St Mary’s lake 5/2

[ShaunGT]

Fished from 1230-530. Overall the bite was off with a lot of short strikes. Started fishing from the left side of the launch to the back of the first creek arm. Very few bites and only one crappie to show. I had a large bass chase my lure to the boat twice but didn’t hookup. I saw one other nice bass that seemed to be focused on a bed. Switched sides of the lake and fished across from the ramp where the banks are undercut. I caught 4 pickerel and missed 3 others including one large one at the boat side. All fish were caught on a yozuri pins minnow jerkbait. The pickerel seemed to prefer areas where two types of cover came together. The large pickerel was hooked around a school of bluegill that were popping bugs dropping from a tree. A very erratic retrieve enticed the most strikes. I could see and feel other fish grab my bait during the retrieve but not hook up. Tough bite but beautiful conditions.


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[Big Mike]

I've found the bite in St Mary's to be much better early in the day (like a lot of fresh water I guess). I will notice a slow down around 9 with it progressively getting worse after that. I applaud you catching fish mid-day.

I've never done well to the left of the launch and up that first arm. I like to head all the way up to the head of the lake and work the creek channel in the middle or I head to the cove across the lake from the launch to the right just before the big arm near the dam. There is a ledge at 5' that runs the length of that cove that holds bass and crappie fairly consistently. In the big arm near the dam once you work past the standing trees try working the creek channel in the middle. Everyone is pounding the structure on the shore while they float on top of where I catch my fish.

It is a beautiful lake to fish and big enough to make it easy to get away from other fisherman on the weekends.

[ShaunGT]

Yes sir I love that lake. Come to think of it you are absolutely right. I’ve been fishing it my whole life and have only rarely caught fish in that first arm to the left. It looks very fishy though. That creek does have one very good spot all the way in the back where most people give up long before getting to. Fishing is much better heading to the right and to the dam. Or left across the lake towards the stumps and the long creek arm much farther from the ramp.
It was cool a few years back when they dropped the water level so you could see more of the bottom contour.
It was a great day with my dad. Lots of memories! I grew up fishing it in a canoe. My first picture worthy bass came out of there 25 or so years ago. Yesterday i was happy just to not get skunked!


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