Over 100 years on site

[Reelax]

Hit the inland sea yesterday with a couple friends who work at a large employer in Essex with me. While these two people had never met in person, the experiences of being at the same work site for 30-45 years each flowed in stories all day as we trolled and talked our way down memory lane. The industry has changed since 1976 when Chuck 1st pulled in the parking lot, that is for certain.

We launched and checked temps at sandbar at 1st light. 45-47 warmer toward the swamp. We ran north and setup long lines in otter boards and riggers back 80 and down 15-20 with fixed cheaters you could see in the very slightly stained water.

We trolled for a while in the morning and never saw a rod move. We tried another spot and had same results. Ran out deeper, nada. No boat, no silver…. No wonder the parking lot was empty!

Surface temps were 44-47 and it was typically 1 deg colder down 15…

Haveing couple of guys aboard who wanted to feel the pull we ran under the sandbar bridge thru the Outter bay and out in front of colchester reef. We setup same program but added bigger sticks for the slime fest. I use very light rods so 10+ lb lakers are a battle on Reelax. We broke off a couple fish and had to slow to 1.3mph to land a couple others as some were hefty and puking up alewives all over. After a couple hrs of this we grew tired and had silver dreams again. Back thru Outter bay and into the inland sea for more of the same. In front of sand bar bridge and sand bar out near the drop….like your just driving around watching paint dry…. Lol this time there were 2 footers and white caps so we have pleanty of salmon chop!
Same results as morning; nada

Next trip will be south, wayyy south.

Menu today began with Chinese sweet and sour pork tenderloin followed by hot dogs with well done buns.

After 40 water miles and close to 9hrs on the lake we gave up the hunt for silver till next time....

Good to have some old work friends in the boat and the weather was gorgeous!

Fish on!

[Crayfish]

I thought I saw you heading under the bridge. At least you were able to eventually find some fish for them. That Winooski River mouth / Colchester Pt area is almost a guarantee this time of year. I took a co-worker out there last weekend for his first troll ever. I think he's hooked! We landed 9 lakers with the biggest pushing 30" long.

As far as yesterday goes, I got skunked on silver, as well. Landed a couple of tank smallies (18 and 19") along the causeway in 8' of water. Water was almost 50deg in front of Sandbar beach in that shallow water. Headed to Keeler's and set up for pike. Managed to land 2 hammer-handle pike and that was it. That was about the time the wind picked up, which isn't fun when fishing solo. I thought about getting on a south troll and trolling my way back to the launch, but decided I'd had enough.

Went home and tinkered with my "river boat" (1967 14' Starcraft with 1967 20hp Mercury) to get ready for walleye season. Never ran it last year as it wasn't pumping water. Replaced the impeller yesterday and the old girl started on the 2nd pull! Ready to roll now. Only problem is the boat is at home and I have to work all weekend!

[Crayfish]

A couple other thoughts, Matt :

1) I've been at that anonymous plant for over 34yrs. A lot sure has changed since I started in '88.

2) You lose a lot of people overboard, based on your Navionics map! I see 3 "man overboard" symbols just in that screenshot! Big fish pulling people over?