Cottage report overdue

Hi Gang

W have made it to our cottage 2 times so far this year. the first trip was not muchnin the way of fishing, but more in dealing with repairs like a broken water pump, broken intake lines and some minor roof damage.....also a massive mole infestation that destroyed what little lawn we had on top of that my ouboard had some big issues



happy to state that all of that was eventually replaced or repaired so all good now

the best surprise we had was zero mice in the building and that's great


so second trip up was more about relaxing with family and getting out for some fishing. weather for most part was great with cool mornings and pleasant day temperatures we left just as that massive heat wave came in cause I do not enjoy 30 plus temperatures anymore at all


So for the past few years I have been focusing on honing in on sight fishing and topwater fishin

The topwater fishing was okay but the sight fishing was incredible with some mornings producing over 30 decent fish easily best was 45 from 8-10.30 am and all those fish on one plastic bait, meaning the same one. I should not have bragged about to everyone else because that same afternoon evening I lost 4 baits in 4 casts and a pain to retie but it is what it is.

The most memorable event happened one evening as I came back to our bay, some 100 feet from the dock casting top waters I thought I made a perfect cast and at the same time heard a huge slurp behind me on the surface so I naturally turned to see what's up........ while doing that turn I heard a loud smash to where I had just cast and did an instant hook set only to be shocked to see that an owl had flown down to hit the topwater........the next few minutes was just chaos cause I wanted my lure back but also did not wish to injure the own so a battle of yanking it back into the water every time it tried to get air born ensued...this went on for I know not how long cause I was kind of in shock and awe.


I had a big towel at my ready and decided to jus reel that thing close to the boat and try to toss the towel over it so I could release it, but 6-7 feet from the boat it just suddenly dropped the topwater and flew off. Wow, I was so happy it all ended well and the only regret I have is that I could not get a video of this lifetime event Never forget that one. So a long wordy post, but I do have a few pics for you all

more sight fishing

another

and

that's some of the bigger ones on crush city


same bait also provided our traditional rock bass dinner

I don't fish those baits the traditional way, but rater with a split shot and then just a good hook.....distance from hook to split shot varies throughout the day or even day to day when sight fishing


also have to be patient and stealthy... I still make some mistakes but learning more every outing



floro leader with braid backing/main line. shimano reel and medium lite st Croix 7 foot rod

Some nice bass you got there good job

Nice fish and cool story about the one that got/flew away. Probably the same species of owl that flew down and smacked me in the head last year. There is a few videos out there of exactly what happened to you. They don't fish like Osprey, but some owls do fish.

Wow, such a cool Owl encounter. I have had a similar deal with a loon picking up my dead minnow off bottom, however I did not get as close to it. Some nice largemouth you got too

had a similar experience with a tern, it came in and grabbed my minnow I had casted out. I and it got lucky that the hook only set in the beak. I reeled him in and that was a great fight and a bunch of other boats all stopped to watch, but they all thought I had a fish on, no one took note of the rod bending up instead of down. I landed him and gently removed hook and let it fly away. I will always remember that catch.

Awesome report with pictures thanks for posting I miss those large mouth bass !!

thanks....we really enjoy our time there

Seen a lot of memorable things on the water, but that one will stick in the top 10 for sure......It

got close enough to id it it.......great horned owl, and those are not small. Just really happy no injuries to owl or myself

Yuup. birds can be tricky lol. I will never forget fishing with my Dad a long tome ago in the Carribean when a Frigate bird swooped down and grabbeb my lure.......10 seconds later it spiraled up and spooled me with no problem lol

Thanks Sparky........I went out for lake trout 2 times and went 0 for 7 a new record for me lol


they all got off a few feet from the boat when they trash around........it's okay though as I would have released them all anyhow........too big for my pfrerence


lots of fun though, 3 trolling and 4 jigging