Thread: Mid afternoon trip, 7-26...new PB

Wanted to fish this morning but had other things that had to be done. Finished my list about 12:30, took a while to recharge then loaded up and headed out for a trip. Got on the water about 2:45. A hazy sun overhead, supposedly due to some fires in Canada, comfortable humidity and 80 degrees at the launch. Water temp at 83 and little to no wind to deal with. Pretty much ideal conditions in my book.
First fish got his picture taken about 10 minutes in, a good bluegill. Most of the 'gills tonight would be in the 8" range, this one was just under 9.



A smaller one would soon follow, then a double hookup and the first crappies of the trip would get the hero shot, one at 10", the other 11 1/2".



They would be the only crappies I could find; repeated casts back to that general area would only get me another basic bluegill.
A bit later another double hook up would produce 2 yellow perch of about 9 and 10". Just as I snapped the picture, one flopped, snapped my line and ended up behind the back seat out of the picture.


I'd troll for most of the trip as single pole cast and retrieve along the weed line would come up blank.
Quite late in the trip, as I was thinking of calling it a day, had a solid take and my first thought was pickerel. Gave me a heck of a fight and a 2nd pole would double over as I got into it so I really had my hands full. Finally got the hard fighter close to the boat; a bluegill......but when I saw it I said to myself "that's a BIG 'gill". Good thing I had the net to scoop him up and in for my new PB bluegill! Previous best was just over 9 1/2", this one is a bit over 10; I could barely hold on to him and I have a good size paw. I was grinning like a Cheshire cat, I'm sure.



The other rod had another bluegill that didn't warrant a picture.
I had the beginnings of a headache due to the heat and sun and decided to head for the truck but kept the rods out trolling towards home. 10 minutes later, about 150 yards up the shore, another hard hit on the same lure and another hard battle. Got him close and once again, another big 'gill! Couldn't believe it when I put him on the stick and decided that the 2nd one was about 1/4" bigger than the one I just caught so another PB! How cool is that?!



Once again I'd toss the lines out and head for home and just as I got moving had a solid take on the Crappie Magnet I had out and this nice bass gave a heck of a jump and a deep hard battle but the net did it's job and another hero shot was taken. Heavy fish, wish I had a scale; might not have made 4 pounds but I bet it was close.



I'd get one more average 'gill before pulling in the lines about 5:50. Clicker says 24 fish saw the inside of the boat today, mostly bluegills but nice ones. Wish I'd done better with the crappie but I'll settle for the PB 'gills as the consolation prize.