Pool 7 Panfish 1/30/2011

This morning I woke up with a mission in mind, and it was to get on a good school of fish for my first ever front page report. After a slow start on pool 8 with only 2 small perch caught, a move was made up to pool 7. I found a channel on lake Onalaska in 8 feet well away from the crowd and had high expectations after my first fish was a nice 12 inch perch! This first area produced a couple of 7-1/2″ to 8″ gills and one other keeper perch to compliment the big one before fizzling out.

Soon after linking up with my dad, Justin, and uncle, a move was made in an attempt to put ourselves on the fish. We set up 100 yards outside a shanty town working a 5 foot flat with some scattered vegetation. The fish would move through quite frequently, but the bite was pretty stingy. Justin and I gathered thoughts and made a bold move far out and beyond any other fisherman. We checked the ice periodically and it wasn’t long before we were the furthest vehicles out onto the lake. Our efforts were not rewarded.

Justin and I both agreed that i was time to count our losses and head back to the edge of the crowd and salvage to day. With a little effort, we were able to coax some nice fish into biting. I ended up taking home a bucket full of fish, and my Uncle also had a nice bag full. It wasn’t the lights-out, pig filled outing I was hoping for on my first report, but overall it was time well spent on the river with friends and family. The fish will compliment a super bowl get together very nicely as well. I hope many other lines were stretched this weekend.

-Cade