Fishing with Dick and Brad...5/12/2026

[Capt Juls]

I'm writing this in the wee hours of the next morning, due to the forecast calling for more rain the next two days. I had to get the grass cut, vegetable garden planted, and had to run to Sandusky to pick up some more soil for a raised garden I started weeks ago, but never filled with dirt. By the time I was done, it was already my bedtime, and I was whooped. It's not a "we killed them fast" kind of report either, so I didn't feel the need to get it done fast, either. lol

I've been fishing with Dick and Brad for many years now. They are older gents who like to fish together and have their own boats, but still like to hire me for a day or two each season, as a refresher course. It's always a good time, due to Dick's sense of humor and his ability to keep a conversation going.

This morning, I was meeting them at Catawba, due to an ENE wind that was switching to the SE early in the morning.

My plan was to head back up to where I left off two days ago, when I was fishing with Dave and Danielle. Dick and Brad are local, so they met me at the park at 6am. The flag on the Catawba pier was lightly flapping in the mostly calm wind. That meant that the wind was already switching, so the lake was lying down.

As we headed north through the south passage, there were still some NE rollers, but they were on the smaller side. When we were passing the middle passage, the wind had picked up a little, and the waves were coming from the SE, but by the time we got to the north passage, the wind was still coming from the NE. It would eventually switch to the SE up there, too.

There were marks on the Garmin when I got to the area where I ended the last trip out, so we set up. As usual, the Ulterra is the first to be deployed, so that I can set the course and keep the boat on course, while I get everything else set up. Next, the baby Merc is warmed up, while I send the FishHawk down to 18'. Then, the baby Merc is put in gear, the iTroll adjusted, so it can achieve the speed I want, which in this case was 2.0mph to start.

Dick has better sea legs than Brad, and likes to help set lines, so he can get a refresher course on using the Off Shore boards. After I showed him how to attach them, it all came back to him, and he was off and running on setting the port side.

While he was doing that, I put the two dipsies out on the starboard side...I'll bet you can guess the settings by now. lol Yep....zero and three settings. The zero setting was set at 27 back, and the three setting was set at 47. Both were running Yeck spoons with blue bellies.

4 Bandits ran on the port side at 80, 70, 63, and 50 back. The port side ran 3 Bandits at 77, 63, and 53 back. Colors were (3) "Green Lantern" (Slim Shady color), (3) "Buck Fever" (Domka color), a Black and a Chrome with foil sides (not sure whose that is?). The last time up there, Buck Fever was the hot color. This time, it was Green Lantern.

The early morning bite was better with the spoons, and the dipsies took the first 5 fish, so I removed two board rods from the port side and added two more dipsies on that side, and let them choose the spoon colors to use. The zero setting was set to 33, and the three setting was set to 53. They were running a little deeper than the other side. All four dipsies would catch fish at those settings.

Fish bit from 1.9-2.6mph, but mostly at 2.3mph. Water temp was 55 on the surface and one degree warmer at 18' down. The dipsies outfished the Bandits this time.

The fish were scattered more than last time up there, so we made one pass headed west, turned around, and headed back to the islands, since the waves were only 1' or less...we just kept the baits in the water and trolled back. The bite was not fast, but we had their limit within the first three hours, and then it got slower. Brad looked tired and was ready to head in whenever Dick was ready. Dick wanted to fish a little longer, so we gave it another half hour. I caught one of mine, and then Dick made the call to head in.

We stopped for lunch, and enjoyed some chit-chat, exchanged some pictures before heading our own ways. I will be seeing Dick again on Friday, when he and his other friend will be fishing with me again. Friday is looking really nice, after we get through two days of gusty W and NW winds, with lots of rain in the forecast.

My trip for today (Wednesday) has been rescheduled, so I'm off today and tomorrow, and will be back out Friday and probably Saturday. Saturday's crew cancelled their reservations at the Whitecaps, because the motel said they require a 3-day cancellation notice to get a deposit back, and when he asked about the forecast, it was looking iffy. I told him that if he felt he needed to make the call that day, to just go ahead and cancel it. He said they could drive up that morning if the forecast changed. So, that's where I'm at on Saturday.

Stay tuned....

Capt Juls

[skinny5382]

Always a good read, thanks Capt. Juls. Sorry for the wee hours! Get some sleep.

[rexles]

I know this is a fishing forum, but what soil are you putting in your raised garden beds?

[Capt Juls]

I know this is a fishing forum, but what soil are you putting in your raised garden beds?

In the bottom....first I put a layer of cardboard. Then, I went out back and gathered up some dead branches, and put a decent layer of those in there. Then, I went to Sam's Club, who had 2cu feet bags of Miracle Grow Garden Soil for 9.96 a bag. Bought 6 bags, but it only needed 4 to fill it up. Gave two bags to neighbor Jerry for his big garden. He shares his harvest with me, so it was going to a good cause.