Report 02/27

[Lvn2Fish]

Put in at Mill Creek at about 7:30. Water temp 43 and got up to 45. Visibility seemed to be around the 10-12 ft range. First fish came early on the Alabama rig 16” smallie sitting on a gravel main lake transition . From there it started to get rough. About an hour later another Keeper smallie off a bluff end on the Ice Jig. Thought that was how the day was going to end . Went about 3hrs without a bite. Moved to a long gravel roll off and found the spots and they were all good ones . In about 10 minutes put 5 in the boat all keepers with the biggest around 3.5 . These fish were over 80 . They seemed to be right in the top of some trees . It was almost impossible to catch them if they were solo. A few times I would have one interested and another would come shooting from the depths and hammer the ice jig . Little to no movement was key with this bait . A few times I would have one following on the graph and a small twitch would scare them away . I probably missed 7-8 others . Ended the day with 7 keepers and zero short fish. I’m just starting to touch the surface of these deep fish . I just installed a new garmin 93, it was so much fun watching these fish eat on the unit . I do have a few question on fishing this lure . I really couldn’t figure out the best hook set for the bait . It seemed like a quick real and a sharp hook set was working . I was fishing it in a heavy action rod with 20lb floro. Looking for suggestions on line size and rod type . Thanks as always and good luck ! 

[Dock-in-it]

Man, it sounds like your paying your dues and getting some payback. Regarding the hook set, I think you have the right approach. I use med-heavy rods in 6' 10" to 7 ' and  use 14lbs/green bass pro shops mono Excel line. The 14lbs probably has a smaller diameter (compared to 20lbs) that allows the spoon or ice jig to fall quicker and still have plenty of strength. Regarding the missed bites, that is part of the deal. Its like they are slapping it. Just get the spoon/jig back in front of them and try to aggravate one into biting again. I was glad to get your report that the gravel roll offs are still working.

[Lvn2Fish]

Thanks for the info! My neck was hurting last night from starring at the darn thing. Yeah figured missing them was part of the deal. Thanks again 

[Bill Babler]

i will almost get sea sick if I look at it for an extended period of time.  I usually have to look up a while and just move a bit.

[Flysmallie]

You guys need to hook these up to VR goggles. Maybe they will start adding a computer desk to the decks of bass boats. 

[Dhunter1]

When I'm fishing spoons and ice jigs, i normally use 8 or 10ib mono with med/light 7'2 spinning rod.... set the drag and hold on!! 

[rps]

Hook set - Babler has quoted Beck a number of times. Start reeling fast, and when you feel the fish, put a strong bow in the rod. Bill, if I have it wrong, correct me.