The Big M 3/19/2004

[Quillback]

Met Alex Heitman at the ramp today, we put in at 7 AM and fished until 2:30 PM. It was cold, windy and cloudy for most of the morning, I was expecting a tough day when we launched, but the fishing turned out to be pretty decent. Don't know the exact number, but we caught close to 30 blacks, mostly LM's but a couple of 2 - 2.5 lb. spots in the mix. Alex took big fish honors with a 6 lb. LM he caught off a brush pile using the A-rig. We caught a couple of 3 lb. fish and quite a few keepers, probably had in the neighborhood of 6 - 8 dinks, rest being keepers.

A-rig for Alex and the tube for me gave us all but 2 fish. Alex got singles on the jerk bait and jig.

Fish were, for the most part, up on the banks in 5 -10 feet of water, with a few, especially some of the A-rig fish out deeper.

Water temps were 43-47.

Alex with the 6 # bass.

Me bringing up the rear with a 3 lber.

[dtrs5kprs]

Looks like the fish are starting to feel it, regardless of the weatherman.

[MOsmallies]

Nice report! Cool to see two quality OAF guys meet up and nail some nice fish!

[Josh]

I could not get any big bass today (tons of shorts) question when throwing the A-rig do you throw it up on the banks and bring it out to the boat? or do you throw it 20' off the shore in the deeper water let it sink about 20' then reel? I'm steel learning the A-rig...

[Champ188]

Good day, guys. Great of you to meet up and go together.

Alex, put my dadgum fish back and leave her alone. That's Mable. I've been catching her once a year for 5 years now. I recognize her by her right eyeball. LOL

[dtrs5kprs]

I recognize her by her right eyeball. LOL

Of course that is the eye not facing the camera.

[duckydoty]

Good looking fish and nice report.

[Alex Heitman]

Don't worry champ Mable was released with no harm after a few pics lol. Had a nice trip today. Really enjoyed fishing with Jeff. He put us on some fish for sure.

Josh it just depends on the type of bank. I usually let it sink to the bottom before I start my retrieve. It may be 5-10 or out in 20ft of water.

[jmes]

Great job guys and thanks for the report

[Bigmo]

Nice jobs guys, we probably saw you guys when we put in at Viney somewhere after two. From your report we should have started earlier. We fished the wart and jig only and in the three hours we fished and came away with only four. The red wart caught all four on a bluff bank, a point, inside a cove halfway back and on a 45 degree bank. We even had fish chase the wart up to the boat several times. It was cold and windy with water temps finally getting up to 47. All four were keepers with the biggest the 3 pound LM in the middle of the cove. We were in the silverflake triton.