What a strange season it has been! Water Dog thoughts?

[Water Dog]

Ok
the smoke, cough , cough, ,
mayflies, keep your mouth closed,
the gnats, well follow the mayflies advise,
What I have learned in each season (many seasons) for the search of the yellow gold, is that it is ever changing, caught some limits in April, (hogs) and then June, July and August , you never know how mother-in-law (nature) will treat you.

So I will be going out soon, given the current weather forecast, I look for some wind for a nice swing, anyway,
If you go pease use the life jacket with the ones you love will be with you fishing with you,

God Bless,
Be Safe
and tight lines,

Water Dog

[airshot]

At age 76, I have saw so many season changes I could never count them all. Major changes from one season to the next. Mother nature has no intentions of keeping things the same...guess she wants to challenge us ! She is doing a great job at that!

[West Basin]

Yep. Water Dog is right.

Where and when we catch fish may change year to year, but - it doesn't change, long term, as much as we may think.

The Lake ecology remains much the same. The Lake bottom doesn't change much (except when the zebra mussels showed up - now their shells are piled up). The rocky reefs and shoals are still there. The mud and silt and clay and sand bottoms are still there. The Lake wind driven waves and return currents remain the same. However, as changes are always happening, little shifts occur. Invasive species, such as the spiny water flea, change the way the ecosystem works. Prey species change in numbers and distribution. Predator fish then change their habits. It's a dynamic system, and we humans have changed it. More watershed runoff nutrients. Drained marshes. Commercial fishing back "in the day." Even the number of boats running around. It all comes down to making adjustments. The walleye and yellow perch and smallmouth bass, etc., are all still out there. We have to adjust, as they have.

[Bankangler]

Sixty-Seven years old here and started perching at 6 years old with my Dad. He rented a rowboat just south of the lighthouse from a lady who had boards lain parallel to the road and she slid the rowboats down into the water. $2.00 to rent the boat which included oars and a paint bucket full of concrete and a rope for the anchor. Another quarter got you life jackets. Dad would row out until he got tired and would toss the anchor. We would fill the cooler with perch. Grandpa got a boat a few years later but we always perch fished from the lighthouse to the smokestack. Not many fish there anymore but there used to be hundreds of boats there every day from the first of September until November.

[airshot]

Fond memories from back in the 70's. My wife and I rented a rowboat at the canal entrance to anchor point. Cost was 5 bucks for boat and oars then I used an old 3 hp outboard and headed toward the intake. About a 45 minute ride out and we caught perch in big numbers. Fun tines until we had to clean them !

[Water Dog]

Well, I think it is time to try for some Yellow Gold, I have been on the porch and doing many home projects , painting, gardening, etc.

I have been watching the reports.
(so I see some small ones are mixed with the bigger ones)

I need some rest from home work, so its time to try for some Yellow Gold!
(my bones feel the 2 cubic yards of gravel that I have been moving! )

I have a cooler that my buttox sits on while fishing, nice and comfortable.
And a hat that can swat any biting flies!

Anyways, I will let you know of my results , Tuesday August 4th, is a go as long as mother nature says so.
As always, a puke pile report and a gut pile report after cleaning the catch.

Be safe , use the life jacket, and engine cut off harness, (if you solo and even if you are not alone)

Water Dog,
be safe, tight lines
And Wear the Life Jacket