tune up

I went out and did a little fishing today. Reggie couldn't make it, apparently, his family is more important than fishing....whatever.  I made the short trip to "my" lake and thought I would just go for some bass and walleye again. Well, when I got there I noticed they really tore up that lake over the weekend. With no wind, the surface was just littered with seaweed. So after some carefully planned casts, I started to get into the bass. I was in the same spot I fished a couple weeks ago. I didn't catch as many fish this time out, however, I did catch a keeper walleye.

If you look to the left of the steering console that is the lure I caught the walleye on. Yep, it's a spinnerbait fished mainly for bass and pike, I think this walleye is one of them- I identify as a bass- kinda fish... you know confused.
Now since this is the week before I leave for vacation and I have decided to do more fishing for musky this year. And the last musky I caught hit the deck before the pics and the release. I thought I needed something to hold my catch safely until I can get stuff around for the pic. So I built a BDL- Big Deployable Livewell. When I rebuild my deck on the front of the boat I am not going to keep my livewell. I'll be able to use my BDL all summer.
 Here's the pic.

I'll tie it off to the boat with the red and white ropes the dimensions are 4'x1' and a little over a foot deep, that should hold the average big pike or musky comfortably until I'm ready for the pic.

The good luck just keeps rolling...

Went to L.Michigan out of St.Joe harbor yesterday for the first time. The landing and facilities were phenomenal, even the little fisherman's room was clean. REALLY IMPRESSED. The fishing was also good, they have been killing the kings up there for a week or 2 now.  I got to catch the very tail of it before they moved North. I trolled all day and only after I set out my dipsy rod with a meat rig on it did I get hit. I ended the day with a King and a Coho.

  I didn't lose anything or break anything that in itself is a great day. I did get some sun.....

Dues are paid

It was supposed to rain all week but today turned out to be an awesome day so I thought to myself.... self, I've got a lake 5 minutes away. So I packed the boat and headed to the launch on Crooked Lake. I had a little issue launching (it's only the 3rd time I've launched this boat) but with the help of a guy at the landing, I got 'er in the water. I thanked the guy and headed out to a spot I had fished before. I got to the spot and my mind was racing about which lure I should try first.... crap I left my tackle bag at home. So back to the launch, load up the boat, make the 5 min drive home grab my bag and head back to the lake.
Rewind:
It was supposed to rain all week but today turned out to be an awesome day so I thought to myself.... self, I've got a lake 5 minutes away. So I packed the boat and headed to the launch on Crooked Lake. I went out to a spot I have fished before and low and behold the fish were still there.

Yeah, he wasn't huge but it is a fish. I was able to catch a number of bass nothing of any size but they were all fun to catch.

 I swear that hat reminds me of the hat Tom Petty wore in the "don't come around here no more" video, but it's comfy.

 I only caught one walleye and he was a couple inches short so he went back. I'll catch him later this summer. I started fishing around 10 and fished for a couple hours. I think my bad luck on the last 2 outings stemmed from starting out the year by bringing a buddy from work with. It took a whole trip but I think I got the bad juju off the boat so it should be smooth fishing the rest of the year. Sorry, Reggie but I think your bad luck...😜

Payin' dues

Well since I've had my boat fishable, I've had it out twice. Once on an area lake and yesterday I went up to Lake Michigan. Well not only did I get to the lake late, when I got up there I noticed my cooler wasn't in the boat.😱  I was pretty certain I put it in the boat, however, it was not there when I arrived. Well after a quick brainstorm I decided that if I caught a fish I would put it in the live well and head in for ice. So, with that part of the problem solved, next was to launch and try out the reason for all the gear on the boat. I must admit it worked awesome, I was able to set the trolling motor on autopilot and let the kicker do all the work. I was out and trolled for 8 hours and the kicker only used 1 gallon of gas, and my trolling motor which runs off a 24v system still had plenty of charge to go the rest of the day. The big motor still continues to impress me and the boat doesn't leak a drop. The boat thoroughly impresses me, I am very happy with not only the boat but the gear that's on it.
Whenever I've been in the outdoors, and the buddy I have with me starts to question his sanity in whatever the current season is. I always tell them that they have to pay their dues to accomplish their goal-i.e. catch fish, shoot a duck, goose, turkey, deer ext.
 I also live by the fact that dues must be paid. If the fishings' slow- dues must be paid, if the hunting is slow- dues must be paid. I am here to say that I think I have paid the dues for this year. I've been out for literally 16 plus hours working hard the whole time trying to just get some slime on my hands. I have yet to land a fish this year. It's a sad state of affairs let me tell ya. So in closing let me just say that I didn't catch a fish yesterday- 4 hours on the road- 20$ for gas- 22$ in tolls- I lost a thumbscrew for my downrigger, which I need to replace and oh yeah, I gotta go and get a new cooler, cause mine blew out of the boat (leash it or lose it).

Man, I gotta say: I Love Fishing..........

PREQUEL

I was just looking over my blog and realized I missed a coyote that I shot this year, this one is the second yote I got.