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Seth's planned tournament on Conesus was cancelled yesterday due to certain low turnout, but he and I hooked up today for our first December fishing this year. I met Seth at his house about 7:30, then made the 1/4 mile trip down to the launch 
Air temp was 23 degrees, with a decent breeze out of the northeast about 10-15 mph. We started at a place closeby to the launch. Water temp was 40-41 here. We drifted tubes for some time before I finally got the first hookup of the day, a smallmouth about 2 1/4 pounds, and subsequently the smallest of the day for us. Some more time was spent there, in that area, but no more fish. The fishing might be slow today, we thought.
From there we went south to another proven late Fall smallie haunt and began to drift. Water temp here 42. Before my tube even made it to the bottom, the ohhh so familiar thump was at the end of my line. A fine 3 pound plus smallie was landed. A short while later, Seth lands this chunk, estimated at 4 pounds take or give.
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Seth with the first quality fish of the day
By the time we finished this initial drift in this stretch, a few more fish were landed, mostly in the 3+ pound class. We knew the fish were here, so it was time to experiment. On the next drift, I tried the blade bait, and Seth popped a spoon. At the end of that drift, absolutely nothing to show for it, not even a hit. Back out came the tubes, and the catching began again!!! I believe it was at this time I got my first good quality fish of the day, probably pushing 4 pounds or so.
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Don't laugh at the hat, it was WARM!!!!
We were just getting done with that area, and I got a phone call. It was Rob!! He was in the area, and we all decided it would be great if he stopped by and went out for awhile. He could meet us at the launch about an hour later, around noon. We ran down to another proven southern stretch. We spent nearly an hour there, and not even a single bite. Uh-oh, did the bite quit just as we invite Rob out with us??? That would stink!
We met Rob at noon at the launch. Air temp rose way up to 25 or 26 degrees by this point, and the wind is more straight north now, and picked up a slight bit. Flurries in the air now and then, but nothing serious.
Up to the northern end. Water temp 40-41 degrees. Rob had zero equipment with him, but I had a spare dragging rod for him to use. He made good use of it, within moments, he landed a very nice 3 1/2 pounder. From there we each continued to catch a fish now and then for a couple more hours. Seth caught the biggest fish of the day up here, about 4 1/2 pounds. Another couple 4 pound class fish were caught by Rob and I to. (Rob took pictures of these, and will post them later!)
It was about 2:00, and Seth was having trouble with the trolling motor steering cables freezing up more often. Also, the trolling motor was getting froze in the down position at times. It was time to quit for the day. Our finger and toes were getting quite cold, but we had big ass smallie grins on our faces!!!
Was this our last day on Conesus for the season??? Well.....if it was, we ended on an awesome note!!! No complaints here.
Thanks Seth (and Lora), for the ride during the day, and the dinner and company at night!!!
Air temp was 23 degrees, with a decent breeze out of the northeast about 10-15 mph. We started at a place closeby to the launch. Water temp was 40-41 here. We drifted tubes for some time before I finally got the first hookup of the day, a smallmouth about 2 1/4 pounds, and subsequently the smallest of the day for us. Some more time was spent there, in that area, but no more fish. The fishing might be slow today, we thought.
From there we went south to another proven late Fall smallie haunt and began to drift. Water temp here 42. Before my tube even made it to the bottom, the ohhh so familiar thump was at the end of my line. A fine 3 pound plus smallie was landed. A short while later, Seth lands this chunk, estimated at 4 pounds take or give.
Seth with the first quality fish of the day
By the time we finished this initial drift in this stretch, a few more fish were landed, mostly in the 3+ pound class. We knew the fish were here, so it was time to experiment. On the next drift, I tried the blade bait, and Seth popped a spoon. At the end of that drift, absolutely nothing to show for it, not even a hit. Back out came the tubes, and the catching began again!!! I believe it was at this time I got my first good quality fish of the day, probably pushing 4 pounds or so.
Don't laugh at the hat, it was WARM!!!!
We were just getting done with that area, and I got a phone call. It was Rob!! He was in the area, and we all decided it would be great if he stopped by and went out for awhile. He could meet us at the launch about an hour later, around noon. We ran down to another proven southern stretch. We spent nearly an hour there, and not even a single bite. Uh-oh, did the bite quit just as we invite Rob out with us??? That would stink!
We met Rob at noon at the launch. Air temp rose way up to 25 or 26 degrees by this point, and the wind is more straight north now, and picked up a slight bit. Flurries in the air now and then, but nothing serious.
Up to the northern end. Water temp 40-41 degrees. Rob had zero equipment with him, but I had a spare dragging rod for him to use. He made good use of it, within moments, he landed a very nice 3 1/2 pounder. From there we each continued to catch a fish now and then for a couple more hours. Seth caught the biggest fish of the day up here, about 4 1/2 pounds. Another couple 4 pound class fish were caught by Rob and I to. (Rob took pictures of these, and will post them later!)
It was about 2:00, and Seth was having trouble with the trolling motor steering cables freezing up more often. Also, the trolling motor was getting froze in the down position at times. It was time to quit for the day. Our finger and toes were getting quite cold, but we had big ass smallie grins on our faces!!!
Was this our last day on Conesus for the season??? Well.....if it was, we ended on an awesome note!!! No complaints here.
Thanks Seth (and Lora), for the ride during the day, and the dinner and company at night!!!
