Charleston Lake Laker Opener

Post by **Dartee** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 7:51 pm

Well What an opener

Saturday has to have been the best Laker Opener I've ever had and it was the best my Father in-law could remember in the the past 20yrs.

We started the day right out of the Provincial Park (6:45 am) and trolled around the 1st marked shoal to the left (the hook). Within 5 min a double header (small about 1-2 lbs) back in they went. Things were looking promising.
Trolled over to Frizzle island then across to the shoal in the middle of the "Big Water" (4 more in that stretch). Then looked at Hogs back Island but waaaayy tooo many boats to weave through

Headed over towards Wolf Is. along the north side towards Croziers and fished the shoal that runs parralel to it. Fished around that general area most of the day.. Went in at 2:00pm
Total # of fish brought to the boat
1 Small mouth bass..quickly released
2 Northerns (1 hammer handle and 1 8lbs, kept 8 lber)
1 perch (3" total)

(Father in-law caught,, must of been hungry)
1 Clam (covered in Zebra Mussels)

20 Lakers (1lbs to 7lbs, kept 3 3lbers). Over half of the Lakers brought in were Natural (not stocked) which was very nice to see. The 3 kept fish were stocked fish. We always put the naturals back regardless of size.
Most fish were cought by 12:00. With a handful later on.

We fished 15-20ft down primarly in 35-60 FOW
We had success with, 3" blue and silver Nasty Boys and Patriots, Williams Kwikfish (D3 with blue tape) and blue/silver cleos.

Sunday (today) not so good, only boated 3 fish (2 trout and 1 bass) nothing came home. Lake was very quite except for the wind and waves.

"" Make note to self... when taking pictures, DO NOT PUT CAMERA DOWN ON GUNWALES..especially when the water is rough. Some Large laker now has a new Digial for a trophy at the bottom of Runnings.""

Stirling...How did you do???
I think I spotted you sat. out from Hogsback in a teal boat.. At least I saw a Fish Hawk hat. Waved but was heading in the opposite direction.

MuskieMagnet.. How'd you like the Traffic over the deeper water? Or did you find a quiter hole?

Post by **FLOATFISHIN** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 7:56 pm

Well sry to hear bout the loss Andre,but,way to go on the opener!!!!Also glad to hear that some resies were caught too.Hope the laker with the cam puts lots of fammily pics and mails back to you

T.L F.F

Post by **big-o** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 8:02 pm

Andre

You lost your digital...

Man i peed off when I drop a St.croiux of board on the Ottawa...can't imangine how you felt to lose your camera

sorry bud...I'm glad you got some fish.....so far you and MuskieMagnet both reported great fishing at charleston...Congrats to both of you.....that road trip seems a lot closer now

Post by **Muskiemagnet** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 1:39 am

Great job Andre, I had the same luck with the naturals. We only boated one stocked fish, you gotta love it. The spot I fish is very close to the big water but it sees little fishing pressure, by 7am I could see hundreds of boats weaving in and out of traffic. Thankfully the opener is the only weekend the lakers really get pounded, once bass opens the trout are pressure free.

If a road trip is underway let me know, I have a place in gavins bay on the Outlet end of the lake.

Post by **Carl** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:53 am

Great results!!!

You can't beat 20 boated trout opening weekend. I'm sure the few kept for lunch were great.

Carlco

Post by **Dartee** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 7:07 am

Muskie

That spot wouldn't happen to be on the north side??? it is surrounded by 3 islands. About 60FOW with a 4th smaller Island (which is on the edge of the Big water)out from the opening (we call it Trout Island, I think some of the Locals call it Salmon?????). We were in there Sun to get out of the wind, marked lots of fish but couldn't get a rise out of any. Everyone was still in the big water or over by the the enterance to the eastern waters.
The only boats that came in the spot were 2 charters.

Yes I was some P O'd when I reached for the camera and it was gone. Lets say the air turned blue for a minute or two.

Post by **Markus** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 7:13 am

Muskiemagnet wrote: If a road trip is underway let me know, I have a place in gavins bay on the Outlet end of the lake.

I second that! I love lake trout, and if the lessons are free....I'll be there!

Post by **scttsmpsn** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:09 am

Andre,

Were you guys in a red boat? I think I saw the double-header. You told us you were fishing 15-20 feet.

We also had good luck. I was using a small K? (1.5") kwikfish in silver with blue. Caught a 2.5lb. I used my K12 with success last year but with no avail this year. Also lost a big laker Sunday morning. Reeled in 150ft, had 30 to go and gone...

A friend was using an older lure that looked like an Abu Garcie Toby. Caught a 6.5 natural, a 3.5 natural, a 2.4 and a 3.2.

Also on a small frog colored kwikfish my other buddy caught a 3.2 pounder and another smaller one.

We were fishing around 30-35 feet.

Best opener yet!

Cheers,

Scott

Post by **JimW** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:42 am

Great reports guys.

Bass awkwards and I are thinking about heading down to Charleston next Saturday to try for lakers. Thanks for the tips!!!

JimW

Post by **Dartee** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:27 am

scttsmpsn wrote:Andre,

Were you guys in a red boat? I think I saw the double-header. You told us you were fishing 15-20 feet.

Scott

We were in a faded light blue 18' Crestliner (may have had beige top up), newer Evinrude 90 and a pair of walker electrics (3ft booms).

15-20ft in about 35-60 FOW. With the occasional 10ft

Post by **Dartee** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:30 am

Scott

Did the Laker have a Camera?????

Its mine

Hope you smiled and waved before it said good bye.

Post by **Markus** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:32 am

On the gunwale???

Post by **scttsmpsn** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:58 am

Andre, Think I remember seeing the boat. We were in a 1650 Lund Rebel, 3 guys...

No camera, sorry.

Cheers,

Scott

Post by **Dartee** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 12:13 pm

Markus wrote:On the gunwale???

Ya it was one of those dumb moments. Was actually tring to take a pic of a pair of herons. Down rigger went off, I put the camera down in a hurry, thought I had put it against the wrapped around portion of the windshield. I guess I didn't. A couple wave tosses later gone...No idea why I didn't put it on the flat wide deep dash.

Must be because of all the action Saturday!!!!! (Ya thats it)