Smallmouth Party
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:50 pm
Well, we took Strike Three out for its first fishing trip with the new trolling motor, and electronics. We had a very small window of time that we could go, and an unusually large group of my kids that wanted to go.
We set out to our spot that Liam suggested, from our usual ramp, redgate. The boat was very noticeably slower than last year, with the new trolling motor, electronics, and 2 extra group 31 batteries installed to run the electronics, 3 sons, a daughter, and a full tank of fuel. Probably a good 400lbs heavier than the last trip out. Going to have to go back to the 21 pitch prop too I think, to push all that extra weight around.
Anyway, to the fishing. It's been really tough for the crew of the Country Angler lately when it comes to boating fish. The fishing reports we've done have pictures of water, boat, kids, food. No fish. Well, this report happily is kind of the opposite. I did just go out to the garage for this picture though.
I've been doing a ton of work to this boat the last two months, partly due to the cold water frustration we've been having, and partly because I'm working on starting a Bass Fishing team at Vergennes Union High School next fall. So far, other than being slower than I'd hoped, it fishes great.
When we stopped, Liam jumped up on the back casting deck, and threw out a crawfish pattern jointed crankbait, tied to one of the Lew's baitcasters. Brody pulled out another rod, I think he had a sonar on it. He settled in on the front casting deck. I stayed in the middle with Hambone and the Baby Girl, setting those two up with night crawlers. Really nice to just hit Anchor Lock, Garmin's version of spot lock, and just do my rigging while the boys fished. About 3 casts in, Liam's got a fish on. Here's what it was.
20" Smallmouth, 4.5 lbs. Crazy. What a fish, right? Didn't even think bass were biting much yet. I got Ozzy set up with his night crawler on a single hook, couple split shot, and a little spinner that came on the snell. Mary wanted a slip bobber rig, so I set about setting that up. Didn't get it done before Ozzy reeled this in.
19" smallmouth, 4.2 lbs. What the heck is going on here. This fish had black on its fins, but appeared healthy otherwise. Liam says it's a parasite.
We still haven't moved off of anchor lock at this point. Once I got Mary all set up, I started moving the boat a little. Which was great with the gesture steer function on the remote. Brody was blocking my view of the trolling motor head, so, I didn't know which way it was facing. It didn't matter though, you just point and go.
It wasn't too long, and Liam had another one on.
Same as Hambones fish, 19" 4.2 lbs, but no black stuff on its fins.
Next up, Liam again.
That was the big bass of the trip, 20.5" 4.8 lbs. At this point, me and the boys are just cranked up. I told them that if we could catch fish like this every time we went fishing, we would be Pro Bass fisherman on the circuit. I haven't seen fish caught like this this fast since watching Babe Winkleman on TV with my Dad in the 80s. And they'd fish for a week to make the episode.
Next up, Liam again.
This one was just a baby, 17.5" 3.2 lbs, haha.
At this point Brody was getting a little frustrated, because we'd been fishing about an hour and a half, and no bites for him. He'd changed to a crankbait a while back, and was working the weedline just like Liam too. We had about a half an hour left, and he got his first bite.
16.5" 2.75 lbs.
His Baby sister, who had actually came with us the last three skunk fishing trips, actually jumped up and down for him and clapped she was so happy he finally got a fish. I thought that was pretty nice of her, since she still hadn't caught anything yet either.
Then Brody hooked another one. He started yelling "Mary! Mary! Get up here!" And handed her the rod.
She cranked it all the way in, the Berkley Cherrywood baitcaster just about bent in half.
19" 4.0 lbs. I got a picture of him with the fish too, for the master angler program. I doubt Shawn or Jud would throw it out because he let his 6 year old sister reel it in after he chose the lure, tied it on, and hooked the fish. Species #1 for 2021 for him and Ozzy, #3 for Liam.
So, in 2 hours of fishing, 4 kids in the boat, we managed 7 Smallmouth, 6 of which were Master angler fish, for a total weight of 27.7 lbs of fish. If we culled that to a 5 fish limit in a tournament setting, it would have been 21.7 lbs of smallmouth in 2 hours of fishing. Unbelievable bass fishing trip for us, the best ever.
All were caught on crankbaits, except that 1 crawler behind a little spinner blade. Mary's slip bobber didn't produce. Water temperature was 57, visibility was chocolate milk.
The best new gear benefit we used of 93sv's, Garmin Force, and Livescope, was the ability of me to pilot the boat from the center with the little ones, and keep them fishing, while the boys had their own casting decks to use fore and aft. I as usual, didn't fish. I wouldn't have it any other way.
