The first Thursday of fall is here, can you believe it? I have been in full archery season preparation mode, but the Jig Heads are still out on the water!
Andy is out in Oklahoma fishing spending a bunch of time golfing with his son but they went fishing a bunch too! A low pressure system and a cold front moved through the day we arrived dropping the temps from mid to high 90’s to mid 70’s. Slowing the fishing down but we still were able to get out to the very windy Lake Eufaula and Lake Thunderbird. Not too many fish but a good time nonetheless!
Berkshire Brett said he didn’t have much of anything going on this week. He went out a few times and managed a perch, a few nibbler smallies and largemouths here and there. But he did land one decent 16 inch largemouth on a deep diving crank bait. I can find anything they like. I’ve tried deep diving cranks, lipless cranks, weighted and unweighted plastics, spinners and top water. I couldn’t buy a decent bite this week.
Tim was only able to get out this past weekend up at Lake Champlain up in Ticonderoga for a two day Mass Bass Federation TOC tournament. He said he got on the smalley bite, and the first day they had 26 pounds for eight fish in first place. The second day they came in with just under 22.5 and ended up in second place by just a little over a pound. A Carolina rig and weighted creature bait were the deal for us. Tim reported they also ended up with a few good pike and a nice 20 to 25 pound drum.
Nelson got out a few times this week, both on the kayak and from shore. His first outing was on Saturday for the MAKB Western Division trail stop # 7 at Lake Garfield where he reports that it was a very tough day of catching. Nelson finished the tournament in 2nd place with only 2 out of a 5 bass limit. He was also lucky enough to take lunker with a 17.75 inch largemouth. He said that he got all of his bites, and caught all of his fish, in 10-15 feet of water. He also pointed out that his most productive bait was a weighted soft plastic stick bait that he caught rock bass, largemouth, pickerel, and even had 2 rainbow trout chase the bait to the surface. A tough day with a good ending.Nelson also did some shore fishing on his way home from work. He caught several small bass on a bluegill swim jig and a NED rig. With the cooler nights starting to set in the fall bite should be picking up.
Shawn the Fisherman got out twice, both times at the bass-forsaken Lake Garfield. That being said, he reported the multispecies action was fantastic using multiple techniques on both days.
Bladed jigs, jerkbaits, and finesse jigs landed bluegill, rock bass, white perch, yellow perch, chain pickerel, rainbow trout, and the odd largemouth and smallmouth.
The first day was MAKB Western Division trail stop #7, the 2021 finale, on Saturday. Black bass were highly prized, and Shawn hit 2 around 15 inches for a 3rd place finish behind Nelson and Scott Rhodes. (Scott was the only angler to catch 3 on the day, and it paid off.)
Knowing that this lake was a multispecies bonanza, Shawn headed back Monday with his main man Bobby Roast Beef. He’s thrown his hat into this tourney and has a side wager going with Deryk of Three Belles Outfitters in CT that he would like to win. They had a couple hours to fish, and during the time, they both hit rainbows and Bobby landed his new pb Pickerel!
Tip: even up in the Berkshires, turnover is still a ways off. Temps at the surface have been in the high 60s/low 70s, so keep summer techniques in mind when on the water!
The upcoming week is looking like the weather is going to stay on the mild side in the upper 60’s lower 70’s with little to no rain – I hope they’re right!
Don’t forget if you are in the Jigs and Bigs September Multispecies tournament, you have exactly ONE WEEK to get as many entries in as possible, so get out and fish! Tight lines!
Upcoming tourneys
Massachusetts Kayak Bassin
(Kayak only, membership required)
9/1-9/31, State Monthly Challenge
Jigs and Bigs
9/1-9/30 September Nationwide Freshwater Multispecies Tourney
Chronic Trips
10/1-10/31 October Nationwide Freshwater and Saltwater Multispecies Tourney
Wild Woman 