Report from 9/26/15

Spent the weekend up at Cass lake and could not get a walleye to bite. Decided enough was enough and was going to go to leech because 1 I am more familiar with it and 2 the direction of the wind and the rumor in the bait shop made it sound like some of my favorite areas on the lake would have potential.

Got on the water around 2pm and headed out of walker bay towards Big and Little hardwood. Made a small pit stop in the narrows to see if the perch were biting and after getting some small ones decided I could of caught big perch on Cass. Made it to hardwood point and it’s just me and 2 18′ glass boats. Took a wave or 2 over the bow when repositioning to set up a drift.

Did several drifts out there and only managed 1 14″ eye in about 7.5 feet. Saw one other boat land a fish in roughly the same area about 10 minutes later. Did several more drifts and nothing and the other boats started the clear out. I decided to fish some of the 14-10 breaks in the area and hooked into something nice. Maybe I should not say hooked as after a fight it pulled down and came off. Think I got a little to quick with the hook set. Still figuring out braid and the added sensitivity.

Around 530 I decided to head towards the goose flats area. The wind was still blowing but due to the protection of Stony point, Pine Point, and the island it was not as rough in this area. Did some drifts and trolling around with my jig and minnow and got nothing. Which is odd for me as I can almost always find 1 on goose. Did see one fish boated though so I guess they took my one haha.

Sun was starting to get down and being that the moon was full and skies were clear I decided to do some trolling. Decided upon a #6 flicker shad Blue/Silver flash (believe it is a scheels exclusive color)

I was in a group of about 20-30 boats and id say half of us were trolling something. I saw a lot of fish landed and no arguments so that’s good. I ended up getting a limit and catching my personal best walleye (more on that to come). Wish I would of had another guy in the boat as it was a lot of fun. I did lose one fish bringing it in. I was too concerned about the boat that was near me and not really paying attention to my retrieve.

Ended up with a 14″ on a jig and minnow. 2 19″s and my personal best a 26.25″ 6.5# fish(I caught what I believe was a 7-7.5 pound eye on P4 this year but did not weigh it).

Now the issue with the big gal. She nailed my crank and got both hooks in and the rear hooks were deep and in the gill area. Issue number 2 is that like a moron I had forgotten my headlamp in the truck. I was not as quick getting the hooks out as I could have been had I had better light. She was also bleeding somewhat in the gill area. Well after getting the hooks out I tried to revive her and release. Every time I let go she rolled over and was not having it. Put her in my livewell and turned the aerator on. Let her simmer in that for awhile and she somewhat righted herself. Made another attempt at release and same thing she would roll over. Decided at this point that I should move out of the way of the other boats and started heading slowly back to the dock. Made another attempt at the dock and this time she would roll over and go belly up. It was pretty late at this time and I needed to get back to Cass before my group I was with thought I pulled a Edmund Fitzgerald. Brought the fish back with me. Never felt so much guilt about a fish as I feel about this one. Kind of a bummer as it should be something I look back on fondly but I can’t help but feel a little down about it and the fact that I was not able to get her swimming again. Maybe I should of just left her and hoped that she figured it out on her own?

Anywho feel like I owe the lake one. I will be up on my annual (11th) leech trip on Wednesday so I will have an opportunity to pay it back.

Here are some pictures.

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We are struggling! Lots of boats out at goose island, otter tail, pine, stony, havent seen a fish caught yet.

Our other boat is doing ok, but we arent ready to tailpipe them yet.

DaveB wrote:

We are struggling! Lots of boats out at goose island, otter tail, pine, stony, havent seen a fish caught yet.

Our other boat is doing ok, but we arent ready to tailpipe them yet.

Last year I was up there and the story was “shoulda been her last week”. This weekend I was up there and the story was “should come back next week”. Well I am going to be back up there so we shall see. Looks like the temps are going to finally start cooling off (night time temps in the 30’s) so that should hopefully help get the fish going.

The big girl puked up some small fathead size minnows. Bait shop told me to hold on the red tails for now. Guess we shall see what Wednesday brings.

Still slow but…..

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Jonesy wrote:

Spent the weekend up at Cass lake and could not get a walleye to bite. Decided enough was enough and was going to go to leech because 1 I am more familiar with it and 2 the direction of the wind and the rumor in the bait shop made it sound like some of my favorite areas on the lake would have potential.

