Monroe 12/14

First I must say i have an amazing wife to let me fish on her birthday.

Got 10 all 10"+ with quite a few smaller ones let go and one estimated 2.5# fish let go boatside due to idiot failure. (im the idiot). Tons of missed fish but all but one came between 9-1015am up high in the water. Everything on chart or white jigs, bigger fish came on chart jig topped with minnows. Probably caught 20 or so.

For my second time really giving it any effort, I am rather pleased with the results. HUGE thanks goes to huntinslabs for pointing me general areas to try out.

If anyone saw the 14ft power cat doing tight donuts in one little area, that's me.

Left them biting cuz i still gotta take care of wifey.

Glad ya found some! Keep after em, it will all come together quickly.

For those that lurk and intrrnet scout. Read his first post real close. Lots of private messages go around here. Sign up, join the conversations and ask questions. Might look like some go unanswered but a lot is done by pm. All the regular posters are more than willing to help. But not out in the open. Speckanator, Crappieday, crapslabstu, Flycaster, fishin813, specktaclure, TNT, lightwirehooker, tundah, miley, and anyone else ya see posting are all stand up guys and will help as much as possible. Ya aint gonna get a gps coordinate but we all will help ya. This place gets boring when every one just reads the fishinv reports we post. So post up and keep it entertaining.

Glad you found some good fish. How was the fishing pressure? There was not as many boats out yesterday as in the past few weeks It may have helped some. See you were catching them on minnows, looks like you did better then a lot of the minnow fishermen I saw yesterday. Don't be scared to fish with plain jigs, you may be surprised at the numbers of fish you can catch without bait.

good post, thanks for sharing, and yes if the wife is not happy, ant nobody going to be happy.

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Originally Posted by Crappieday

Glad you found some good fish. How was the fishing pressure? There was not as many boats out yesterday as in the past few weeks It may have helped some. See you were catching them on minnows, looks like you did better then a lot of the minnow fishermen I saw yesterday. Don't be scared to fish with plain jigs, you may be surprised at the numbers of fish you can catch without bait.

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1 trip in the right boat on the right day will retire a minnow bucket fer sure. Least on some lakes. Well unless yer Phantom and just plain stubborn, hardheaded and onery ole cuss!

I had a few on the plain jigs, but I figured if Im gettin decent ones on jigs, what happens if i add a minnow to same jig. They got bigger and I didnt have to mess with the little guys too much anymore. I learned a long time ago from saltwater fishing, variety of baits, and options goes a long way towards a successful day on the water so as cheap as they are, a couple dozen minners will always follow me.

Where I was, early in the morning not a soul around me and I was catching fish. Slowed down for around an hour, so I headed to a different area, marked some decent fish and started catching them about instantly. They were all at 2-3ft in the last area I fished. If I dropped below the 3 foot mark, I didnt have many hits. Contrary, the early morning bite was down deep in 8-10ft of water. I think this is what everyone was still keyed in at my second spot while I was catching fish around them or they were sitting with minnows drifting.

I learned I am also going to build some MUCH lighter tipped rods. I lost a couple due to too stiff a rod I think. All in all, exciting action filled day on the water and I learned I can do this. :)

Yep! We all said the same thing once upon a time. A good day longlining, minners slow ya down. But spiderrigging they are a must! But whatever givez ya confidence is a huge plus. Keep after em and yep a slow speed rod with parabolic bend will help lots. Welcome to the addiction! You sir are doomed!

Funny little critters.....Buddy of mine was drifting minnows in the opp area & only caught 2 all morning......I suggested trolling but he's in a pontoon & no trolling motor.......

I on the other hand, was fishing a little closer to home in a historically decent lake and caught ZERO, ZILCH, NADA.....Did get a few bass, but no specks....Guess Im not watchin my bobbers right

You think your wife was being understanding and loving. What actually happened, was your honey do list tripled in length because you WENT. :yikes

My wife plays that trick all the time. She says "yea you can go", but what she means is "you better not even think about it while we spend my birthday on the couch watching all the Twilight Movies" rotfl

It was a good report though. Sorry it will be your last one for a while :Rofl

The only thing she may be mad at me for is not taking her. I really just wanted to get an idea of what the heck I'm doing before she starts going with me.

If this nice weather holds, I'll be out again Sunday.