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3 species @ St. Mary's Lake, 12/17
Got my December fish with 2 weeks to spare. 
I couldn't decide where to fish today, but I was getting antsy about getting my December fish. I figured St. Mary's Lake would be a good bet even if the fish are small, and I wouldn't have to cover 10+ miles. Also, I was really hoping to find some pickerel.
I waited for things to warm up and ended up launching just before noon. The wind was blowing 15-20, which was 10mph more than predicted. All the sunny spots I wanted to fish were in the wind. I tried jigging and trolling, but I wanted some shelter and headed for a cove that usually holds winter fish.
After a long while, I picked up a 9"+ yellow perch, which was really cool to see:
I've heard of people catching them there, but that's my first one in the lake. It hit a 2" fire tiger floating Rapala. I should call that lure the "St. Mary's Special" because I've caught a lot of winter fish on it. Anyway, that one fish transformed me from an idiot freezing his butt off to rugged winter angler skillfully stalking his quarry.
I also had small bass in the same area. The Rapala fouled when I casted it, and I was popping it trying to untangle it without having to reel it in. It untangled, and the bass hit it as I started reeling. However, I lost the fish at the boat because the hook were still tangled.
I kept poking around and ended up at a pickerel-y looking spot. I cast the Rapala toward a good ambush point, and a 16" pickerel hit it as I reeled it past the point:
That was pretty rewarding. I thought there should be a pickerel there, I had a good cast, and I could tell it was a pickerel as soon as it hit.
I also picked up another little bass in the same area and actually landed it:
According to my sonar, the water temp was 46*, but the air temp was below that, especially with the wind. I definitely didn't dress warm enough because the forecast was for mostly sunny, and it was completely cloudy the entire time. Anyway, I was glad to get out and get my December fish, and it was way more satisfying than staying home and doing yard work.
I couldn't decide where to fish today, but I was getting antsy about getting my December fish. I figured St. Mary's Lake would be a good bet even if the fish are small, and I wouldn't have to cover 10+ miles. Also, I was really hoping to find some pickerel.
I waited for things to warm up and ended up launching just before noon. The wind was blowing 15-20, which was 10mph more than predicted. All the sunny spots I wanted to fish were in the wind. I tried jigging and trolling, but I wanted some shelter and headed for a cove that usually holds winter fish.
After a long while, I picked up a 9"+ yellow perch, which was really cool to see:
I've heard of people catching them there, but that's my first one in the lake. It hit a 2" fire tiger floating Rapala. I should call that lure the "St. Mary's Special" because I've caught a lot of winter fish on it. Anyway, that one fish transformed me from an idiot freezing his butt off to rugged winter angler skillfully stalking his quarry.
I also had small bass in the same area. The Rapala fouled when I casted it, and I was popping it trying to untangle it without having to reel it in. It untangled, and the bass hit it as I started reeling. However, I lost the fish at the boat because the hook were still tangled.
I kept poking around and ended up at a pickerel-y looking spot. I cast the Rapala toward a good ambush point, and a 16" pickerel hit it as I reeled it past the point:
That was pretty rewarding. I thought there should be a pickerel there, I had a good cast, and I could tell it was a pickerel as soon as it hit.
I also picked up another little bass in the same area and actually landed it:
According to my sonar, the water temp was 46*, but the air temp was below that, especially with the wind. I definitely didn't dress warm enough because the forecast was for mostly sunny, and it was completely cloudy the entire time. Anyway, I was glad to get out and get my December fish, and it was way more satisfying than staying home and doing yard work.
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