Thread: Clermont Weekend Wrap-up: Report

Saturday
After a weekend off from slabbin (went to saltwater last weekend), I was itchin for some fishin. As I say to my son, let’s go get some slabs my boy! The sweet musk of the Clermont Chain is like indulging in expensive chocolate or a fine scotch; not something that should be enjoyed every day, just almost every day J. Unfortunately mother nature was not very accommodating. Saturday morning greeted us with 44 degree temperatures and swirling winds. As I opened the garage and assessed the conditions, it was decision time. Time to go! Chilly morning especially running in the boat. Little man was bundled up and did pretty well. Started fishing around 7 and fished till 1130. As expected the post-front bite was slower. More dinks than I’ve seen in awhile, caught about 25 fish overall. Set a new record for rods fished at once: 18. Bite shut down around 930. I was longlining and “downrigging”, 60/40 split on the rods in favor of longlining. Fish were out deeper 15+. Dinks in close. Kept 8, only fish over 11”, nothing huge, decent day. Downrigging destroyed longlining in productivity: mylar and moon jigs, white, orange, chartreuse.

Sunday
Another brisk start. Solo today, the oldest was feeling abit under the weather, probably from Saturdays trip. Much better morning to fish, there was a 30 minute period where it was really nice, wind-wise. Wind did pick up though. Tweaked the “spread” based on Saturdays results to increase productivity. 65/35 downrigged presentation (18 rods out total) after Saturdays performance. Productivity proportionally increased as well, kept 13 fish all over 11”. Probably 30 fish overall, 1-3lb catfish also. Same colors, longlining was still slow. Interesting tidbit of information, my trolling motor battery died around 1030 so I bump trolled with the primary motor for about an hour, at slowest speed in gear my primary engine idles at 2.5 mph, so I would bump it to neutral when the boat hit 1.6 mph then forward when the boat hit 0.7 mph. I was still catching fish. I’ve got a 3.5 hp, next rough day I may bring that out to troll against the wind with. With Santa’s help maybe I can join the 20 club!!!

I thought the primary engine would spook the fish that's why I've never tried it. The bite seemed to be consistent using the primary engine, even the lines that were in the side vertical rod holders (the line is very close to the boat, almost touching the side of the boat) got hits. The long lines were getting hit just about the same also with the big motor, definitely something I'd try again, especially for a change of pace in presentation, the rise and more importantly the subsequent fall may activate otherwise finicky fish.

Luckily I don't think there are stripers in these waters. I've never caught one here. A school of the green carp would create chaos, not as many bass in the deeper water, saw some boats out on Agnes on the way home from work. May try there later in the week, at the least keep drowning minners up here.