Splake Sunday, Had some ‘ballast’ today

Portaged in to where I was locked up with ice a couple weeks ago, and toured the lake - no strikes, no fish, dead zone. So hiked back outta there and drove a bit and portaged in to a place I’ve caught some fish before. Girlfriend provided some ballast up front, no need for rocks this trip. She caught one right away then we missed several hits, and took a long time to find out where the fish were gathered in numbers. Once we found them it was fast and furious action. Cool seeing them smashing at our jigs and swiping and missing too… almost sight fishing them. They fight bigger than their size for sure.

This is what they’re feeding on Knuguy, (like I said before). Stomachs packed tight with them. I call them chironomids, I don’t know if I’m accurate in the name, but they rise up from bottom, climb out of their little casings, dry out on the surface and fly away. If you see these little bluish casings half an inch long or so floating on the surface, there is a hatch happening not too far off.

Probably going to see how these turn out smoked, for something different.

Nice meat as always. Bug fed fish are always nice looking meat.

Ooooh, looks yummeee!

I did a bit of Googling. You are calling them by their right name. I have never caught fish with those in their gut and have never seen the little blue 'shells' you mention. Apparently there are thousand of different varieties of them and are the first insects to hatch in the spring.

My guess is that they were hatching in that small area where you caught all your fish last week.

BTW--It's ok to think 'ballast'. Just don't say it...unless you want to practice 'catch and release' on your girlfriend.

Nice, and that's a great haul of fish!

Info on chironomids - this article 100% explains what I’ve come to know in Algonquin lakes

https://www.gofishbc.com/Blog/Fishing-Tips/...ed-to-know.aspx

Nice looking haul of fish Drew.

Arnie

I have watched specks gorge on mayflies a bit later in spring. Dimples on the water as they float to the top. Useless to try worms then. What sort of lure or bait were you using for splake.

I wouldn’t say “useless to try worms then”

They’re always opportunistic and will strike at something else. Trolling with a spoon tipped with a 3” gulp minnow worked for me as more of a searching pattern, and once a hot spot was located, a 1/4oz jig head and same gulp minnow dropped to bottom between 12-30 f.o.w. worked.

Similar to this:

Thx for the info.

I didn't intend my statement re worms to be a categorical one---just my experience from many years ago. "your results may vary'

Nice catch Drew meat is perfect color enjoy

Nice job Drew, we struck out on the splake this past weekend.

Wow those fillets are beautiful. Nice splake.

Sounds like a ton of fun!

Well done. You are having a stellar spring!

Thanks for the report.