Fishing Day 3 with Clayton and Todd...April 16, 2023

If you're looking for a Day 2 report, I didn't write one...I was too tired, sorry!

I went to bed earlier than usual, last night, because I was whooped. I wanted to get a good night's sleep before fishing the final day with my ND crew. Clayton and Todd were up early, and ready to go when I showed up at the White Caps Motel at 5:30, to pick them up.

We drove to the Speedway on the other side of town, to gas up and get ice, but they were out of ice. The cashier said, "Home City Ice didn't deliver, so everyone is out of ice this morning". We did try two other gas stations, but one wasn't even open, and the other was indeed out of ice, too. So, we decided to leave the cooler in the truck and use the livewell, instead.

We launched at Catawba at 6:15 and headed north to the line. The wind was light out of the SSE, and the waves were less than a foot for our ride up there, so it was a smooth comfortable ride in the Vexus, at a cruising speed of 48mph. We set up short of where we finished yesterday, and headed towards my waypoints.

We set up with Bandits anywhere from 40-100 back with the following colors:
Buck Fever (3) (purple back with chrome sides and belly...it's either a Domka or DJ color...I can't remember)
Chrome Barbie(2)
Freak Show (1) (Hammertime Custom)
One I don't know the name of, but I think it's a Hammertime Custom, but I can't find the color on his site.
RC Crush (1)

Some lure colors got changed out, except the Buck Fever and Chrome Barbies...those two were hot, hot, hot! 65 and 75 back were the best leads, too.

Speed on the GPS was 1.9-2.1mph while the Fish Hawk was showing 1.3-1.4mph, at the same time.

Water temp was 53 degrees.

We caught the first fish before the second line could be set, and then we got a few more Off Shore boards out, and they started going back...we had 5 in the boat before all the lines were set.
S-turns were triggering fish, when it slowed up a bit. Sometimes, it was the fast side and sometimes it was the slow side. So, it was more of a reaction bite. We did have some short strikes, and missed a few too.

When the bite slowed, we headed south and hit an area that was east of Niagara, with no boats around. The water was more stained than where we first started, and the water temp was 55 degrees. We set up there with the same program, since it was over 33 feet of water, just like where we had started in the first spot.

The Terrova was steering us on a northerly pass, while the kicker pushed us at the same speed as previously stated. It wasn't long, before we caught the first one in that spot...and, then we lost two. We picked up a couple more in that direction, and then turned to go in the opposite direction. The wind had picked up a little, but the waves were still less than two feet.

The fish definitely liked us going the opposite direction, because we were getting a lot of action with doubles and triples happening.

The final tally, was our 18 in the box, and almost just as many released, when I said we needed to head in. I was watching the sky and the weather coming in and figured the wind would be coming in behind the first system. I was right. As we headed in, the wind was getting stronger, and by the time we hit the ramp, the lake was white capping. We timed it right though, because we hit the ramp before anyone else, so we were loaded out with around a dozen boats behind us looking to load out too.

The wind had switched from SSE to SSW, so now the waves were going right into the ramp, which makes it a little nastier when trying to hold a boat at the dock, or pier wall, and getting it on the trailer. I will normally use another ramp if the forecast is calling for a SW wind.

The ND boys had a great time, all three days, and said they will be back again, so that makes me happy!

Mother Nature has decided to throw a tizzy fit again, for the next two days, so I'll be on shore calibrating two reels that I had to respool, cleaning the boat, walking the dogs, running errands, and cleaning this house...fun times! Ha!

My next trip will be Wednesday, unless the forecast changes. But, right now, it's showing light NNW winds, so it should be fishable. Fingers crossed!

Stay tuned...

Capt Juls

Great job beating the weather in. Seen you just north of us friday . We decided not to tempt the weather today or make the run home in 40 mph winds so we came home Saturday night.

Great job on the fish and report, appreciate the detail info!
I did my 1st trip this weekend off the reefs with couple buddy's who have not jigged fish before. Ende up with our fish on Friday, Sat a.m. was pretty slow, put the bandits to work out in 30' and got them, also on Sunday. 75'-90' was the best but a couple at 115' also fired. Black headed wonder bread was hot, vampire went decent, several Domka customs- don't know the names. Both ends of baits were purple or pink with solid gold or yellow sides between.

I fished with you last year to check out the Ranger with my buddy Matt. Question... What brand or where did you get that blue framed net you show in pics? Need to change out my current one and that looks like to way to go. Appreciate any info you might have, thanks! Mike

Thank you so much for all the info. It's a huge help to people like me who have no idea what we're doing and trying to learn.

So do you troll with the kick motor and steer with the trolling motor? Or troll and steer both with the trolling motor?

And when setting boards do you set them to release (trip) or reel the board in and take it off before bringing the fish in?

Sorry these are probably really basic questions but some of us don't even know that. :)

[QUOTE=icingeyes;77426]Thank you so much for all the info. It's a huge help to people like me who have no idea what we're doing and trying to learn.

So do you troll with the kick motor and steer with the trolling motor? Or troll and steer both with the trolling motor?

And when setting boards do you set them to release (trip) or reel the board in and take it off before bringing the fish in?

Sorry these are probably really basic questions but some of us don't even know that. :)[/QUOTE[QUOTE=icingeyes;77426]

I use the kicker to push the boat, and keep it locked in the straight position. I don't steer with it at all. The bow mount does all the steering with the iPilot function, so it keeps the boat on the course I set. It's like having someone drive the boat, so I can do what I have to do in the back of the boat without worrying about if the boat is going to go off course.

I have the OR-18 (Snapper) release on the front and the OR-16 (red release with the pin in the center of the pad). I do not trip them, to release from the front arm.

I've attached a little article that gives a little tip on how to retrieve the outer boards without having to move the inside boards, when reeling them in, to help reduce tangles.

Hope this helps a little bit. :)

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Not many people would do so. Called the local tackle shop today and they said conditions aren’t ideal due to the high winds but going to head that way tomorrow for the first time and try.

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to me, thank you!!!

I have my boards set up with the red OR-16’s on the back, just like Juls, but on the front I switched to the Amish Outfitters red “Pro-releases”. The nice thing about those is that they are easy to pop when you get a fish on an outside or middle board, so the board drops back and you are not fighting the board. They also allow you to use braid if you choose to.

I do the exact same thing with my kicker and my Ultrex. If I need more speed then I use the i-Troll system to dial up the throttle a bit on the kicker. Works great.

I am set up just like Slimshady except I use Church boards so I don't have a rear release. Sure is nice not having to fight the board back in.