For the Week Ending Sunday, July 7, 2019

Tuesday, July 2 (from Dave & Ken)...It was as though we were reliving this past Saturday all over again...e.g., the bite was slow, there were lots of dinks, and the breeze that eventually developed around mid-morning appeared to be about the same speed, too. One difference: We were fishing a different area today. And we also managed to boat a few more keepers--nine today, compared to six last Saturday, but at less total weight for our best five today than we had Saturday. If I had to venture a guess about what's at play here, I would have to say it's probably that we're entering the dog days of summer. From now, on through all of August, there's a decent chance we'll see a lot of fishing days that will mimic what we've seen these last two. As Dave puts it, "We'll be 'grinding out' every single fish we catch." Incidentally, for those of you who will be mixing it up with everyone else on the water over this coming long Fourth of July weekend, don't forget to stay safe. I certainly don't want to hear about any casualties.

Tuesday, July 2 (from Ron)...Fished Back Bay in pursuit of bass but only caught one bowfin. The bowfin was the ONLY hit I got (Zoom Fluke). Technically a skunk? (Not according to a lot of guys who have explained the "skunk rule" to me, Ron. They claim you dodge a skunk with any kind of fish you catch. It's only when you come up with nothing that you have to take a skunk.) Tried plastics and topwater and just couldn't find a bite.

Wednesday, July 3 (from Ron)...Launched at 6:30 and struggled to find a bite on various plastics. Caught a few dinks, plus a 13- and 15-incher. About the time I needed my headlamp because I was having difficulty casting accurately to shoreline, I landed the one I wanted: a 4-7, 22.5-inch drag screamer. Thought it was a bowfin from the way he slammed the topwater. It was nice to find some bass.

Thursday, July 4 (from Ron)...Gauge was a bit too high on Thursday morning. Launched in a thick fog at 0700 from Munden point, long before the jet skiers and boats took over North Landing River. Navigated by google on the phone to find Milldam and fished 'till about noon. Almost nothing until about 1030, then found eight bass, but the biggest was only 15 inches. Problem with launching in a thick fog? Forgot my sunglasses and, by 0900, was squinting and trying to pull the ball cap down over my eyes. Will now add a  cheap pair of sunglasses to my limited load out. Have done this before when launching in the rain or predawn, only to have clear skies an hour later. Think I should have learned my lesson long ago.

Friday, July 5 (from Ron)...Fished upper North Landing from 6:30 to 9:20. Caught two 11-inch bass on plastics. Tried topwater with the new lure and a Pop R and could not get a sniff. The high water I do not like. With a 3.2 gauge, the fish usually are up in the hard-to-reach places. There's always tomorrow...just a matter of where?

Saturday, July 6 (from Ron)...Launched at Beggars Bridge and headed south to "Landing Cove"--a long trip. The cove was chock full of thick grass, and I couldn't find a sniff on plastics or topwater. Went back to Beggars Bridge Creek and found a few, including a 13-, 14-, 17-, and 19-inch bass (3-13), as well as a dink. All fell to a micro spinnerbait.

Sunday, July 7 (from Ron)...Fished West Neck, north of bridge, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Alex started the day with a nice 3-8, and I caught a 9.5-inch, but that was all. Very high water (3.4 on the gauge) and crystal clear. Tried everything everywhere, but just couldn't find 'em.