For the Week Ending Sunday, May 28, 2017

Tuesday, May 23...From Ron: "Launched from Indian River Road Bridge and started fishing West Neck Creek when the rain was very light, but it turned 'medium' and never let up. Caught five bass, including a dink, 1-4, 1-5, 1-8, and a 2-2, as well as an 11-inch crappie, all on the Pop R. Threw the Whopper Plopper around but had no takers. Lost three other fish on the Pop R, and think one was a bowfin. Water was crystal clear and flowing out. Needless to say, when I recovered at 8 p.m., I was soaked to the bone. Decent trip, though."

Wednesday, May 24...From Ron: "The weather-guessers got it wrong, again! The forecast was for easterly winds at 9 mph; the reality was 15-plus from the north, so Tecumseh was a bad call. I launched anyway,  in the hope that it would die down, but it never did. The lake was a murky, choppy mess. Managed a 1-6 and a 1-10 bass, as well as two 7-inch white perch. A Pop R was the ticket. The bass were little fatties that appear to be eating well. Loon Court still is closed so had to use the dirt road off Bullpup Road, which was a muddy mess of high grass, deep puddles, and a difficult launch. At least, I didn't get skunked."

Thursday, May 25...From Ron: "Launched upper West Neck at 4 p.m. and fished 'til I was stormed out at 5:30. Caught a decent 1-15 bass and had an explosive blowup on the Pop R with a big chain pickerel that I lost yakside. After the storm passed, went back out at 7 p.m. and managed to find a couple dinks. Lost a few better ones and landed a sunfish, again all on Pop R. Water clarity improved drastically AFTER the storm! Still was flowing in at recovery, 8:20 p.m. Gauge was very high. Had to limbo under the Indian River Road Bridge--a first."

Friday, May 26...From Ron: "Fished Lake Bradford this morning, but the wind was unbearable. Very murky. Caught one dink before calling it quits at 1000. Launched upper North Landing about 4:30 p.m., and the gauge was 3.5. The culvert was stacked with stripers, as the water was flowing out at a good clip, and after four of them, I headed to No Name Creek. Caught two wee dink crappie and a 1-7 bass. While heading back through the culvert, near the drawbridge, at sunset, I caught three more stripers. Had one "keeper," but he wiggled out of my grasp. Was about 20 or 21 inches. Great fight. XTS got the stripers, beetlespin got the crappie, and Pop R got the bass. Wind laid down to nonexistent near sunset, and it was a beautiful evening."

Saturday, May 27...From Ron: "Went to Rudee Inlet from 0800 to 1400 and participated in the cleanup til' about 1000, then fished and caught a big fat skunk. What you can't see in the picture is the half sofa cushion I was dragging behind me on my lip grip as it was too heavy to lift out of the water! Sure did make for slow progress. I estimate I was loaded up with about 50 lbs. of trash, not including the cushion!"

Sunday, May 28...From Ray: My son, Barry, and I had a most enjoyable trip on West Neck today. Using ultra light gear, with 4-pound-test line, we ended up with 43 fish. Included were two bass (.14 oz. the largest), with the rest crappie, blue gill, and white and yellow perch. Most of the fish were small, but there were some nice ones in the bunch. The water still was high and clear in some areas. Highest water temperature was 75 degrees. The lures we used were crankbaits, grubs and small spinnerbaits (1/6-oz. jig head, with a 2-inch grub and a #3 gold blade).

Sunday, May 28...From Ron: Launched Munden Pt. Park at 0700. Crossed and entered Snake Creek south. Fished the length of it and caught about 20 white perch (six keepers in the 10.5- to 12.5-inch range, the rest tiny). Also caught crappie, sunfish, a catfish, and two bass (1-7 and 2-10). Caught almost everything on the Pop-R, except for the catfish (beetlespin) and the 2-10 bass, which fell to the Whopper Plopper near Milldam. Exited via Milldam and back to Munden Pt. about 2 p.m. Very light boat/jet-ski traffic for the weekend, and I was thankful for that. Friend I was with had similar results but ended up catching a nice 25.5-inch bowfin on his Pop-R. Was a great day, and the tacos were yummy! Traveled about 7 miles and enjoyed the cloud cover. Prefer the white perch over the crappie, as it is "firmer," and the fillets fit just right in a 6-inch taco tortilla.