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

Lake Sherwood, Warren County, MO, July 4th

Before we start, quick report on Lake 35, Busch CA. This is a dying lake. I fished it in the spring, and the lake levels were at normal pool- it is lower again and has hydrilla growing all over it (even in the deep section- saw it on the fish finder). Seems that lake still has problems. Went out around 4:00 pm. and came back around 8:00. One small tap and that was it.

Let's talk about Sherwood. Rob and I got his pontoon boat out and hit the lake around 7:30 a.m. Something to keep in mind- we are in a summer pattern. My thought are that you need to fish the soft plastics much slower. We got several "taps" but no fish (I had 2 that were either small fish, or bad hook sets on my part). This pattern continued until 11:00 a.m. or so. Then they turned on (how weird is that).

Rob caught the first couple and it looked like I was going to get skunked (no problem- it has happened before!). I then caught the real nice bass- such a light hit, he was laying on the bottom with the plastic in his mouth- when I pulled up, I felt the weight and set the hook.

We were really tearing them up on Senko worms, in particular, Wave Worms, Sweet Potato Pie Color (yellow,black, red, etc) using a spinning rod with 10# test and a very small bullet weight (so it almost went down "weightless").

Later that day, we took the kids out and they caught a good amount of panfish on slip bobbers and worms. Good day of fishing

Fish On!

MLT

Busch CA, Lake 37- Bass off and on, still my favorite lake July 1st, 2007

Got off to a late start- hit it around 3:00 p.m. and fished until 7:00. Water temp at around 84 dg. Cloudy start, went with my theory of dark colors. Started with a spinning rod and a slip bobber with night crawlers. Caught a real small Channel Cat and caught a nice size Bluegill.

A little later in the day, caught my first large mouth bass with a black/purple jig, and a dark blue pig- very cool. He was laying in a lilly pad close to shore.

The sun came out shortly after, and the dark lure formula ceased to work, so I switched over to a spinning rod, 10# test, and a zoom shad/light green fluke with a fluke weighted hook. Got the boat over towards the back of the lake (around the tall grass and lilly pads) and had instant success- caught about 5-6 within an hour. They were all smaller bass, but the action was fun. What a great way to fish for bass! The fluke is my new friend!

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