Northern Exposure to Sight Fishing

[berkleyboy]

I couldn't let the ice season go, without getting in just 1 more trip. I loaded up my truck and head North to Okoboji for the weekend. I knew that there was still 2 feet of ice left up there and that the late ice would be my chance to get into some good action. I spent most of Friday searching a bay for good standing vegtation that was probabely 300 yards long. I found some promising spots in 8-15 ft. of water and set up the Otter for an afternoon of action. I knew that with the gin clear water I would need to use natural colors like the white/black JIG in the smallest size that I could get away with. When I was fishing I could hear some guys talking around me about how they are seeing lots of fish but they won't touch it. I realized that the 100th oz. size of T.H.E. JIG would be the best possible choice for these finicky fish. I fished for about 5 hours Friday and ended up catching 21 nice keeper gills and they all went back. I focused my efforts on learning the art of sight fishing, which I must say can be very humbling.I really wanted to figure out how to catch those finicky fish. I had seen many different things from these fish. Some of them would come right in,look at the it and just suck in T.H.E. JIG, some would come close to T.H.E. JIG and after some enticing take the sampling, others would come in close, circle it, and after several seconds take it, some would come in,suck it in and spit it back out before you could set the hook, and then there were the fish that would just come in for a look and then swim off. I soon realized that I would need to ever so slightly work T.H.E. JIG to help seal the deal. I learned real fast that my best friend would be my LX5. I used my sonar to let me know when a fish was approaching, always looking down the hole, I started to look for the fish to see where it was, and kept my eyes on the fish to see if it was trying to suck in T.H.E. JIG and waited until the entire JIG was in it's mouth before setting the hook. It was really cool to sit there watching every reaction of the fish and they never knew I was there. I spent Saturday on a really good spot determined to catch some of these finicky fish and the results were very satisfying. I ended up keeping 16 big bullgills that were taken home. I also released 5 nice bass and 2 small perch for the day.

A good start to the day using T.H.E. JIG

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/th_HPIM0215.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/?action=view&current=HPIM0215.flv)

T.H.E. JIG strikes again
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/HPIM0207.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/HPIM0209.jpg

The bass just couldn't stay off T.H.E. JIG
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/HPIM0216.jpg

A very satisfying day bringing in the bullgills
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/th_HPIM0197.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/?action=view&current=HPIM0197.flv)

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/HPIM0184-1.jpg

My 16" Austin Lite rods were the perfect size to seal the deal on these fish

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/HPIM0203.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/HPIM0184-1.jpg

Fish just can't resist T.H.E. JIG
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/HPIM0214-1.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/HPIM0194.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/HPIM0191.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/HPIM0190.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/HPIM0184.jpg

I want to thank T.H.E. JIG, Austin Rods, MarCum Electronics, and Otter Outdoors for making such great products and for making my day so successful.
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/th_HPIM0220.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg245/coreysornson/?action=view&current=HPIM0220.flv)

It was a great experience and something I will defintiely do again. My fishing abilities were really challenged today and I will put what I have learned away for the next time

[CrappieKeith]

Fish not biting....well you most certainly did'nt have any issues with that.
Another story of how THE Jig Rocks!

[kevin]

Great job BB and way to make the most of a tough bite that was being had by other anglers...I have fished those lakes before and they are very tough with the gin clear water and to be able to capitalize on the fish the way you did, you definitely figured out how to coax them into biting T.H.E. Jig....great job and report...:party0045: