Took the trip out to Lasalle this afternoon. Fished from about 1:30p - 5:00p. It was a long bike ride on loose gravel to get past the crowds, but it turned out to be worth it. Travelled past a lot of stripers on stringers. Probably 90% of shore anglers were using chicken livers. Successfully too it seemed. Lots of cats, good number of stripers from what I saw on the ride out.
Finally got past the crowd. Started throwing rattle traps and blade baits, like everyone else. Maybe 20 mins.. nada. Found a new spot, and first cast with a gulp minnow I hooked up with about a 5 lb striper. It was game on for the next 2 hours.
Ended up with well over 20 fish on the outing. Best part is, maybe only 5 of those fish were those pesky little channel cats, and only one token silver bass. The rest were a mix of : stripers, largemouth, smallmouth, walleye, and blue cats.
Biggest largemouth was about 3 lbs. During the fight, right at my feet, a solid 4lber tried taking the gulp minnow from its mouth. Of course when I flip back in to try and find her, she was gone... :x
Also lost a real heart breaker of a striper to a bent hook. But that's the trade off unfortunately to a light wire hook. Fewer break offs, but the occasional lost big fish...
Walleye were a pleasant surprise. I have heard guys have been catching them this year. Saw a guy trolling catch one right in front of me, and later ended up with 3 myself. 12-14" but it's a start.
Highlight of my trip was catching : a striper, largemouth, smallmouth, walleye, blue cat, channel cat, and a St Croix rod paired with a Johnny Morrison reel, all while standing on the same rock. A true Super Slam!!!
I'll be back out tomorrow am
The St Croix / JM combo I caught :
The Token Silver Bass :
Average size Walters :
Average size Smallies :
Biggest LM of the day :
Finally got past the crowd. Started throwing rattle traps and blade baits, like everyone else. Maybe 20 mins.. nada. Found a new spot, and first cast with a gulp minnow I hooked up with about a 5 lb striper. It was game on for the next 2 hours.
Ended up with well over 20 fish on the outing. Best part is, maybe only 5 of those fish were those pesky little channel cats, and only one token silver bass. The rest were a mix of : stripers, largemouth, smallmouth, walleye, and blue cats.
Biggest largemouth was about 3 lbs. During the fight, right at my feet, a solid 4lber tried taking the gulp minnow from its mouth. Of course when I flip back in to try and find her, she was gone... :x
Also lost a real heart breaker of a striper to a bent hook. But that's the trade off unfortunately to a light wire hook. Fewer break offs, but the occasional lost big fish...
Walleye were a pleasant surprise. I have heard guys have been catching them this year. Saw a guy trolling catch one right in front of me, and later ended up with 3 myself. 12-14" but it's a start.
Highlight of my trip was catching : a striper, largemouth, smallmouth, walleye, blue cat, channel cat, and a St Croix rod paired with a Johnny Morrison reel, all while standing on the same rock. A true Super Slam!!!
I'll be back out tomorrow am
The St Croix / JM combo I caught :
The Token Silver Bass :
Average size Walters :
Average size Smallies :
Biggest LM of the day :
