Opening Day Fishing 2012 (2 of 4)

This is the second post in a 4 part series on my 2012 opening day of fishing in Wisconsin.

In Southeast WI, it was raining on opening day. Seeing as there was no lightning, I threw on a rain suit, hooked up the boat, and headed out.

While anxiously launching the canoe into the water I was imagining a bass hitting my topwater bait. My rods were rigged with lures appropriate for the spots I wanted to try first.

After starting the motor and heading to the first spot I had planned to go to, I noticed the wind picked up since I left from home. Because of the increased wind, the water was too rough to use a buzzbait. (Buzzbaits and other topwaters work best when the water’s calm or when there’s a slight chop.) I ruled out my original plan and began to feel unsure of where to go.

At this point in fishing, you have to adapt to the weather conditions. As a fisherman and hunter you’re at the mercy of what nature throws at you; your success depends on how you overcome adversity.

Because I was already heading towards the far end of the lake, and since the wind was blowing in a direction that I could drift back towards where I launched from, I kept going. Besides, since there was a no wake until 9am and I was already half way towards the far end of the lake, I just wanted to get there.

First fish of opening day hit hard! Snapped this pic and released

Finally, I got to the far end of the lake. I started the drift and realized there more weeds than normal, and the wind was drifting me faster than expected.

During the initial drift I wound up in an unfamiliar location of the lake, but it  did look promising so I went with it. It was by a patch of reeds. Nobody else was fishing here.

Reaching for my spin cast rod rigged with a Kalin Grub and pink jig head I took a cast. Moments later I felt my first strike!

(Stay tuned for part 3 next week!)

 

2 thoughts on “Opening Day Fishing 2012 (2 of 4)

  1. I agree with you, Joshua. A fisherman needs to adapt his/her techniques according to the season. Water levels, the food in its environment, and the climate – these three contribute to the success of catching a fish. The size of the fish is great for a first catch! That could’ve really set the mood for the rest of your trip.

    Melanie Daryl

    • I have to agree with Melanie. Catching fish depends on various factors like where and when you’re fishing, the time of day, the season and weather, your experience level and lastly, your equipment. One can have the best fishing rod and reel in his/her hands but it will be useless if he/she doesn’t know how to wield it right. Study your rod and reel and learn techniques from the experienced ones.

      Idalia Conn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *