster. But again, couldn't stay connected.
Eric will fall asleep with a smile for a long time to come thinking about the bend in that glass rod and end result!
We had a lot of day left after the float and went to a lake. we rowed all the way around that lake in the wind with almost no action. Once again, I have a big fish follow my big fly, only to reject it and take Erics little clouser. After a serious tussle, the fish comes up and its a pike of similar size to his musky! But this time the inevitable happened and the tippet hit a tooth.
We parted ways in a swarm of mosquitos and I headed out to find a motel and a burger. After succeeding, I had a restless night under the sheets with a fresh sunburn and that musky's teeth flashing thru my mind. I awoke at dawn and headed to a small lake with my pontoon. I have a small frog popper tied on and throw one cast toward cover and the water erupts to a nice 16" largemouth. I kicked along the shoreline getting bass after bass on topwater.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2287_zpscf960190.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2287_zpscf960190.jpg.html)
About mid morning, the topwater bite slowed and I could see the wake of a fish coming to look, but no bite! So I had a thought. I tied a very short tippet to the hook bend with a big leech. This was one of the best ideas Ive had in a while! The popper was like an indicator and the action was ridiculous! The big leech kept away all but the biggest bluegill and crappie, and the bass simply couldn't resist. And there was still the occasional topwater player on the frog.
I saw some large pike following my bass along with a MONSTER musky that ate a 14" bass I had hooked... Just ate it.
So I went with the same popper/dropper concept for pike. I only had some 60# seaguar with me and I thought that would do for a bite trace. My first cast, I hurled this tandem nightmare of huge balsa popper trailed by an EP streamer with my 7wt. It was an albatross of a cast and I was just playing with the retrieve when something evil grabbed it and ran!. It promptly spun me right around in my boat before chewing thru the 60#.
So I rowed back to the truck, braved the mosquitos and dug out some wire leader. When I got set up, it was a blast. I cant say how many pike I caught, but it was a lot. Most in the mid 20"s but a couple close to 30" with that first bite off being the biggest one I felt.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2320_zps481e1b60.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2320_zps481e1b60.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2324_zpscdb7ba7d.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2324_zpscdb7ba7d.jpg.html)
As evening arrived, I went back to bass but on the 3wt and they were hot on top again!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2326_zpscb67601a.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2326_zpscb67601a.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2330_zps10a9f289.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2330_zps10a9f289.jpg.html)
I considered staying another night, but the mosquitos were so bad, I just couldnt take it anymore. I had so much bug spray on me Im surprised my clothes weren't melting. Worst Ive ever seen. So I packed it up at about 8pm and bombed the 3 hrs home. Having to stop at gas stations every 1/2 hr to clean the bugs off the windshield!! :0
A couple other northern residents.
Common Loon
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2292_zps7b81a139.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2292_zps7b81a139.jpg.html)
Eastern Kingbird
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2302_zpsfe8d40ff.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2302_zpsfe8d40ff.jpg.html)
I got mosquito bites on top of mosquito bites on top of sunburn. A perfect way to remember a great weekend!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2263_zps6ce58c94.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2263_zps6ce58c94.jpg.html)
The business end
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2281a_zpse2db49f0.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2281a_zpse2db49f0.jpg.html)
Right after releasing this fish, I had a vicious strike by a surface slashing musky, but came up empty. Then, crossing under the bridge and angling into the take out at the end of the float. I hooked a monster. But again, couldn't stay connected.
Eric will fall asleep with a smile for a long time to come thinking about the bend in that glass rod and end result!
We had a lot of day left after the float and went to a lake. we rowed all the way around that lake in the wind with almost no action. Once again, I have a big fish follow my big fly, only to reject it and take Erics little clouser. After a serious tussle, the fish comes up and its a pike of similar size to his musky! But this time the inevitable happened and the tippet hit a tooth.
We parted ways in a swarm of mosquitos and I headed out to find a motel and a burger. After succeeding, I had a restless night under the sheets with a fresh sunburn and that musky's teeth flashing thru my mind. I awoke at dawn and headed to a small lake with my pontoon. I have a small frog popper tied on and throw one cast toward cover and the water erupts to a nice 16" largemouth. I kicked along the shoreline getting bass after bass on topwater.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2287_zpscf960190.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2287_zpscf960190.jpg.html)
About mid morning, the topwater bite slowed and I could see the wake of a fish coming to look, but no bite! So I had a thought. I tied a very short tippet to the hook bend with a big leech. This was one of the best ideas Ive had in a while! The popper was like an indicator and the action was ridiculous! The big leech kept away all but the biggest bluegill and crappie, and the bass simply couldn't resist. And there was still the occasional topwater player on the frog.
I saw some large pike following my bass along with a MONSTER musky that ate a 14" bass I had hooked... Just ate it.
So I went with the same popper/dropper concept for pike. I only had some 60# seaguar with me and I thought that would do for a bite trace. My first cast, I hurled this tandem nightmare of huge balsa popper trailed by an EP streamer with my 7wt. It was an albatross of a cast and I was just playing with the retrieve when something evil grabbed it and ran!. It promptly spun me right around in my boat before chewing thru the 60#.
So I rowed back to the truck, braved the mosquitos and dug out some wire leader. When I got set up, it was a blast. I cant say how many pike I caught, but it was a lot. Most in the mid 20"s but a couple close to 30" with that first bite off being the biggest one I felt.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2320_zps481e1b60.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2320_zps481e1b60.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2324_zpscdb7ba7d.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2324_zpscdb7ba7d.jpg.html)
As evening arrived, I went back to bass but on the 3wt and they were hot on top again!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2326_zpscb67601a.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2326_zpscb67601a.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2330_zps10a9f289.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2330_zps10a9f289.jpg.html)
I considered staying another night, but the mosquitos were so bad, I just couldnt take it anymore. I had so much bug spray on me Im surprised my clothes weren't melting. Worst Ive ever seen. So I packed it up at about 8pm and bombed the 3 hrs home. Having to stop at gas stations every 1/2 hr to clean the bugs off the windshield!! :0
A couple other northern residents.
Common Loon
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2292_zps7b81a139.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2292_zps7b81a139.jpg.html)
Eastern Kingbird
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/JDS_2302_zpsfe8d40ff.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jbird35/media/JDS_2302_zpsfe8d40ff.jpg.html)
I got mosquito bites on top of mosquito bites on top of sunburn. A perfect way to remember a great weekend!