We had few marks where we caught our fish Saturday. A guy working with us struggled for a while while we limited. At midday he started running 80 to 100' leads and that got them their fish.

 

Same for us, couldn't hit the lake until about 3 oclock. Had good reports from the morning from 2 other boats. We marked fish up high but couldn't get anything going. Ended up with 1 29 inch fish and lost another half way in. East wind and dropping temps must have shut them down.

 

We struggled on Sat. also. We were running DHJ12's back 40' and I think that was our problem (we should have been running them 70'-100'). We ran them back 40' on Friday and limited in 2 hours. I blame myself for not being more flexible.

 

Of course I didn't expect to figure out a program in the small amount of time I fished, but I thought I'd at least find good marks. I was running my huskies 70 to 90 back. No dice

 

We had a slow start but then changed a few things up and we started catching. Moved DHJ out to 60-65 and P10's to 20/20 which seemed to help BUT the biggest success for us was dropping speed to 0.9-1.0 and trolling with the wind. Had doubles and triples on 4 lines when we ran that direction but nothing when we went on the same line the other direction. As soon as we turned around and went with the wind again we started catching them again.

 

We picked 5 up around g can early. Once the fog lifted people finally statred moving around and fishing turned off. We moved and had Less boats by e can and more active fish. 2 of us got 22. With the amount of people that were out and all the running I think the fish pushed further in the firing range where most boats weren't at and where they weren't going to see 100 lures in 20 mins. Just like ice fishing up there once the machines come close and augers start drilling the fishing slows down.

By the time you got there at 2 those fish were so scattered.

 

I know you only had an hour, however, as difficult as it is with only 2 change is key. We fished Saturday east of B can and did not see a boat for at least a mile away from us. Found a small pod of fish and worked them. Caught our limit all within 1/4 radius of one spot. Anywhere from 47-100 back.

 

We did good early and thought we had a good thing going . After 1130 we couldn't catch a fish . Tried a few different areas , changed up baits . Couldn't get on get marks anywhere . I'm sure people did good some places in the afternoon , but it seemed that as a whole the fish turned off.
In the AM we had a good DHJ bite at 60-70 back , Bandits at 40 . Mid morning we pulled 3 quick on P10 no weight 55 back....then the bottom dropped out for us

 

Changing from purple and pinks on short leads to clown on long leads worked for us after the fog lifted. Stayed with our fish.

 

I was in a pile of boats for a while and the marks got less and less. As the pack moved out away it seemed like the fish got more active and I started seeing more marks. I am sure all those boats take a toll on them and push them down.

 

The bite was really good for us from first light until noon. Bait and color didn't matter. Only picked up 2 after 12:00 called it a day at 1:00.

 

I thought I was the only one that struggled! We didn't get on the water until 130 or so and didn't even have a board think about going back. You need a day like that from now and again to keep everything in perspective. Just hopefully not too often [emoji16]

 

Popped two right away, then hit a dry spell. Made a few phone calls and got a hot tip from a fellow Ogf buddy. Switched up some colors and lengthened the leads, moved to a little better spot and limited out in no time...

 

Did you go where I told you? We started around F can in the morning and had good marks....caught one and then nothing.....lots of chasers with no takers.....ran to C can away from everyone....DEAD zone....went SW to the reef's with no prevail......decided to run into the pack where we have had success before and set lines.....didn't get the third board out and had a taker....solid 8lb fish.....took on a line and went around quarter mile and turned around and kept going back and forth....each time pulling fish one time pulling a double. Had to move off our line a couple times on a few guys watching us catch fish and moving straight over and taking our path....REALLY annoying. Ended up hooking what I thought was our limbo fish and couldn't gain anything on it.....literally....sunk the board and was making huggeee headshakes....biggest fish ive ever tried to reel in.....after around 3 minutes of not gaining anything and it continually randomly pulling drag I tried to tighten the drag a little bit and put some pressure on her and it popped.....makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it....that's fishing though! Would of loved to seen her. Didn't take 5 minutes and I caught another one on my side and had the limits. Buddy wanted to reel in another fish so we turned around and it was a minute after turning and his inside board took.....was an awesome 1.5hr. Soon as the sun came out though the wind laid down a little bit and it was game on! 55-65 back....Barbie and Iridescent took all fish....Iri took 5 fish alone and all big fish in that 1.5 hrs. Tried yesterday and marks were GOOONNNEEEEEEE!!! Ran to the same spot....checked in the small pack, went tight south of Catawba and right off the ramps.....maybe had 5 marks total in 3 hours. Good luck this season guys and gals!

 

Bet that big fight that got away was a tail hooked sheephead....just sayn..

 

Our key was keep changing- did ok in the fog dhj @60-80- after sun got up and fog lifted p-10s 15/15 to 30/30 and bandits 40- 70 went off- best 5 over 57+ lbs on the boga

 

I think I saw a picture of your fish? If you know Dave? He sent me your picture. Those are some real hogs! Way to get'em!

 

Ya man I feel ya.....where we started had some pretty solid marks and couldn't get much too go....when the fog rolled in besides almost getting ran over twice it was pretty slow. This rain should really mess some stuff up out there!

 

Is anyone having any luck running reef runners. Headed out this weekend and rr's are all I have to offer.

 

We didn't get on the water until 8:30 but had a 30+" and a stout 28" on the first pass (still foggy).

We adjusted to the clear water and sunshine with subtle colors and longer leads and picked at 5 more by 1pm. Then we ran out of fish on our waypoints. We were mostly alone in South Passage to this point. Went searching around Niagara, Cone, G, etc. and no more for us. Tried jigging in a few spots and had some come off bottom all the way up to 10 feet but couldn't convert. Keeps us humble and eager to come back ASAP!

 

Nothing will drive me nuts more than the radio being lit up by a pack of limit reports, seeing nets going in all around and I can't buy a pull back... but they are easily offset by the occasional trip where we're one of the few boats doing the catching ...

 

Haha, for sure!

 

Majority of people use 1 oz with p10s. If they're using a 2 most of the time they will mention it.

Here's a bandit