Chilly day on the water

[3dkicker]

Got out today with a friend who just got home from two months of service, USMC, in NC, CA, and Alaska (-56 degrees). He hasn't been on the water since early January and had withdrawals really bad . Weather forecast called for rain, wind, and cold temps with the possibility of snow. Of course that wouldn't stop him from going fishing. Got on the water and found 53-55 degree water temps and ran to the mid-lake region on Anna. Fished two points and then a small cove and he hooked up with a beauty, 5.15lbs, on a Series 3 Sexy Shad. The two month skunk was out of the boat!!!! Turned around and caught another skinny one off the next point.
We ran up lake and fished another creek.....nothing. Went to another small cove off the main lake and I picked up one off the point on a Shad Rap. Nice keeper.
Ran to another major creek and bridge and found tons of baitfish but no bass . Worked around and headed down the rip-rap to a small culvert. Found baitfish and fish swirling and #4 was in the boat....(see bait in fishes mouth).
We ran to a few more coves and creeks, threw plenty of baits, caught a couple dinks, lost one nice crappie and called it a day.
Total for the day 6 bass, 4 keepers, all on crankbaits. Still a good day on the water.

[pignjig]

Nice, Smitty! Thanks for the pics. Thank your friend for his service, too!

-Pig

[Buzz Wing]

Nice bass, Smitty! What kinda ride ya runnin'?

-Buzz

[3dkicker]

The Major runs a 21' Basscat he bought from a local who now fishes the FLW Series. Sold it to him after he won a Ranger on the Potomac.
I have the "Bug Boat" (named by Capt. Mike) which is a 18' Bumble Bee with a 150 Merc. Gets me into the little skinny creeks that the guys in the 20's can't get in and out of. And when I say skinny I mean anorexic.

[jooleyen]

Holy crap, that fish choked that crankbait. Looks like a fun time.

[JB]

the fish we've been catching the last couple weeks are sucking the cranks down their throat just like that, hungrey devils!

[3dkicker]

Got some more photos from today. Fished down lake today, towards the dam , and found 58 degree water in the back of the main lake coves. Also found a couple fish on an imitation chatterbait with one of my custom skirts. First fish went about 2.5 but should have been 3+ but was a little skinny. The second was a nice chunk for his length.

[3dkicker]

Also got a couple pics of areas I fished today without luck. First two are of a small cove where the beavers have been busy. Second set is of a point with a road bed running parrallel to it. You can see a van at the end of the road. The drop off from the point to the road is loaded with huge stumps and rocks. Couldn't catch a thing off of either.

[zooker]

Originally Posted by 3dkicker

I have the "Bug Boat" (named by Capt. Mike) which is a 18' Bumble Bee with a 150 Merc. Gets me into the little skinny creeks that the guys in the 20's can't get in and out of. And when I say skinny I mean anorexic.

question
so is there a bottom left on your boat??

zooker

[Buzz Wing]

Nice rock pile in the top set of pictures, Kicker! Really clear water, huh?

-Buzz

[3dkicker]

Originally Posted by zooker

question
so is there a bottom left on your boat??

zooker

Bottom of my boat is surprisingly in good shape with one or two nice scratches, my skeg has seen better days. I've run aground many times and have been back in places that people stop to help me out thinking I'm stuck.
My tournament partner runs a 19' BB with a 200 and ripped his bottom up last summer fishing the same waters I run in.


LLBW - Yes, very clear water. Visibility is in the 8' range. The area behind the rocks and dock held two bass, one smaller and one bigger than the one I caught. Couldn't get them to bite, but didn't really try that hard to catch them either. B.A. is fishing a tournament this weekend on the lake and I wanted to leave the 3.5+ alone .
Caught that one sneaking around under the dock.

[Buzz Wing]

If I'm not asking too much.... Could you get me a picture of the Major's boat? I really like the color and would like to see the whole thing.

-Buzz

[3dkicker]

Shouldn't be a problem....just got to remember to snap a pic the next time I fish with him. Might be a while.


Here's a pic from today. A secondary point in a small creek that has a couple docks, rocks, and a small hut. Thought I'd pull a couple keepers off of it but just ended up losing a citation crappie on a Bandit 300. Thought it was a nice bass and pulled the hooks free when the crappie came to the surface. I wish I could have got it to the boat. Don't have a citation for a crappie yet. Water temps in the North Anna River are in the low to mid 50's. Mid lake temps are a little warmer in the mid 50's.

You probably can't see the brush pile in front of the dock but it's there.