We fished out of the Chicopee ramp on the CT river on Sunday. Nice day, we thought the ramp would be loaded with shad and striper fishermen. It was not. Water was 64 at launch and it was partly cloudy all day. It did get quite muggy and warm in the afternoon. The cotton woods were just starting to shed the fluff into the river.
Ran to spot 1 and started seeing a few fish here and there cruising. Then found a couple on beds. I had to work them quite a bit to get them to take the bait good. Switching up baits was the key. If one thing aggrevated them but they would not eat it good show them something else. I was using tubes, a Yum Crawbug and a shakeyhead. Most fish I had to work 10-15 minutes to get a good hook in them. Several I hooked 2 or three times and lost them before I got them hooked good enough to get them to the boat.
Worked up and down the bank all day searching for more bedding fish, throwing search baits in between. I hooked up with a nice Largemouth in a laydown tree but the hook pulled on me, probably a 4+ lb fish. Both myself and my non boater got a good look at it and agreed it was probably over 4. It ended up costing me the tournament. I later caught a 2 lb largemouth off the same tree on a jig and pig.
I ended up with 4 smallies and one largie for 9.36 lbs and the winner had 10.86 lbs. All in all a good day though! I fished in Mass and CT waters.
Next one at Otis Res in two weeks.
http://baystatebassanglers.org/Ct River Chicopee2009.htm
Ran to spot 1 and started seeing a few fish here and there cruising. Then found a couple on beds. I had to work them quite a bit to get them to take the bait good. Switching up baits was the key. If one thing aggrevated them but they would not eat it good show them something else. I was using tubes, a Yum Crawbug and a shakeyhead. Most fish I had to work 10-15 minutes to get a good hook in them. Several I hooked 2 or three times and lost them before I got them hooked good enough to get them to the boat.
Worked up and down the bank all day searching for more bedding fish, throwing search baits in between. I hooked up with a nice Largemouth in a laydown tree but the hook pulled on me, probably a 4+ lb fish. Both myself and my non boater got a good look at it and agreed it was probably over 4. It ended up costing me the tournament. I later caught a 2 lb largemouth off the same tree on a jig and pig.
I ended up with 4 smallies and one largie for 9.36 lbs and the winner had 10.86 lbs. All in all a good day though! I fished in Mass and CT waters.
Next one at Otis Res in two weeks.
http://baystatebassanglers.org/Ct River Chicopee2009.htm