Brian was in all the way from Alaska today, taking a southern vacation once again. He’s got a strange way of heading south! He would be fishing with me for three days and weather permitting would get into some great smallmouth bass action. We began in clouds and a light drizzle but the air temps weren’t bad as it was a warm wind from the south. It was also a strong wind at 10 to 20 knots and that would make my boat control a challenge once more. He immediately started catching smallies on the first spot and never looked back. For the entire day he would be just pounding them, literally all day long! They weren’t all big but there was several over 4 pounds and some close to five as well. Tube jigs were the hot ticket today as very few fish were willing to chase down the cranks like they had, just a few days before. In one of the areas I held for close to two hours out of the wind and watched him hook up on every other cast. They were just stacked and we weren’t leaving! When all things were said and done he must have had shots at close to 75 bass throughout the day. Not a bad start to a three day trip!!

Sam, Danny & Stephane joined me on another body of water today just hoping for a pile of bass. Well, they were about to get their wish in spades! We began a little later than usual and were fishing by 8:30, but into smallies on two of their first casts. Crankbaits were going to be the ticket today as the bass were holding on the outside edges of the weed lines. The weather was better than the forecasted one with a light drizzle early and cloud & sunshine afterwards. Air temps were in the 70’s and the water was around 68 degrees. We fished a number of areas and managed to get into them all over. Sam & Danny fended better than Steph as they were both just pounding them all day long. I believe that Sam had the largest bass with one in the mid four pound range but there were plenty of others that were close too. I really don’t know how many double headers they had but it was at least 6 or more. There were even a couple of triples that didn’t quite make it to the net! Overall it was a great day with non stop action from start to finish. We even had to stay a little longer just to break the tie that Danny & Sam were at and both had more shots at the win before Sam took it in the shootout! Definitely a day worth remembering by all!!

I was back out again today with an old friend and his girlfriend all the way from Oklahoma. Christiane also joined us as we set out to catch some fish on a local lake. The conditions were absolutely horrible this time though and the temps were quite chilly. A light rain stayed with us till after noon and an east wind made it all that much more enjoyable to be on the water. Air temps were barely over 50 degrees and the water was just over 68 degrees as I set the lines hoping for a few walleye. It wasn’t looking too good but we finally had a reel fire and hopes were high until the fish neared the boat. A northern of around 8 pounds was what we had gotten and almost immediately after the line was back in the water, it fired again. Another large northern slightly smaller was our reward and I knew I was out of there. We immediately headed for smallies and Nancy was the one to lock up with a real beauty in the five pound class. Ronnie had a couple on, but couldn’t close the deal as we relocated once again. This time I tried the deeper water due to the stained shallows and came up with just a few fish in the 2.5 pound size. Into the shallows we went and Ronnie hit several up to 3 pounds as I tossed a top-water just searching for activity. One around 4 pounds inhaled the spook and brought a few buddies to the boat that scattered almost immediately. Although we did catch several fish, it really wasn’t an easy task and by 4:00 we called it quits. Winds from the NE caused the lake to be a little choppy and the run back was a little bumpy but smoother than Ronnie’s Bass Boat back home. I think there might be a Ranger in the near future for the two of them reel soon!!

Marie & Jim joined me for the weekend and what a weekend they had! Sunshine, no wind and air temps topping out in the mid 70’s was what we fished in for the entire two days. Smallies were on fire as they just pounded them on a variety of baits and the action was non stop. From top-water to slowly dragged tube jigs, they loaded the boat with the big ones. Every year in the past we have been faced with adverse conditions, but not this time. They left the hurricane behind! By the time the second day was over they had definitely caught their share of bass ranging from just a couple of pounds to over 5. It was surely a trip worthy of the 10 hour drive!

John & Ian were in Montreal for a business meeting and able to get away for a half day of fishing today. We hooked up shortly after 1:00 P.M. and went to a different waterway in search of the elusive smallie due to incredibly strong winds on the usual local lake. Obviously it was the right choice as we were fishing in a little over a one foot chop instead of the 4 footers we would have had. Although the winds were blowing 15 to 25 knots from the west, it was doable and caused me only a little trouble with boat positioning. John had several fish landed from spinner-baits before Ian finally contacted a few of his own on the jerk-bait when we hit the first location and I knew we were going to get them good! The weather wasn’t too bad with sun & cloud mix and temps in the 70’s for the most part. Water temps were about 67 degrees where we were but the fish were active. The next spot produced multiple hook ups from both when I changed up the baits. I had hit the nail on the head and now they were getting into them on almost every cast. It was impossible to keep track of just how many the were landing cause I think they were losing more than they caught! It didn’t matter though as there were plenty more to be taken pretty much everywhere we fished. They were just on fire and both Ian & John were having a blast! As long as the fish were biting I was going to hang in and let them enjoy themselves. What I didn’t realize was that the fish weren’t stopping and before I knew it, the sun had set. It had been a while since I had lasted until dark and found it strange to have to run back with the lights on. In fact on one of Ian’s last casts, he landed his best of the day at just over 4 pounds. It was all worthwhile and I was happy to hang in until we almost couldn’t see anymore! What an afternoon it turned out to be and to think their other co workers all went golfing! Wow, what a mistake! All I know is that today’s fishing had to be better than following a little white ball all around in a golf cart. Fishing rocks!!