We slowly motored north rigging new gear - I went retro with a new level wide full of lead-core and changed things-up with a slide diver replacing one of the dipsys - all running longer lightweight leaders.
Went "lines down" in front of Split Rock at 8 and started to troll west - and we trolled and trolled and trolled some more, enjoying the warmth and scenery - the rocks were ice clad and debris littered the shores - must have been one heck of a night on the lake during the storm.
Finally, after our 3rd loop around Whalon's , an empathetic salmon whacked a DB smelt and immediately went aerial - this fish was an Olympic leaper. Scott was going - "WoW! look at 'em" and I was going - "Wow! don't lose 'em" - in the end we slide the net under a fat 19"er bound for the BBQ.
Another hour of adrenaline fueled trolling yielded nary a nibble, so off we went in search of fish - stopped just south of Thompson's and were tight to a good fish in minutes - turned out to be a 28" LT which was heading to the smoker - only problem I forgot to tell Scott of my plans and as I turned to lift the live well cover, I saw him slipping the fish into the water - "Whaaaa.....#@$%^&" - Oh well, guess we'll just have too catch another.
But 1st - lunch - "and what do we have today?" - well for an appetizer - some Parma ham with chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano, followed by crab cakes on toasted ciabatta - how could I be moaning about a tossed fish when being feed like that?!
After another fishless hour, we headed over to Hunter where the "fish" gods smiled won on us with this beautiful LT
- which did make it to the smoker. And then it was time to head for the barn - did the new, shy gear work - Nope - all fish were off a DR on either a Speedi or CI - maybe next week.
