The first thing I noticed was how clear the water was! I had a clear view to the bottom in 10 feet of water, where only days before it was very murky. I had a friend along who hasn't been fishing in years and he was throwing a Rippin' Rap. He was still getting used to the heavy lure and thus was dragging a lot of junk off the bottom at first, including bringing in a few Zebra mussels tangled in the weeds. Friday night we had big whitecap breakers going so I wonder if the waves brought some mussels in?
The day was a little slow but my friend brought in a nice smallmouth and I got a big ol' perch on a Shad Rap. We're beginning to head in for the day when my friend says he has a bite. I can tell it's a big one so I tell him not to horse it and and to use the drag if needed.
My jaw dropped when he reeled in a big ugly sheepshead (drum)! For the location and the lure he was using, I couldn't have been more surprised to see Champ himself on the line! The only thing I can think of is that the sheepshead was munching on the washed-in mussels when either he the lure got him right in the mouth, or it bumped into him and pissed him off enough to strike. It doesn't seem it in the pic, but yes, it was hooked in the mouth (in pic lure is stuck on the net not the fish).
This is why I love fishing this lake. You just never know what's going to be on the end of that line!
- sheepshead05182019.jpg (150.51 KiB) Viewed 708 times
