We had nearly a mini-Meet & Greet this morning at Jonas Green. When I arrived at 7:15, I could not even park with my tailgate to the grass because all the first-row spaces were filled. Mark, Yak67, mccray44, and MikeMike were there along with a guy named Joe and his daughter. They planned to fish from a tandem Hobie. There were two other guys already on the water when I arrived.
I proceeded to the location that had produced steadily for me during the previous three trips. I quickly caught a 15” striper there on the first pass, but had no more bites over the next 30 mins and continued on to a second spot. I made several passes through that area before finding six fish there including a 22” and a 27”. I brought the 27” fish onboard for a photo and used my fish grips.
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After taking the photo, I prepared to release the fish. I accidentally knocked my Hawg Trough in the water. I should have realized that the trough would float, but I instinctively reached out to grab it. In doing so, I let go of the Fish Grips and the fish. I watched the fish slowly swim down and away with the grips on its jaw. I hope the grips fall off soon so the fish can feed normally. If any Snaggedline members catches a fish with off-white Fishgrips, you can keep them, but please let me know where you caught the fish.
As I returned to Jonas Green, I had a strong strike. While winding that in a second rod went down. I wound in a 24” on the first line and a 21” on the second line. I circled back and ran through the same zone again – two more fish over 20”.
I attached two screen shots to show that the fish were bunched in just a few areas. If I moved even a short distance away from those hot zones, I did not get bitten. I covered 8 miles today but got 10 of the 12 fish in just these two small zones.
The first screen shot has a 200’ scale bar in the lower right corner. I marked waypoints on three of the fish I caught – the others were in the same area too.
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The second screen shot shows the tiny circular path I followed near the end of the trip – the scale bar here is 100’. Inside that tight circle, I caught four 20”+ fish in 10 mins.
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I finished with 12 stripers including several at 20”, and others at 21”, 22”, 23”, 24”, and 27”. 11 of the 12 fish hit a 12 Fathom 4” Fat Sam mullet in pearl or light gold color on ¾-oz jighead. During most of the year I use a 3" Fat Sam mullet. During the spring, I use the longer and brawnier 4" version.
004.jpg
Once again, the 5” Storm Shad was not touched. I am done with that lure for a while – it produced only one modest fish in four trips. Last week I bought two new St. Croix rods. Today was the first time I used a 6'6" Premier medium action, fast power rod. It caught more than half of all the fish today, including the largest ones. It proved itself well on its maiden voyage.
I proceeded to the location that had produced steadily for me during the previous three trips. I quickly caught a 15” striper there on the first pass, but had no more bites over the next 30 mins and continued on to a second spot. I made several passes through that area before finding six fish there including a 22” and a 27”. I brought the 27” fish onboard for a photo and used my fish grips.
001.jpg
After taking the photo, I prepared to release the fish. I accidentally knocked my Hawg Trough in the water. I should have realized that the trough would float, but I instinctively reached out to grab it. In doing so, I let go of the Fish Grips and the fish. I watched the fish slowly swim down and away with the grips on its jaw. I hope the grips fall off soon so the fish can feed normally. If any Snaggedline members catches a fish with off-white Fishgrips, you can keep them, but please let me know where you caught the fish.
As I returned to Jonas Green, I had a strong strike. While winding that in a second rod went down. I wound in a 24” on the first line and a 21” on the second line. I circled back and ran through the same zone again – two more fish over 20”.
I attached two screen shots to show that the fish were bunched in just a few areas. If I moved even a short distance away from those hot zones, I did not get bitten. I covered 8 miles today but got 10 of the 12 fish in just these two small zones.
The first screen shot has a 200’ scale bar in the lower right corner. I marked waypoints on three of the fish I caught – the others were in the same area too.
003.jpg
The second screen shot shows the tiny circular path I followed near the end of the trip – the scale bar here is 100’. Inside that tight circle, I caught four 20”+ fish in 10 mins.
002.jpg
I finished with 12 stripers including several at 20”, and others at 21”, 22”, 23”, 24”, and 27”. 11 of the 12 fish hit a 12 Fathom 4” Fat Sam mullet in pearl or light gold color on ¾-oz jighead. During most of the year I use a 3" Fat Sam mullet. During the spring, I use the longer and brawnier 4" version.
004.jpg
Once again, the 5” Storm Shad was not touched. I am done with that lure for a while – it produced only one modest fish in four trips. Last week I bought two new St. Croix rods. Today was the first time I used a 6'6" Premier medium action, fast power rod. It caught more than half of all the fish today, including the largest ones. It proved itself well on its maiden voyage.
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