Finally, a stickbait bite

[Champ188]

Rolled into Eagle Rock at 10:15 Tuesday morning. Had a little delay in getting started, though.
I had run the oil tank low on the 225 Pro XS on Sunday, but didn't think much of it at the time. Just poured in a gallon when I got home and figured all was good. When I got to the ramp Tuesday, it kept throwing an oil pump failure code to the Smartcraft gauge. Pulled it back out of the water and went up to Bruton Marine at Golden, where the very accommodating older fellow explained that the reserve tank on the side of the engine had to be completely full, which is was not. After buying another gallon of oil, going back to the lake, filling the little reserve tank and bleeding out the air, I made my first cast at 11:58 a.m.

First spot I stopped produced a short K on the Rock Crawler and another lost fish about the same size. Next area seemed to be a dud until I finally hit the sweet spot. Caught another Rock Crawler fish, then picked up the stick bait and it was on. This spot produced a total of 11 fish over the next hour-and-a-half, including a 4-pound LM and some thumper K's. All came on the jerk stick.

Fished half a dozen more areas before quitting at 5:15 with 21 total fish and five keepers that would go 13-14 pounds. I can tell you this ... it got colder as the afternoon went on with that wind blowing steady 15-20 mph gusting to 30 mph and temps right around 40. Bite seemed to tail off around 4:00.

[Kee sims]

Sounds like a good day after the morning problems. Well done sir, nice fish!

[Quillback]

I like it!

[Ham]

Good deal on the fish. I caught 20 fish on my last 4 hour trip, but I'mstill pretty angry about my 1 fish trip.

I must drive my Bass Cat harder than I realize. A while back I pulled some air into the line when the Oil Tank still had  1 and 1/2 gallons in it. I had to play the bleed the side tank game multiple times. It's a long story, but  It was a learning experience for me. I now have marked a line on the exterior of my 3 gallon oil tank that indicates when it will hold a full gallon. I add another gallon as soon as it gets below that line. I hope never to have to bleed the air out so that the side tank "knows" it has oil.

[dtrs5kprs]

Don't you just hate boats...

Not really an issue for Slothman. I rarely burn through a gallon in a year. Nice fish, and nice looking water. Will be interesting to see if the weather is a negative.

[176champion]

Nice fish!! good report.....I mix my gas and oil, the oil injection had been removed before i got the boat and motor, course my motor is a 1995 Merc.

[abkeenan]

Nice report Champ. Two solid jerkbait success reports between you and Bill the last week. Good to hear.

[willyfish]

Those are really healthy nice fish. What kind of bait is in the first pic, mega bass? 

[m&m]

Champ, nice fish and thanks for the confirmation on the jerk bait.  I have that same one tied on for this weekend.  I did not throw it up there last weekend but was hoping with the colder weather this week, it might be worth a try so I left it tied on.  Great water color. Any idea on the WT when you finally got in the water?

Mike

[eshay]

Nice bag of fish.  How long was the pause between twitches?