Theodosia area, 3/17&3/18

[mixermarkb]

Hey Guys-

Came down for my annual spring break trip last week. I don't have a lot concrete to report, because fishing was fairly tough for us. I had my boys, 5 and 12 with me, as well as my father in law. Fishing 4 folks in the boat changed what I would normally do quite a bit, so I stuck with Ned, Keitechs and Yamamoto grubs for the most part, stayed away from Arigs and anything treble hooked, mostly fished steeper channel swing banks and didn't run around looking for fish nearly as much as I would by myself or with an experienced back seater. 

Got the boat in the water Tuesday in Spring Creek around 11, after everyone slept in and ate a big breakfast. Water pressure was low, so we  just fished fairly close to the ramp, and Elmo, my father in law caught a nice crappie on a steep bank with the smoke grub. We pulled out and took the boat to Theodosia Marine Repair. After lunch and with some dirt daubers nests cleaned out, we went back out again. Grubs and the Ned caught Elmo a couple more fish, I caught three or four, and both boys zeroed. 

Wednesday we again slept in a bit, and got back at it around 10a. Same baits, only today it was the boys chance to put it on their grandpa, who had been REALLLL mouthy to them about having skunked them the day before. Sam (5 year old) caught himself a nice smallie (with just a tiny bit of help from me). Sid caught a nice smallie and a keeper LMB, and I caught a few shorts and a squeaker LMB. 

The boys had had enough fishing, so Elmo and I went out after lunch for an hour or so while they went to the playground at the corps park. I picked up a megabass 110, and promptly caught 4 very fat spots on a bluff end. Elmo was getting bites but not hooking up on the grub. We went back in after an hour or so, to make sure my boys hadn't burned down the resort. 

We loaded up and came home Thursday morning due to the rain and cold weather incoming. I'm reasonably sure there would have been a good A-rig bite on the bluff ends, and water temps 48-52 and clarity (slight stain) were perfect for a wart bite, I caught one short on a wart waiting on my father in law to back the trailer in, so I'm sure if someone got out there and worked, there would be fish to be caught. All in all, it was a good trip. Boys and Grandpa had fun, and nobody got any new holes in them from hooks. I'll call that a win, and hopefully I can get back down soon to beat up on the fish a little harder for a day or two, if it looks like COVID allows. Otherwise, it's boat repair time, with carpet and seats to do in two rigs, and compounding and buffing to do on one.

[rps]

I am 70 and I remember trips with my father where we caught only one or two fish like that. Later in life I took him fishing and he was happy to catch anything. Bless you and keep these pictures for your young men. Someday they will remember and thank god.

 

[Fish24/7]

That's great ! The youngest has really grown since I last saw a picture wow! He was a just a baby then.

Well still raining 🙁

Lake was setting up perfect when you were here. Now it's filling up again big time. No sun to warm the water either.

At least the nights have been warmer here.

[mixermarkb]

Sam, the little guy, is a heck of a fisherman. He catches bluegills all by himself all summer at Busch Wildlife, using Berkley power bait and a bobber. He was mad at me for making him throw that Ned without a bobber, convinced I was doing it wrong lol- hopefully I can get him out in the boat on a day when the smallies are biting it and let him have some fun with it. 

Taking kids and grandparents fishing makes ya realize just how hard a job guides like Bill have. The self Imposed pressure to get them bit was enormous. I did my best to not fish, but had to cast a little to get some bites to find fish, since I was starting cold. I can't imagine how that pressure multiplies with cash on the line, as well as folks literally depending on you for a trip of a lifetime!!!

hats off to the guides who do this day in and day out-