Since a couple vacation days in early August wound up returned in favor of work, I thought I’d try it again this week to coincide with the Eclipse. In addition, Julie was still a couple days away from having any kids at the aftercare program and all of ours were starting their first full week of school, so the stars were aligned. Always a roller coaster ride, however, when it comes to having a “plan.”
Flying solo but could’ve been 30 years ago, same place with Hack, JJ or Catfish. These days editing GoPro footage by firelight, those days jamming on Apetite for Destruction or Guitar Town.
Stats
Date: August 20-21, 2017
Locations: Knox County, IL strip mines (2 lakes)
Time: 7:00-8:00pm (8/20) and 6:25-7:25am (8/21)
Weather: Partly cloudy/breezy (8/20) and Overcast to mostly ugly (8/21)
Air Temp: 80F (8/20) and 66F (8/21)
Water Temp: no reading
Totals: 9 bass (7 on 8/20 and 2 on 8/21)
Lures:
Booyah Buzz Buzzbait (Snow White shad) – 8 bass
5” Senko wacky rig (pumpkin with black flake) – 1 bass
Top Bass: 5-11 Senko
Top 5 Weight: 9-9 (5-11,1-1,1-1,1-0,0-12)
Notes & Nonsense
The Plan – Three days, two nights flying solo camping and fishing. Leave Sunday afternoon (left home at 5:00pm), camp overnight, fish Monday through Eclipse and return home to meet the kids at 3:00pm after school. Return to campsite that evening after Julie finishes up a back to school activity at 6:00pm. Overnight again and fish all day Tuesday with an evening return.
Best laid plans thwarted by Mother Nature, this pic does not do justice to the weirdness and ensuing ugliness.
Reality – Hour of fishing Sunday as planned after setting up camp. Peaceful and uneventful overnight with a nice campfire and some Miller Lites. One hour of fishing on Eclipse Day morning before some wicked skies sent me packing. Tried to wait out the storm but waved the white flag at 10:30am amidst thunder, lightning and some heavy rains. Tear down and pack in a shower and home by noon. Monday night camping called off with more t-storms forecast the bulk of overnight but looking to be casting Tuesday morning at sunrise if storms have run their course as predicted.
Eclipse Eve – solid start and looking forward to bigger and better things…
Eclipse Eve Fishing – 7:00pm to 8:00pm on a lake I haven’t visited for a while with an all-out buzzbait blitz due to limited window until sunset. Conditions are favorable with partly cloudy skies, a little color to the water and light chop. Seven bass come aboard but lacking a lunker with Top Bass at 1-1. Solid start, happy with the results and looking forward to the next launch in about ten hours.
Eclipse Day Fishing – Thought it would be fun to fish through the partial eclipse just to say I did, if nothing else. The fun started right off the bat with a 5-11 on a Senko wacky rig but was short lived with only one more fish (11.5” on a buzzbait) before the skies got scary, opened up and sent me home.
Eclipse Day Bass – short lived outing but got the bite you dream of when the heavens align
Top Bass – I caught my 5-11 less than ten minutes into my outing after my first two proven buzzbait spots failed to produce a strike. Stop number three is a solid Senko wacky rig area amidst some overhanging bushes so I changed it up and it came through yet again on the first cast to the tune of my largest Senko bass and the fifth biggest bass ever. Pretty wild as I never felt the hit, just saw the line moving to the right and reeled down and set the hook anticipating the usual pound and a half fish from the spot. A few tense moments with the 10-pound Trilene on my spinning rig before I got a look and knew I had something special. Airborne at one point and a missed first attempt with my Boga Grip had me nervous but it was meant to be and saved what would be a real short day on the water.
Casualties – Unfortunately no GoPro footage on the Top Bass as it bit the dust somehow while editing footage around the campfire the previous night. Julie mentioned that the fellow dropped it at purchase and said bring it back if any issues so got that on my to-do list. In addition, I thought I knocked my Fuji camera overboard after taking a spill on my tripod and crushing it when I lost my balance as my boat coasted into the bank. Not really sure on this one but had replaced the batteries after shooting pics of the big fish and apparently (and fortunately) did not re-attach to the tripod. I was kicking myself for the last half hour about losing the camera and all the pics on it before finding it safe and sound in one of my utility boxes. Thank goodness, strange turn of events, some days the mind and body let you know that they’ve seen better days.
Some highs and lows all in the span of about sixteen hours, better than being at work but some real weird and nervous outdoor moments had me wondering if I was better off inside. But still made the right choice in the overall evaluation of this adventure and hopefully it’s not over yet. If you are reading this as it hits the press, I intend to be on a pre-dawn drive to chase some more of those Knox County, IL strip mine bass, same as it ever was. Talk to you later. Troy