This past month has been nothing short of AMAZING. I have been spending countless hours in the boat with my son Alex and loving each and every second of it. At 6 1/2 years old I am very impressed with his ability but more so his desire, the kids focused! The shorter days and cooler temps have got these fish feeding big time. We are soon approaching the New Moon and some big fish will be boated in the next week. Classic fall time patterns are starting to show themselves more and more as the water temps continue to drop. It’s time to put those big gals in the boat boys and with any luck, little Bowman will score soon!
We have been finding most of our fish on deep inside corners. As I move the boat into 20 feet of water I am starting to see massive clouds of bait fish piled up a ways off the deep weed edges. We have started most of our drifts out over 30+ feet of water, working our way into the deepest part of the inside corner I can find. The electronics’s are key to location on these spots. The GPS mapping is great but the sonar is really where I am finding out the most information. I am seeing as we enter the inside turn there are small weed or sand fingers jetting out to the open water and that’s exactly where our fish have been laying up.
Baits- PLASTICS, BLADES and more PLASTICS!!
Alex has been huckin DAWGS, as he would put it. He also lets me know he’s the top dog too after each trip out, oddly he always seems to out-fish me. Alex got to butt heads with a low 40 inch musky last week. He had it right up to the boat and the single hook on the spinnerbait pulled free just before I could get the net under it, so close! For me, its been BIG Dawgs, Dunwrights and Storms. Mixing it up with some blades here and there. Colors have not been that big of an issue in regards to the active fish. The key has been to work them very slow. My focus has been to keep them in the bottom 5-10 feet, often times ripping them through the weed with a long pause on the backside….. hold on! These long pauses in my retrieve have accounted for all my fish in the last 2 weeks, low and slow has been the way to go.
The last thing I want to comment on is the Solunar Forecast. If you are not looking at this I would strongly suggest starting. Moon up, moon down, major’s, minor’s-this is when I am getting all my action. Muskies, pike and bass have been very active during very specific times. Keeping an eye on these things has cut my time on the water way down. I have been heading out for a few hours here and there and having very good trips. Its amazing how accurate this info is and how the windows seem to open up just like that.
Happy huckin!!
a few more
I’ve loved fishing my whole life but I don’t know if I would have had that kind of attention span at age 6. Very cool! I’m sure you’re as proud as a father could be. Thanks for the report Bob and I hope Alex scores soon
Great report Bob! I have been on the water in the metro about 2x a week in Sept. with only 1 38″er in the boat on a Mag Dawg, so a little frustrating. Based on your report, I am probably fishing too fast. Good insight on the pauses.
Joe,
Alex and I have been fishing 2-3 days a week, however our trips are short. Keeping him out there all day would be the end for my new boat partner. There are days when he gets off the bus and tells me it looks like it would be a good day to go fishing, so we go. There are other days when he wants to play in the neightborhood and I become all time quarterback for 15-20 kids. The last thing I want to do is burn him out, so I pretty much let him dictate when we go, as of late it’s been a lot. My wife thinks I have brain washed him
I mark each and every follow I get on my GPS and now when I take Alex out he hucks baits in the prime spots and often times will pick up the spinning rod to do some bassin when the lunge are not moving. Snack and drinks go hand and hand with having the little man in the boat too. If he’s having fun thats all I care about and when he’s ready to pull the pin, we leave, regardless of the fishing. I have the rest of my life to share the boat with him but for now it’s all about having fun and catching some fish along the way.
Nice report & fish Bob!
Pretty cool stuff having Alex as a fishing partner on one day and then getting to be all-time quarterback for the kids on the next day. You have a great life Bob. I’m definitely jealous!
Looking forward to seeing pictures of his first real pig muskie.
Great report Bob
If the wife thinks you’ve got Alex brainwashed now just wait till he puts one in the bag.
YEP!
Totally awesome Bob, great game plan for the little man.
See ya soon buddy
DUDE!!!!!
PS – You looking to adopt a 33yr “kid”? I come with boat, although not as nice as yours.
Fantastic information Bob!
Thanks for a great read Mr. Bowman
I will be putting your advise to work on Moose Lake, Winter WI. for the next 3 days
Have a great time and good luck Bro
Nice work Bobby!
Great stuff Bob!!
Last night was a fantastic fall evening to be on the water. Alex, Uncle Dan and I got to share some good laughs in the boat last night. We had one very big fish come in smokin hot right in the middle of the minnor, not to be seen again. Alex scored this pike just prior to dark. Alex and I are going to get some big suckers this weekend and set up on these fish with some big old floats.
Nice fish guys