With a simple text message sent to my buddy Phil plans were hatched. We hit the lake around 4, and again set ourselves a goal for the outing. I’m really liking that approach to things!
We decided to switch things up a bit and target Smallies. Now most of my Smallies I catch while fishing flats for Largies, so to simply target Smallies isn’t something I do often. That is about to change though! I’ve decided to spent the rest of the summer working on my Smallie fishing, which will take me away from my comfort zone!
We set a goal of a dozen keeper Smallies. Slightly modest maybe but one to work with. The Lund roared off to an area I’ve never fished before, a pebbly bottom with some cabbage beds mixed in. Could this be it? It surely would be loaded with crayfish so they couldn’t be far off I thought.
The weather was VERY unstable, thunder in the distance and it downpoured on us for a good while as well.
Thought this was a pretty cool shot!
On the first hookset, we knew it was game on! It wasn’t 2 seconds after the hookset that a gorgeous Smallie was airborne. Wicked.
At one point, Phil and looked at each other and just laughed. We were on a flat loaded with big roaming Smallies. One time while netting his fish I dropped my rod to help him and when I picked it back up I had a fish on. It was just one of those nights.
We surpassed our goal by landing 17 clones like the above photo.
For gear and baits, I using a 7’6″ MH Shimano Crucial spinning rod teamed up with a Shimano Saros reel, spooled up with 30 lb test Power Pro Hi-Vis yellow braid to a 10 lb test Fluro lead. On the business end was the simplest bait ever to be made. Senkos in various colors did the trick, it didn’t seem to matter the color.
I did pick up a few incidental guests aboard the Lund.
They made for a tasty evening snack! As a sidenote, if you don’t use an electric fillet knife you are doing yourself a disservice. And come election time pick up a few of those annoying signs you see on the roads, they make a great cleaning board!
Birdee was quick to hop to work on the prep work. We didn’t have any pre-made mix so she made her own. Fillets dipped in Egg and Milk then dipped in crushed Doritos and flour. Real simple but tasty!
Then into the fryer for a few minutes…
For folks who don’t keep and eat fish often we have it down to a science! Fish cleaned, battered and fried in 20 minutes. Tasty!
Busy week ahead! A guided trip booked, two days fishing with friends and then Birdee and I tie the knot! Good times ahead!
