Busch Wildlife CA, Lake 33 July 19th: Some success with Plastic Worms

Had a little success in the morning with a Texas Rigged red/black culprit 8" worm. Skies were cloudy and overcast. Bites were coming close to shore near structure. After the clouds moved out, started to get incredibly windy and rough (but sunny). The bites really started to turn off after that. Left around 5:00....probably would have had some success towards nightfall if I would have stayed out later.

Fish ON!

MLT

Busch Wildlife Lake 33: Not much to report

Here is a great sunset photo. Fished Lake 33 about 3 times in april- not much success. I am glad to see the water level is up, but have not been able to figure out what patterns have worked. Crappie have been caught on minnows, but very sporadic. Usually this time of year, the catfish are really on, as well as the bass. Not yet.

Fish On

MLT

Busch Wildlife Area, St. Charles County, Lake 33- Catfish are back

Good day of fishing. Cool and foggy when I set out, fish hit hard up to noon. Used my traditional live bait set up, slip bobbers and nightcrawlers. Hit close to cover, as the photo shows.

Lost one of good size in the timber (snapped the line), but soon came to realize later, I was having gear problems (reel is so old, it is nicking up the line- damaged carrier) so I will probably have to retire that reel and break down and buy a new one.

Fish was good! took them home, cleaned them, and baked the filets in the oven with lemon and cajun seasoning.

Fish On!

MLT

August Report- Fishing good!

due to lack of a good digital camera, I have slacked for August. Here were some highlights:

1. Little Dixie CA in Callaway County: Caught quite a few bass (some in slot, some smaller) on Gold flex plastic worms 9". Caught a couple of nice red ear sunfish on worms with a slip bobber.


2. Lake 33 at Busch Wildlife in St. Charles County: Very slow for month of August. Early in the month caught quite a few early in the day on Gene Larew Salt Craws


3. Lake 37 at Busch Wildlife in St. Charles county: had some good days right in the middle of the lake, near the deep w/ timber. Good size red ear sunfish on slip bobbers and nightcrawlers


4. Bennett Spring State Park- Fished in one time, but it was a good one. Caught over (30) trout in about a 3 hour period on gold Little Cleo spoons, 2# test


5. Meremec Park: Got Skunked (fished only one time, no big deal)

Fish ON!

MLT

Bass fishing good today! Lake 33, Busch Wildlife CA

Bass fishing good today at Busch Wildlife CA. Water temp about 83 degrees, overcast skies that switched to sunny. Fished from about 8:00 to 11:30 on a boat. Went to drain some of the water out of the boat, and observed (4) of the biggest crawdads I have ever seen at Busch. So guess what I decided to throw? (can you say "match the hatch?")

Caught (3) bass this morning. The first was a 16" largemouth on a Jig (no skirt) and pumpkin Chomper Hula Grub. I was using one of my favorite rods for a Jig, my 6" rod with 14# Stren. Pulled back and the line started to move the other way (kind of like when you are cranking a crankbait that is out of tune), so I reeled back and really set the hook. That got the "fight on". Very nice bass, could have very easily missed the set.

Caught another smaller one (12") in the same area. They shut off for a while, so I took the boat down the levy a little. No action after throwing worms, senkos, chompers, and zipper worms, so I went back to the original spot (it was almost time to leave anyway).

Caught another good one on a Gene Larew black/gold claw Salt Craw. Nice fish (it is the one that you can see the red chair in the background). Used a 7' light/medium action rod with 12# Shakespeare Cajun Line. Measured out about 14".

Great morning of fishing. What a great lake for largemouths.

Fish On!

MLT

Busch CA, Lake 33- Bass hitting early in the morning June 30th, 2007

Good overcast (wet weather west, but never arrived) water temp at about 84 dg. Got a boat and headed out to my favorite spot (the same one the large catfish came out of). Had a spinning rod with 6" test, slip bobber and minnows- they are NOT hitting on that (not one bite all day)

Early that morning, caught several large mouths on a Texas-Rig, 12# test with a black/pink tail jelly worm (I have had these in my tackle box for a couple of years, never really caught anything) Just goes to show, when it is dark, and the water is less than clear, throw darker colors.

Rest of the day, REAL slow- we are most assured in a summer bass pattern. One guy threw some small, chartreuse crank baits and caught several right off the bat- maybe it was because the sun came out? It is amazing how they will turn on and off.

Fish On!

MLT

Busch CA, Lake 33, April 29th- Catfish are back!

Went back to Lake 33 Sunday. Wind had died down quite a bit- very warm. Water temp is starting to warm up as well (was at around 72 towards the end of the day)

Crappie not as active, but larger in size on minnows. Hit the spot that I had hit a week or so ago before the storm (north side of lake). Look at the catfish that my mother got on a nightcrawler! Same spot as the mess of catfish I caught last week. We originally thought that this big guy was a Blue Catfish, but really it is a Channel Cat (I forgot that they start to lose their spots the bigger they get). Sure looked like a Blue when we pulled it out of the water. She was using a light action rod on what appeared to be 6" test (line was very old)

This may be a very good year for catfish- at least right now.

Fish on!

MLT

Busch Wildlife CA, Lake 33, Crappies are hitting! April 27th, 2007

Hit the lake with my good friend, Ray. We used minnows and spinning rods. Tried the normal bass gear, bass seem sporadic right now- this weekends 80 degree weather should change that. Windy conditions, about 70 degrees outside, water temp around 64.

Check out the crappie- about 10.25" in length. Most of the crappie very small- typical lake 33. Just goes to show if you keep fishing, there are some fish worth keep out there.

Fish On!

MLT

Busch Wildlife CA, Lake 33 Catfish hitting on minnows- Big Time April 24th, 2007

Weather finally starting to warm up after the cold snap. Caught a ton of catfish and crappies before the big thunderstorm hit. The large on measured out to about 23". Used slip bobbers and minnows in some heavy tree/ brush cover along the north side of the dam.

Caught a 15" bass first (hit the minnow hard), caught about 8 crappies and then the catfish hit (channels). Limited out on the catfish- should be great for the fish fry that we are going to have for my grandmother in Ohio.

Glad I brought the boat back- lightning and heavy rain soon after. It is amazing how the barometer effects the catfish.

Fish on!

MLT