Goose Island, May 20

I went out for a quick trip this evening and I only caught one bass, but it was a special trip because it was the first time my son Gavin (almost 4) and I went out on the boat, WITHOUT MOM!! He did really well–didn’t fall in, didn’t hook himself, didn’t dump a rod over the side of the boat. He did a nice job casting his rod, and even lipped a fish for the first time. The little bass he is holding came in about two feet of water with a shallow crank (LM pattern).

An interesting sight we witnessed were dozens of gar all around us feeding near the surface. I did put a lure in front of their snout, but couldn’t get them to bite, not that I really wanted to catch one!

We also heard something (some things actually) raising a big ruckus in some shallows that I couldn’t quite get to with the boat to see exactly what was going on. Whatever they were, they were huge and making a lot of noise. Maybe it was some really big gar that had trapped some baitfish in among the flooded grass??

It was a great day and I look forward to many years of fishing with my boy.

Great day with the youngster with many more ahead. That’s awesome!

Those were probably carp spawning that you heard in the shallows.

He looks like a natural Curt. Watch out, the kid will be outfishing you in no time. That must be a great feeling to finally get to take him out on the water. I can’t wait to get the chance to do that.

nice.. ..he outfished my partner(laid a goose egg at the BWSTA), maybe i could get him fishing off the back deck for me?

yep, defintely carp you observed spawning. they raise quite a ruckus spawning. i tried snagging with a big treble hook one day when they raised cane with the bass. no luck, but we speared some with a fish spear. My rule of thumb for the river this time of year in teh shallows is go where the carp arent and youll be on bass. they really dont get along too well,the carp muddy up the water bad.