Fishing buddy Tom Junge and I hit the big river backwaters this morning for a few hours of fishing. Water temps were well into the upper 70s when we started along with moderate air temps, high skies and a nice breeze. Generally, the fishing was only so. While we had plenty of short hits and some hook-ups that came loose but I only boated this bass and one other a bit shorter and one smallie that was actually larger than this bucket, but the phone had died so no picture. The other Tom did his damage to the pike, still nothing to write home about. But all in all, it was a super day. All fish went back of course.
All of my fish came on and hit a 4" Ripper done with a twin injector in the pro blue back, red pearl belly. The other Tom's success came off 4" Rippers as well done in a blue, green, purple equal glitter blend over a heavy silver string glitter belly. These were fished on 1/16-ounce weighted wide gaps using the new VMC 7320 Extended Locking Bend EWG hooks. Absolutely love these hooks for keeping the plastics where they need to be kept. Other anglers were reporting slower fishing too, so I think we did ok. I'm thinking another two weeks and the bass will be in the area we fished today big time.
Our next trip on Thursday will take us to Lake Pepin where we'll target large pike on a 4 to six foot deep flat. With water temps up this high and a feeder creek having plenty of recent rain to run some colder water into the flat the big pike should be cruising in and around there to feast on the small fish attracted to the cooler water coming in. The weeds will be just ticking the surface in some spots here so we'll be using a lot of 6"-8" floating stick baits alongside of the 4" Rippers.
Notice my attire. Think I don't believe in Do-It?
Note to self: respool some braid on the Scheels rod and charge the phone Weds night.
