Another strip mine

[Olegiller1]

I got out Saturday to a local strip mine. The wind was light at first and made for a great time with the float tube. This is a mile long 10 fish limit lake but has been relentlessly hammered till the bite is tough. It took me 3 hours and a lot of releasing to get a nest of 9 inch eaters. I kept all girls and was good because I caught only one decent male.
I was running my jigs 3' under a shot and sort of trolling where I could. Most were caught suspended over 20' +of water' I used 3 different jigs I tied and 1 was a poor rendition of the famous legend Led Hed's Auto-Jig. I tipped those with a large red worm and a plump wax worm . That set up caught 3 but most action came on a couple smaller pink jigs I tied. I need to tie up an Auto-Jig in lighter pink colors and see if it helps on our smaller gills . The 7"' UL BPS rods I used make these 9" gills seem much heavier. One of these rods is a 4 piece UL pack rod and when I found out they discontinued that model ,bought another to stow back in case something happens to mine.\
I was also testing a new pair of Sims Riverstone waist high waders I found on special a while back. They are great in the high floating Outcast tubes. What a great time on the water!!

[Tn Johnboy]

Great report Mike , I enjoy reading what your up to on you adventures.

[Josh_Allraw]

Nice gills, I was just telling my brother we need to hit the strip mines in southern illinois and or some big gills and crappie

[DockShootinJack]

Great fish. Makes them even better when they are caught on your own hand ties. Congrats.

[LedHed]

Excellent report & catch.
We like using pink out here too.
I started out tying the auto on smaller jigs. Problem was that fish would inhale it and was dealing with too many gut hooks. 1/32nd on a #8 is a good size, 1/64th or 1/80th with a #10 or #12 is deadly.

PM your snail mail - got some extras you might like to try tying on...

[Olegiller1]

The crude example of the Auto-Jig pictured is 1/32nd on a #8 sickle. I have on hand 1/64th on #6 nickle and have 100s of 1/80 on #8 bronze which is sort of my go to for tying for the local gills. So much to tie --so little time. lol I'll send PM Note- Not used to the 1/32nd, I was surprised at the nice rate of fall. Tied and baited on my 4 lb mono,the rate of fall is good. I guess I expected it to plummet like a rock but it is slow enough to still attract attention. NICE!!
Sorry to ramble on.

["G"]

Good to see your still pulling in gills Mike