I just got back from three great days on the Gorge. Man, I love that place!
Spent Thursday and Friday fishing w/ Capt. Jim Williams (Tarponjim on BFT) of Creative Fishing Adventures. We had a great time and as expected I learned a ton of new stuff about fishing for those pig lake trout and re-learned a few things I had forgotten or that just didn’t sink in from before. For those of you who have never fished with Jim, it’s a whole lot of fun and a great learning experience. It’s as good a guided fishing experience as you’ll find anywhere.
I’m still not quick enough on all the hooksets but managed a 32 lb. and a 27 lb. on Friday. In fairness, too, we were fishing lures designed specifically for the big boys! No teenagers allowed! A picture of the biggest fish is attached. No pics of the lures - they’re Top Secret!! That 32 was as pretty a big laker as you will ever see, with a small head, big pot belly, and beautiful coloration.
Saturday a couple of my best friends and I mostly bass fished, although we did go fish the macks for a little while. I stuck 2 in short order on a lure of my own creation and missed 3 or 4 others and my buddy missed a couple over the course of two hours or so. I’ve never misssed so many macks in my life, but sure did have a good time all three days.
We trolled a little for kokes on Saturday morning early and hooked a couple briefly. Trolling really isn’t my thing, though, and I guess it was pretty obvious to my buddies that I was bored. So we went bassin’.
Good looking fish Don, Jim is the FG man. I was out four days with a bunch of other guys - we managed to boat about 37 mac over that time trolling in the mornings, but nothing that big - 24 lb was the biggest.
Right on, Don! Looks like you did yourself proud! I’ll be up there in two weeks for 10 days. Like you, I love that place too. We’ve got a day scheduled with Captain Jim. Again, congrats on the fine fish.
There wasn’t much to razz about concerning last year’s cancellation. Ya gotta take care of business first and sometimes it even gets in the way of fishing!
We were downrigging, but there were a couple boats dragging through everyone with 400 feet of steel behind them, they were yelling at us so we didn’t get our riggers hung up on their steel.
Nice work, Don. How soon before you get to hug a 40?