merwin 6-24

adobe wall · 06-24-2007, 07:25 AM

Hit Merwin yesterday, pressure wasn't bad at all. I got to the ramp at 10 am, though. Gotta start going to sleep earlier.

I'd cut down a 30 year old boat rod and put on a Penn109 w/some heavy braid bowfishing line, the idea was basically the sturgeon rod downrigger that folks have mentioned here. It was kinda cool because I'd at least get to try downrigger fishing without dropping the cash to catch a few kokes. The only thing I had to buy was a 3 lb ball and a release. Good idea but the little Penn couldn't handle it, and halfway through the trip the gears stripped in the reel. I had to handline the ball up. I then put the ball on a real live sturgeon rod- a big levelwind w/80lb tuffline on a $15 solid glass sturdy stick. That rig wasn't as good as the cut down rod as the sturdy stick flexed a lot and bounced the weight too much. I swapped the big reel onto the cut down rod and called it good. Worked great the rest of the day with the lesson being don't use a salmon reel for this as you may trash it.

First pass through I started at 40 feet. Ball shows up easily on the depthfinder so marking the string every 10 feet was unnecessary. I had my doubts that the humminbird would pick up anything smaller than a submerged car but it turned out okay.

First pass through I picked up a fish, good validation that the redneck downrigger would work. This koke was about the size of a blue label herring, managed to get it to wiggle itself loose near the boat so that was a good thing.

Made a swing over the submerged trees in the cove (at least that's what they look like on the fish tv, and they're always in the same spot) and had another fish but lost it. Then I caught two, real quick, and lost another. Two in the cooler so far.

Fishing a ford fender-green snubber- green wedding ring w/smile blade and plain white corn.

After the second fish, I couldn't find any more and action stopped. People started leaving, I made a number of passes around but could not locate anything. Went out to the point and found just a couple scattered fish and caught one at 38 feet.

Finally figured it was time to move so I went towards the dam. More fish to mark there although it wasn't hot by any means. Fish scattered from 35 feet to 55, most around 40 or at 50. I was pulling a flash light followed by an orange dodger w/prism tape, then 30" leader and orange wedding ring w/hammered copper blade. I got strikes every pass over one school but they were short corn stealing strikes, not sure what was going on there. They'd hit hard- I never did set the line where the fish could pull it free- but that would be it so I'd free the line, check it, and find no corn. Rebait, loop around, same thing three times. 4th pass I got a fish at 50 feet.

Figured I'd troll home to learn the lake. Put the ford fender rig back on and headed back, found a good school at 38 feet and cranked up the rigger fast to try to swing the lure up through the fish. It worked, I got the last fish just as I took the slack out of the rod.

the best fish looked decent but only taped at 12 inches, the others were 9 to 10 or so.

Downrigger fishermen I talked to were doing okay but not setting any records, people pulling banana weights were having a tough time of it (at least the ones I talked with)

regards, aw

yankemnbankem · 06-24-2007, 11:42 AM

My condolences! If it makes anybody any happier, I was there on Friday and we had only two small fish in the box for four rods. others at the dock as we were coming and going had none...not even squaw fish. We lost a few more at the boat. We fished all over the lake but no dice. Must of had something to do with Barometrics or some phenomena just like the small fish. This lake is not doing so nice as it was in past years. I have to say though I did have a great day up there monday....13 fish for 4 rods. Oh, I had one monster takedown while using a wee tad (I leave one out so as to fish for WALTER) but alas, it didnt stick. Reminded me of takedowns from 3-4 years ago.

jzell · 06-24-2007, 11:53 AM

Yes our last 2 trips haven't been stellar....

But I wouldn't be too quick to judge this year to date with at least 2 months of fishing to go. Each summer I've fished there have had their low points....for one reason or another.

John

Splash · 06-25-2007, 04:26 PM

Yes, things have certainly slowed this week. Fished Friday afternoon after the wind kicked in and managed 3 12"ers and a 9"er for 2 rods. It was the only day we didn't have an opportunity for limits this year. Sat am was better as we ended up with 9 fish and lost about the same amount. Certainly worked hard for those too. We chose to get away from the crowds thinking they may have the fish stirred up and off the bite.

Glows and whites were working last week but this week the best producer was neon green with a glow bead in place of the band with a hammered silver blade and silver/brass dodger at ~50'. This combination took over 75% of the fish this week (all of fridays fish) and we tried just about everything. At one point we found a cloud of fish on the screen and grinned in anticipation as our offerings approached them. WOO HOO! DOUBLE!! ... D'oh..pikeminnows.

Lots of small ones this outing too. I am assuming the warmer surface water is sending the small surface feeders we have been seeing all year down to cooler depths. Then again that is just a guess.

They are there if you really want to work for them. I am also confident the fishing will pick up again too.