BSL-Oakland 11/17/16 Fishing Report

[Ham]

I took a short, strange fishing trip yesterday that some useful information can be gleaned from. 

The wind really blew. I wanted to fish main lake areas. The wind was high enough that it really limited where I could fish. 

Oakland ramp is still very much in play at this water level and is a good ramp for a hard wind from the south, but not great for a wind from north or Northwest. Still the high waves from wind almost snatched my boat away from me. The wind created waves that rocked it off the trailer. I made a running leap onto the front deck of the BassCat from the courtesy dock. Better than a cold swim, but I'm getting too old for that crap. 

First area I tried was NOT protected enough so I ran the white caps to a mostly protected area. I enjoyed the 20 foot Cougar's ability to stay above the worst of it. Crazy to be running 50 plus mph on whitecaps without being beat to death. 

A few minutes in I caught a 18 inch or so SMB on a FB Jig. Nice bite and a really long fight. I was fired up. I quickly caught another couple of SMB on a drop shot rig. Things were going great, but then fizzled. Bass are there but not in the numbers I hoped. 

I also had a tank SMB on a Ned. 

Zebra mussels are bad and getting worse. I fished about 5 hours and broke off a FB Jig, a finesse Jig, 3 drop shot rigs, and 3 Ned rigs. All because of zebra mussels. Don't worry about wearing jigs out anymore. I don't see those swing head jigs being an acceptable option in certain areas. 

I lost a nice walleye st the boat side trying to lift him in the boat. No net fishing solo. I hooked him on drop shot. To add injury to insult, the weight from the drop shop swung around after the fish dropped off and whacked my arm. 

I lost a nice keeper LMB on a FB Jig. I hate it, but it happens. 

I had an annoying sequence where a smallie ate my Ned, I hooked him but lost him after a couple seconds, I let the Ned fall right where it was and snother fish ate it, but broke off on Zebras when I set the hook on the second fish. 

So I went to re-rig and my glue was gone. No where to be found. I either kicked it out of the boat or the wind took it at some point. CajunAngler discovered that Gorilla glue super glue holds almost as well as the LocTite and that the applicatior doesn't gum up. He has used the same bottle since April. I had used my bottle 3 months, but I hate I lost it. I had no back up glue. I had to scrounge and use whatever Neds that were already glued. 

So many break offs and so many tangles. 

I contine to catch panfish while drop shorting. Ppl really should drop shot panfish 

water was 64-66 degrees

[Quillback]

If it was blowing over there like it did here yesterday, you had some wind for sure.  But you got some nice fish in the boat in spite of it all. 

[Guest]

Nice smallies man!

[Royal Blue]

I've been noticing that the Zebras are getting bad down there.  Especially when the bushes are out of the water.  They're everywhere.  That lake has been pretty good for a few weeks now.  I might try to hit it this weekend if all goes well.

[Stein]

Nice!