BillM

Decided to do a solo mission for a few hours today on a local lake. Hit up my late August spot and nada, fish had vacated. Not surprised as that pattern only lasts a few weeks. So I sat at the console and rode the sonar for a bit. Edges, rock piles, flats, weeds, nothing too interesting. I pull up to a spot and I see a few fish swirling. I'm thinking awesome, maybe that late August pattern is back. Nope, these bass were eating flying ants I kid you not. Surface was littered with them and the bass were slurping away. Of course my 4wt was at home so I'm not even going to try and pattern those little buggers out. Although the water they were doing this in was 30+ft. So I'm thinking to myself, these fish aren't staying at the surface this entire time. Then the graph lights up. Wolfpacks of smallies 15-20ft down over 30+ feet. I grab my fav vertical jigging bait and it doesn't make it to the bottom before I get slack and the first big boy is in the boat. Did this 3 more times in the span of 2 mins and then it stopped dead. Moved 50ft and repeat. Any basin at this depth held all kinds of fish. I was finding pack after pack of smallies just roaming around in featureless water. The key here was depth though. 30+ feet? I'd find fish. 25 or shallower? Nada, nothing. Every single pack of fish I'd mark and spot lock I'd get 3-4 then move onto the next. What a fun few hours... I know a lot of guys have a hard time with bass in the early fall. Go deep fellas and use your electronics. If you aren't marking fish, don't fish until you do. Proof is in the pudding. No fish pics, didn't wanna waste any time getting them back down. They were spitting bait and crapping all over my boat though, lol!! The best part about this pattern is that it's not lake specific. I've done this on GPool, GBay, Parry Sound, Upper Severn, you name it.

Get some 1/2 bullet weights or egg sinkers and thread them on your line before your snap or swivel. Simplest way to add a bit of weight to a lure. I do this all the time for spinnerbaits when fishing deep weed edges and it works great.

I dunno how he's still the GM. It baffles me.

If this was a movie theatre I'd be pissed, but it's a Jays game.

So much doom and gloom Glad he's signed.

Buckshot spoons. Perch love them vertically jigged.

Yuuup.

It's all ME ME ME these days man lol

Can't be mad at him for turning down 8.5 @ 3. He's worth more then that. Whatever he does, I just hope this is over and done with soon. I don't want him to turn into another Nylander that fans hate.

Pretty sure it was 11 @ 8 if I'm not mistaken. I'm guessing he would have jumped on that 3 year term, that's exactly what he wants.

Icefishing and bugs would basically be the worst combination possible

Once he's signed no one will care. Not my money and the cap goes up every year.

The big thing with Marner is term. If he was offered 11mil over 4 years we wouldn't be talking about Marner right now.

Deep basins off the weed edges would be a good place to start. Also, invest in a sonar, you're crazy not to have one.

Absolutely. Been vertical jigging smallies the past few weeks and laying a beat down on them. Bonus walleyes as well.

I hope Gardiner does good in Carolina. I'm sure he's happy to be out of Toronto. Worst sports media of any city there is.

You're tell me man! I might have to James Bay it as the prices for the Tree are just crazy, lol.

Great read Chris! I hope Bob didn't get paid for a week of work, lol!

Lots of trouts in the upper, a few unicorns as well

I bet most of those aren't black bear attacks, look at the locations. Most likely grizzly.

I've got arctic char envy. As always Bunk, a great read!

The prices have skyrocketed!

Goodluck! Scotty makes a great rigger.

Ryan @ We Pound Em, already replied to your topic on another forum.