Eagle Rock to Big M 9.25

[bferg]

Quick trip out this morning.  As reported elsewhere:  fish are on the move but certainly seemed scattered.  We only had a few hours today.  Were on the water at about 6:40 and off by 11:00.  Thick fog this morning which really limited our options until about 9:30 when you could actually move around the lake safely.  We went out focused on creek arms (wasn't going to sit on a main lake point in the fog) and pretty committed to a shallow bite. 

We caught 4 fish throwing a Loon whopper plopper and black buzz bait shallow.  2 keepers, two shorts.  We fished a couple of creeks all the way to the back but the fish came more in the front 1/3 on small points and near wood- with a little chop of the water.  Some places the water was DEAD calm and that was a no go.    

When the fog burnt off we made a run down near Big M.  Found a school of spots off of a main lake point but was only able to get one to bite.  Moved back into a creek arm and caught 1 fish shallow but it was the best fish of the day.  Caught this one on a ned rig- maybe my best fish ever on the little guy.  I don't throw the Ned as much as a lot of you guys on here so I am by no means an expert BUT I have started throwing a chartreuse head on my neds and have done well at both TR and Beaver on it lately.  

Seems like we are just a couple weeks away from the fall bite getting turned on.  Quite a few boats out after the fog burnt off.  I will be happy when deer season starts and the place clears out!

 

[Quillback]

Nice smalls buddy!  Haven't caught a good one myself in a while.   

[bferg]

Same here!  I was due for a good one.  Have not caught many good fish this year even though I have had more time on the water than ever.  

[Champ188]

Lots of information in that report! Tells you just what stage the fall season is at right now and where it's headed. And what a gorgeous smallmouth! Did you happen to check it for a tongue patch? Almost looks like it could be one of those meanmouths with a spotted bass shape and pure smallmouth markings. 

[bferg]

19 hours ago, Champ188 said:

Lots of information in that report! Tells you just what stage the fall season is at right now and where it's headed. And what a gorgeous smallmouth! Did you happen to check it for a tongue patch? Almost looks like it could be one of those meanmouths with a spotted bass shape and pure smallmouth markings. 

Interesting you mention that Champ... My brother and I argued about if it was a Smallie or not for a few minutes- of course that was AFTER we had released her and I didn't think to check the tongue patch.  I thought it was a smallie at the time but now the more I look at it I think it is a meanmouth.  If so, it is by far the largest mean mouth I have caught.  We DID catch a smaller meanmouth Saturday as well.  I have seen more and more MM in the BigM area the last few years.  

[Champ188]

I could see it being a straight-up SM or a meanmouth. But if I had to bet, I'd say the latter.