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February Largemouth
This is the first year in a long time where I have tried to catch some largies. I only usually get about 4 or 5 days a year on lakes other than the ones I have a tournament on.
I was succesfull I caught 4 the first time out! I picked a small lake that Chad Simon recommended on another thread called Whitman. I grew up no more than 10 minutes from this lake but I had always thought it closed and opened on the trout opener, but thanks to Tom Edwards he kindly let me know that it was indeed open.
So here was the deal I called my dad earlier in the Day on the 22nd of Feb. and told him I had an hour to fish and if he could hook up his boat and meet me at the launch at a little after 3 I was in. So I rushed home after work and grabbed one rod with a jig tied on and stuffed another into my pocket. I knew I did not have much time I had to be home at 5. Luckily for me I live about 15 minutes from the lake now.
Since the lake is so small I started fishing right at the ramp on the south shoreline, I did not spend much time at all on the south shoreline since typically the south and west shores usually get the least amount of sun. I was in a hurry to get to what is usually the best shoreling on any lake earlier in the year, the North East shoreline, where the sun shine on the longest and typically has the warmest water. So I quickly pitched my way up the lake getting to the northend where I caught my first fish.
A little while a catch my 2nd fish of the day it was little (14"). about 10 yards away I catch my third fish
In another 20yards I catch my 4th fish
Since the lake was dark, I used a 3/8 oz. black and blue jig with a super thick skirt in order to get a slower rate of fall. I guess my thought process worked out ok, my best Feb. largie outing and the best day as far as quality goes on that particular lake.
The Following weekend Feb.28th I hooked up with Mike Bess and we went fishing for the day. We hit to lakes, which won't be mentioned, It is not my info to share I went with him. The first was a small clear weedy lake, it took us 45 minutes to pitch are way around it. It wasn't until we got to the northeast shoreline until we saw the first fish, it was a good one, then we spooked another good one and we were back to the ramp.
On to the next lake, this next lake was probably twice or three times the size, it had great tanic colored water. We started on the east shoreline and worked are way north. When we got to the Northeast corner of the lake we spooked are first fish and then another then I finally caught one under a dock.
25 yards further I see a big one move off the bank and another 50 yards Mike catches one.
We fish the whole entire rest of the lake without seeing or catching another fish.
So for the conclusion of this, I would like to point out the obvious of the patterns for these small lakes, fish the Northeast or east ends. This will be the warmest water on the lake. Also I did not put too many details how the fish were postitioned or cover or anything like that because I could write on for days. A hard bottom and deep water access probably helped as well. Just get out there and have some fun!
Views: 752
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on
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I need to go largemouth fishing! Ron you got me jealous for sure those sound like some fun days of pitching. I am hopefully going to make it to the east side over spring break and get my first Largie on my first trip over there in 2010.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Peters on
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Thanks for the write up Ron. I have not been to Whitman in at least 5 years. Last time I was there the ramp was marginal at best and there was no way to get anything other than a rowboat into the lake. How is the ramp now? Any difficulties launching or pulling your boat out?
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Permalink Reply by Zackery Shaff on
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Nice post Ron. I know you had limited time to prepare for your trip, but were you able to try faster moving techniques? I have had pretty good success this time of year on Largemouth with things like chatterbaits, swim jigs, and swimming some plastics. On most days (especially if there is cloud cover) I have found these techniques to outproduce flippin/pitchin quite often this time of year. I'm not 100% condfident of the reason I have better success, but I feel it is has a lot to do with covering more water and not letting the fish stare at the bait too long. I know you like to have some proof that it works, so I'll post a pic of my PB largie caught in early March 2 years ago on a phenix vibrating jig with a swimsenko trailer. Still haven't caught a largie this year, but this weekend is looking promising =).
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BigFishy1.jpg, 83 KB
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Bye on
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Nice job and thanks for the info.
I often take my son up to Whitman but have never caught anything even close
to what you got. Good to know theirs some quality bass in there. -
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Permalink Reply by Spencer Durand on
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I live within walking distance of Whitman. Lots of good places to fish just never had fished it. Great pics. Those whitman pigs would be a good tourny bag.
Kevin Bye said:Nice job and thanks for the info.
I often take my son up to Whitman but have never caught anything even close
to what you got. Good to know theirs some quality bass in there. -
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Permalink Reply by Chad Simon on
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I fished Whitman with a buddy for two hours Sunday morning, and I had him throwing chatterbaits. I threw a black 3/8oz jig, and neither one of us got bit! I would have much rather fished later in the afternoon, but we had to get back for the race.... Water was 46-48 degrees, and I'm sure warmed up quite a bit later in the day. We never even saw a fish, but timing can be everything this time of year!
Zackery Shaff said:Nice post Ron. I know you had limited time to prepare for your trip, but were you able to try faster moving techniques? I have had pretty good success this time of year on Largemouth with things like chatterbaits, swim jigs, and swimming some plastics. On most days (especially if there is cloud cover) I have found these techniques to outproduce flippin/pitchin quite often this time of year. I'm not 100% condfident of the reason I have better success, but I feel it is has a lot to do with covering more water and not letting the fish stare at the bait too long. I know you like to have some proof that it works, so I'll post a pic of my PB largie caught in early March 2 years ago on a phenix vibrating jig with a swimsenko trailer. Still haven't caught a largie this year, but this weekend is looking promising =). -
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The launch has improved since the last time you were there. I didn't need 4 wheel drive, so that was nice!
Mike Peters said:Thanks for the write up Ron. I have not been to Whitman in at least 5 years. Last time I was there the ramp was marginal at best and there was no way to get anything other than a rowboat into the lake. How is the ramp now? Any difficulties launching or pulling your boat out? -
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Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on
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Sounds like fun, Ron. It is especially nice being out on the lake when no other boats are around. You gave me a neck ache looking at those photo's!
ciao,
Marc -
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Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on
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Ok I fixed it I guess I was just being lazy last night.
Marc Marcantonio said:Sounds like fun, Ron. It is especially nice being out on the lake when no other boats are around. You gave me a neck ache looking at those photo's!
ciao,
Marc -
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Thanks for the update Chad. Plan is to head out there on Sunday with my son.
Chad Simon said:The launch has improved since the last time you were there. I didn't need 4 wheel drive, so that was nice!
Mike Peters said:Thanks for the write up Ron. I have not been to Whitman in at least 5 years. Last time I was there the ramp was marginal at best and there was no way to get anything other than a rowboat into the lake. How is the ramp now? Any difficulties launching or pulling your boat out? -
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