Captain Dave's Guide Service - Captain Dave will put you on Columbia River salmon - including Summer & Fall Chinook and Sockeye, and Lake Roosevelt Kokanee and Trout. Catching fish isn't just his passion - it's his lifestyle. Call Captain Dave to start planning your trip now!
Well the decision to hit this body of water today was a good one! First lake blew, 45* water and nothing going on. Even the ambient temp at that lake was 7 degrees colder than what I drove from. I decided to hit an old fav and doubled back to Clear Lake on my way home.
Water temps here were 46-48.5 degrees, not great but I've hit them here in cold water before so I wasn't to off put. I started next to the pilings right by the launch fishing a drop off. Wasn't there 30 minutes and felt the tap on the line, reeled down and sure enough I felt weight, bang! Got him near the boat and saw I had him hooked deep so I took my time landing him, 3.1lbs and my first EVER February largemouth! Continued working the area without another bite.
I cruised around and fished a couple of my all time favorite spots and not a nibble.... I was marking a lot of fish suspended in 10' of water but couldn't get any action on them...probably should have drop-shotted but I had just bagged a Feb largie not drop-shotting and only had one thing on my mind at that point....do it again!
I ran to the opposite side of the lake on the big flat and fished the area well. I was nearing the end of the flat and about to call it a day when tap? Was that a tap or grass for a split second? Reeled down felt weight BOOM!! I knew she was big and I thought 5lber..... she ran at me and turned and I thought possible 6lber..... she got near the boat again and rolled and I saw her belly and I thought PLEASE JUST LET ME LAND HER!!! I saw she wasn't hooked great due to my not believing it was a fish for a split second but thankfully I kept her from jumping and got my thumb in her mouth! Dug the scale back out and oh man 7.4lbs!! IN FEBRUARY!!! WOOOOOOOO!!!!
Thirty plus years of this stuff and today was like day one, I love it! It never gets old...
N E 1: for the record I don't use a net for bass ever, just for the salmon and trout I want to eat. I like the added challenge of hand landing bass, even the feeling when they give that last burst and jump off at the side of the boat! I see it as a sign of respect for the fight and the fish.
Captain Dave's Guide Service - Captain Dave will put you on Columbia River salmon - including Summer & Fall Chinook and Sockeye, and Lake Roosevelt Kokanee and Trout. Catching fish isn't just his passion - it's his lifestyle. Call Captain Dave to start planning your trip now!