Thread: Another strip mine

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!!

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

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

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

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...

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.

Good to see your still pulling in gills Mike