St. Helen 8-10-2013

[Big dreams]

Blue bird skies with light to moderate winds during the day.  Water temps in the low 70's and water clarity was roughly 2-3 feet. 

The morning bite had some hits in the lillipads.  Caught a few short fish here and also on docks once the sun came up.  The only keeper fish I could find was out in the middle of the lake in 5 feet of water fishing the weed lines.  I had a hard time finding green grass.  The ones that did hit did not hit hard.  They were similar to snagging grass.

No bites or anything in water over 5 feet.

[detroit1]

I fished there about 20 years ago and remember catching nothing but hammer-handle pike and lots of them. They still may have no length limit on pike.

[Big dreams]

I only caught one or two hammer handles there this time.  I haven't been there in a few years but I thought there were more drops in the lake.  Two areas that I caught bass in were under docks (short bass) and out in the open weeds fishing in 5 feet of water.  They were in the lillipads however, I had a hard time hooking up.  They kept grabbing the bait and I would set the hook too soon.  It is an interesting place to fish for sure.

[fishstick]

I was up there a few years ago for the 4th of July, brought the boat up and spent a little time on the water. I caught them frogging, dock fishing, topwater, and found a sweet grass flipping bite out in the lake. Even found a couple nice smallies while I was there. I remember a lot of hammerhandle pike too!

[Big dreams]

That is basically where they were.  The problem is finding the keeper size fish.  I am sure there is a spot on the lake someplace that is loaded with bass.  Trick is to find that one or two spots.  Also, I did not know that lake had any smallies?  Seriously?  Where at lol?

[fishstick]

I caught them off docks on the big lake, did not expect to find them there either. But 3lb smallies off docks are always a nice surprise!

[Big dreams]

That's impressive.  If I would have known smallies were in there, I would have fished a little deeper.  Next time