We set out to our spot that Liam suggested, from our usual ramp, redgate. The boat was very noticeably slower than last year, with the new trolling motor, electronics, and 2 extra group 31 batteries installed to run the electronics, 3 sons, a daughter, and a full tank of fuel. Probably a good 400lbs heavier than the last trip out. Going to have to go back to the 21 pitch prop too I think, to push all that extra weight around.
Anyway, to the fishing. It's been really tough for the crew of the Country Angler lately when it comes to boating fish. The fishing reports we've done have pictures of water, boat, kids, food. No fish. Well, this report happily is kind of the opposite. I did just go out to the garage for this picture though.
I've been doing a ton of work to this boat the last two months, partly due to the cold water frustration we've been having, and partly because I'm working on starting a Bass Fishing team at Vergennes Union High School next fall. So far, other than being slower than I'd hoped, it fishes great.
When we stopped, Liam jumped up on the back casting deck, and threw out a crawfish pattern jointed crankbait, tied to one of the Lew's baitcasters. Brody pulled out another rod, I think he had a sonar on it. He settled in on the front casting deck. I stayed in the middle with Hambone and the Baby Girl, setting those two up with night crawlers. Really nice to just hit Anchor Lock, Garmin's version of spot lock, and just do my rigging while the boys fished. About 3 casts in, Liam's got a fish on. Here's what it was.
20" Smallmouth, 4.5 lbs. Crazy. What a fish, right? Didn't even think bass were biting much yet. I got Ozzy set up with his night crawler on a single hook, couple split shot, and a little spinner that came on the snell. Mary wanted a slip bobber rig, so I set about setting that up. Didn't get it done before Ozzy reeled this in.
19" smallmouth, 4.2 lbs. What the heck is going on here. This fish had black on its fins, but appeared healthy otherwise. Liam says it's a parasite.
We still haven't moved off of anchor lock at this point. Once I got Mary all set up, I started moving the boat a little. Which was great with the gesture steer function on the remote. Brody was blocking my view of the trolling motor head, so, I didn't know which way it was facing. It didn't matter though, you just point and go.
It wasn't too long, and Liam had another one on.
Same as Hambones fish, 19" 4.2 lbs, but no black stuff on its fins.
Next up, Liam again.
That was the big bass of the trip, 20.5" 4.8 lbs. At this point, me and the boys are just cranked up. I told them that if we could catch fish like this every time we went fishing, we would be Pro Bass fisherman on the circuit. I haven't seen fish caught like this this fast since watching Babe Winkleman on TV with my Dad in the 80s. And they'd fish for a week to make the episode.
Next up, Liam again.
This one was just a baby, 17.5" 3.2 lbs, haha.
At this point Brody was getting a little frustrated, because we'd been fishing about an hour and a half, and no bites for him. He'd changed to a crankbait a while back, and was working the weedline just like Liam too. We had about a half an hour left, and he got his first bite.
16.5" 2.75 lbs.
His Baby sister, who had actually came with us the last three skunk fishing trips, actually jumped up and down for him and clapped she was so happy he finally got a fish. I thought that was pretty nice of her, since she still hadn't caught anything yet either.
Then Brody hooked another one. He started yelling "Mary! Mary! Get up here!" And handed her the rod.
She cranked it all the way in, the Berkley Cherrywood baitcaster just about bent in half.
19" 4.0 lbs. I got a picture of him with the fish too, for the master angler program. I doubt Shawn or Jud would throw it out because he let his 6 year old sister reel it in after he chose the lure, tied it on, and hooked the fish. Species #1 for 2021 for him and Ozzy, #3 for Liam.
So, in 2 hours of fishing, 4 kids in the boat, we managed 7 Smallmouth, 6 of which were Master angler fish, for a total weight of 27.7 lbs of fish. If we culled that to a 5 fish limit in a tournament setting, it would have been 21.7 lbs of smallmouth in 2 hours of fishing. Unbelievable bass fishing trip for us, the best ever.
All were caught on crankbaits, except that 1 crawler behind a little spinner blade. Mary's slip bobber didn't produce. Water temperature was 57, visibility was chocolate milk.
The best new gear benefit we used of 93sv's, Garmin Force, and Livescope, was the ability of me to pilot the boat from the center with the little ones, and keep them fishing, while the boys had their own casting decks to use fore and aft. I as usual, didn't fish. I wouldn't have it any other way.