Got on the water around 2pm and headed out of walker bay towards Big and Little hardwood. Made a small pit stop in the narrows to see if the perch were biting and after getting some small ones decided I could of caught big perch on Cass. Made it to hardwood point and it’s just me and 2 18′ glass boats. Took a wave or 2 over the bow when repositioning to set up a drift.

Did several drifts out there and only managed 1 14″ eye in about 7.5 feet. Saw one other boat land a fish in roughly the same area about 10 minutes later. Did several more drifts and nothing and the other boats started the clear out. I decided to fish some of the 14-10 breaks in the area and hooked into something nice. Maybe I should not say hooked as after a fight it pulled down and came off. Think I got a little to quick with the hook set. Still figuring out braid and the added sensitivity.

Around 530 I decided to head towards the goose flats area. The wind was still blowing but due to the protection of Stony point, Pine Point, and the island it was not as rough in this area. Did some drifts and trolling around with my jig and minnow and got nothing. Which is odd for me as I can almost always find 1 on goose. Did see one fish boated though so I guess they took my one haha.

Sun was starting to get down and being that the moon was full and skies were clear I decided to do some trolling. Decided upon a #6 flicker shad Blue/Silver flash (believe it is a scheels exclusive color)

I was in a group of about 20-30 boats and id say half of us were trolling something. I saw a lot of fish landed and no arguments so that’s good. I ended up getting a limit and catching my personal best walleye (more on that to come). Wish I would of had another guy in the boat as it was a lot of fun. I did lose one fish bringing it in. I was too concerned about the boat that was near me and not really paying attention to my retrieve.

Ended up with a 14″ on a jig and minnow. 2 19″s and my personal best a 26.25″ 6.5# fish(I caught what I believe was a 7-7.5 pound eye on P4 this year but did not weigh it).

Now the issue with the big gal. She nailed my crank and got both hooks in and the rear hooks were deep and in the gill area. Issue number 2 is that like a moron I had forgotten my headlamp in the truck. I was not as quick getting the hooks out as I could have been had I had better light. She was also bleeding somewhat in the gill area. Well after getting the hooks out I tried to revive her and release. Every time I let go she rolled over and was not having it. Put her in my livewell and turned the aerator on. Let her simmer in that for awhile and she somewhat righted herself. Made another attempt at release and same thing she would roll over. Decided at this point that I should move out of the way of the other boats and started heading slowly back to the dock. Made another attempt at the dock and this time she would roll over and go belly up. It was pretty late at this time and I needed to get back to Cass before my group I was with thought I pulled a Edmund Fitzgerald. Brought the fish back with me. Never felt so much guilt about a fish as I feel about this one. Kind of a bummer as it should be something I look back on fondly but I can’t help but feel a little down about it and the fact that I was not able to get her swimming again. Maybe I should of just left her and hoped that she figured it out on her own?

Anywho feel like I owe the lake one. I will be up on my annual (11th) leech trip on Wednesday so I will have an opportunity to pay it back.

Here are some pictures.

Black, sounds like a good day. Don’t feel bad on the big fish. You tried your best and sometimes they just won’t make it. Besides once a year I take a 25″ and put it on the grill and boy the thicker fillet sure turns out great!

Mocha wrote:

Black, sounds like a good day. Don’t feel bad on the big fish. You tried your best and sometimes they just won’t make it. Besides once a year I take a 25″ and put it on the grill and boy the thicker fillet sure turns out great!

Agreed. Enjoy the meat, you did what ya could.

I had a similar experience with a 26″ few years back, late fall, water was 34 i think. But anyways spent 10-15min trying to get er to go back down and she just couldn’t. Plenty alive just always flipped over. I remembered Al Lindner saying the reason why he always flops his fish in the way he does bc it shocks em in a way and they fly right off. So as a last ditch effort i literally picked it out the water and gave it a nice flop right in, boy no sooner than it hit the water the thing flapped its tail splashing me in the process as she disappeared out of sight. Coincidence, could’ve been, but always have it in my back pocket if need be. Spent a good half hour unfreezing my hands after the adrenaline ran off with the fish!