Headed out yesterday morning for the first open water adventure of 2010. Launched in Carleton Place at 8am to light winds, high sun, and warm temperatures - not the type of weather that is conducive to walleye fishing.
Hit a few of the deeper holes with jigs and bottom bouncers, and quickly realized that a switch over to pannies would make the most sense.
Spent some time meandering throughout various back bays in search of 'gills and crappies. After a frustrating start and a bit of head scratching, I finally spotted four crappies - up tight to some isolated wood that lay in a mucky depression. Two were solo - the other "pair" were doing the mating dance. Used a new Northland Minnow Mimic Fry (without a float) and worked the fish over. Pretty finicky, so tipped the jig with a small piece of nightcrawler. After putting it in their face enough times, success was finally mine..
Found another soft bottom depression not far from the first, and found a dozen or so mating or solo fish. Cleaned up in that area. Surface temp. was 63...water was two to three feet deep.
Plenty of spawning largies up in the shallows, as well as numerous northerns. Pretty cool to see.
Struggled to find any "platter-sized" 'gills. Most schools I came across were on the small size, although I did find a half dozen sporadic schools of jumbo 'gills. These fish were found by cruising off from the main lake and watching for surface disturbances. These small schools of roaming jumbos were tough to catch, and I only put 3 or 4 in the boat. Biggest went 9.5 inches.
Came across quite a few pairs of catfish throughout the sand and mud flats. Did some sightfishing for them with a jig, which was a pretty fun time. Biggest went about 4lbs...
Early afternoon, I found an upright "tree" some 300 yards from shore that held more crappies - all in tight to the cover. Six feet of water here. These fish were really dark in colouration, and I caught the biggest of the day from this area, a fish just shy of 13 inches.
A typical dark-coloured fish:
With the sunburn fairly good, and 14 crappie and 3 'gills in the livewell, I headed off the water to enjoy a cold pint on the Buster's patio.
Great first trip of the year!
Good Fishing,
Justin
