Destination…somewhere new.

In 2016 I landed bass in 22 different lakes as I manage to get around a bit without actually having to wander too far from home.  All of my bass were caught within roughly an hour of my driveway and most of my primarily public stomping grounds allow me to hit several bodies of water within the same trip.  Even so, there were just as many potential fishing holes on my list that did not get a visit in 2016.  Not surprisingly, when contemplating most of my trips I wind up having a little trouble devising a game plan when faced with so many choices; a nice problem to have.

2016 also saw the addition of two new bodies of water to the list, Boss Lake at Mautino SFWA in Henry County, IL and Lost Grove Lake in Scott County, Iowa (as noted in yesterday’s post).  And I’m looking to make it even more complicated by exploring some more new water in 2017.

Browsing the internet, I’ve got my eye on a few spots already.  The criteria I was looking at was to find new water located within about a 70 minute drive of home.  Initial research shows several possibilities on the other side of the river.  Sounds like a good way to get more out of my non-resident Iowa fishing license, the first of which I purchased last year prior to my two Lost Grove Lake visits.

As far as the Illinois side, I’ve got a couple walk-in lakes as possibilities at some sites that I already visit.  In addition, there are several lakes that I fished quite a few years ago that may get some consideration in Henry County’s Johnson-Sauk Trail, Rock Island County’s Lake George and Whiteside County’s Lake Carlton.  The Hennepin Canal also provides numerous access points within reasonable distance but not sold on the bass potential without some more research.

Sometimes it’s tough to wander away from some of my productive regular haunts but sure is fun to get a look at some new water.  Time will tell which new water(s) that will be as I often don’t make up my mind until I’m loading my gear.

I also thought it would be fun sometime to draw my destination out of a hat once I get behind the wheel of my truck but may have to throw that trick into the mix for something new in 2018.  Or perhaps a reader vote from a list of destinations would be interesting as well.  However, I do have some concern for other anglers who may be fishing the chosen location in having to contend with my expansive and rabid fan base showing up to see how it all plays out…tough call.  Talk to you tomorrow.  Troy

 

Okay, so we’re talking the lure not the band or the location despite what I considered an entertaining tease on Facebook yesterday.  If nothing else, I amuse myself, not really too hard to do, but hopefully also hooked a few of you to get you over here on the blog.

Anyway…

For as long as I’ve considered myself a bass fisherman, the blitz of can’t miss, latest rage, new thing lures have certainly caught my attention.  Slug-Gos, Banjo Minnows, Flying Lures, The Tornado, bladed jigs, giant sized (and priced) swimbaits and even a wacky looking worm rig have all sought to empty the piggybank with the promise of filling the livewell.

Skipped some, bought some, some worked, some didn’t, still got some of them stashed somewhere in the tackle collection and that crazy looking worm setup is on the end of one pole pretty much every outing.

Alabama Rig (note: hook clipped on top lure to meet Illinois’ two hook regulation on most bodies of water)

And I’ve also got me a lure that was banned by Bassmaster and restricted in my own home state of Illinois.  While referred to as an umbrella rig, multi-rig, 3-way rig, 5-way rig and a multitude of other names from various manufacturers I like to call it by the original designation, “Alabama rig.”

I threw it around last November without fooling anything and have only landed one bass on the contraption, an 11.5 incher back in 2014.

7/6/14 at 5:53am 11.5″, my one and only Alabama Rig bass, therefore, the record…for now.

So for 2017, my resolution is to set a new Alabama rig personal best.  As you can see from the above photo, size wise that ain’t a very tall order.  However, from a confidence standpoint it could be a challenge in selecting this lure when I’m used to throwing something else.  Yet I do have a handful of numbers lakes or off the beaten path fishing holes where I just might be able to pull off this proposed “record” catch as the fish are either unpressured, dumb, or both.

Hopefully the new record will be coming your way in a fishing report sometime down the road.  In the meantime, another resolution coming your way tomorrow.  Talk to you later.  Troy

A welcome refrain as I ready my gear these days on the eve of a bright and early fishing trip departure is the question, “Dad, can I go fishing with you?”

Music to a fishing dad’s ears but not always feasible or logistically possible.  Won’t get into the particulars on the reasons or excuses but last summer wound up with pretty much constant work from the Fourth of July through Labor Day really making a mess of things.  As a result, we only had two opportunities in June to get the kids on some fish but were quite successful during those outings.

But from a parent perspective it’s not simply about how many and how big the fish are.  It’s also been cool to see the progression from stubby Mickey Mouse kiddie poles to regular sized spincast combos and more recently getting the hang of a spinning rig.

The evolution from having mom or dad cast to nowadays winging out a slip bobber setup with increasing distance and accuracy has also been a treat.

And simply looking down a stretch of bank to see four young anglers casting, reeling, laughing, hollering, smiling and catching is about as good as it gets.

Looking forward to the day when they get the hang of baiting their own hooks and taking off their own fish so mom and dad can expand that line of anglers for a little friendly grown up vs. kid competition.

So for 2017 we gotta get in some more of that family fishing time.

Only six more days of school for this bunch and a summer with a few less activities this time around mean that there’s no excuse for anything short of a record year of reeling ‘em in.

Waxworms and bluegill beware…Talk to you later.  Troy

I’ve got a collection of public walk-in only lakes that I have fished since 2013.  Through the 2016 fishing year I had wandered the miles of strip mine terrain on seven trips during the last four years with diminishing results in the last two years.  While 2013 and 2014 produced four bass at four pounds or better in five trips, 2015 and 2016 only had a 1-11 to show for Top Bass in two outings.

Last year was particularly ugly as I was eaten alive by mosquitoes and fought armpit high weeds across the entire site once stepping off the interior road that bisects the area.  On top of those nuisances, the quality of the bass that I fooled left much to be desired with only four at 12” or better for a Top 4 weight of 4-13.  Just not my day and I began to wonder if I would pull such a stunt again, vowing to re-read the blog posting I submitted about that misadventure when pondering a 2017 visit.

My late summer 2016 visit featured far more bites from mosquitoes than bass, bad move, tore up.

The pictures I’ve included below aren’t of our best catches from the area but instead are intended to highlight the terrain during the different months I’ve visited the site (along with my brother, Brent, on a couple occasions).  It’s more important to look behind the bass and their anglers to get the point.

September 29, 2013

April 12, 2014

May 23, 2015

September 18, 2016

As you can see from the 2014 photo, the vegetation is definitely more friendly to walk-in only access before spring gets a chance to hit full stride (site doesn’t open until April 1 each year by the way).  Therefore, the resolution was to add the site to my list for the fifth straight year but to do so nearer to opening day rather than closing time (site also shuts down after September 30).  Here’s to short weeds, no skeeters and an overdue boost to my all-time Top 5 from the site that presently sits at an even 20-0 (4-6,4-3,4-2,4-0,3-5).

Update: I’ve already put this resolution behind me with a pair of successful visits on April 8 and May 13 (see fishing reports posted previously for the pics and specifics).  Overall totals as follows:

Total fishing hours: 6.25
Miles walked (per iPhone app): 6.5
Bass: 33
2017 Top 5 Weight: 12-1 (3-6,3-5,2-1,1-12,1-9)
All-time Top 5 Weight:  20-1 (4-6,4-3,4-2,4-0,3-6)

2017 Top IRAP Bass 3-6 April 8 Jig & pig

Oh yeah, and zero mosquito bites.  Good decision on this resolution.

We’ll see what the rest of the resolutions have in store as we continue to run down the list.  Talk to you later.  Troy