Had a great morning today. Unlike yesterday, there was no need to get off the dock before a decent amount of light, fog, and with no fog the ride to the Happy Hunting grounds was a relaxing one. To make things even better my first cast was immediately crashed by a 30" striper who, like all the fish caught today, was quickly released. Bite continued until slack water, and never really built after that, but who cares? Ended with 15 from 22 - 33" fish including the aforementioned 30, along with a pair of 33" fish. One of my best days this season, and the second day in a row with at least a Hat Trick of 28+" fish.
But I digress. Part of today's trip was an experiment. My brother has been touting the wonders of the Yozuri Hydro Pencil, having great success in the surf of RI with this lure. Yes, I do like to try different lures, but past experience in the waters I fish clearly suggest that the most effective topwater are sinkers, like my sacred Creek Chub Striper Strike. Since the Yozuri is a floater, I was skeptical, but interested in giving it a fair shot.
Water conditions today were glass-like, so calm that one can tell if a fish is even "farting in the general direction" of a surface lure. After I had caught a few on the CC, and virtually every cast was generating interested in that popper, I decided to try the Yozuri. After 3 casts with absolutely no interest, I went back to the CC, and BAM, it was fish on! Sorry Little Bro, your favorite is NFG up here...
The key observation this AM was that almost every hit on the CC was on the drop back as the plug sank below the surface. Many hits occurred with absolutely no warning, the fish just crashing the plug below the surface. Later on, when fish got a bit pickier I tried the Yozuri again, and it generated some interest, and even a light hit, but no hookup. Bottom line is that the CC outfished the Yozuri 15 to Zip A Dee Doo Dah.
YTD Summary: 201 total bass caught, 27 in the 28-31" slot, of which 6 came home for dinner with us. I've caught, and released 6 fish >31", only one of which was >35", my Maine PB of 37".
But I digress. Part of today's trip was an experiment. My brother has been touting the wonders of the Yozuri Hydro Pencil, having great success in the surf of RI with this lure. Yes, I do like to try different lures, but past experience in the waters I fish clearly suggest that the most effective topwater are sinkers, like my sacred Creek Chub Striper Strike. Since the Yozuri is a floater, I was skeptical, but interested in giving it a fair shot.
Water conditions today were glass-like, so calm that one can tell if a fish is even "farting in the general direction" of a surface lure. After I had caught a few on the CC, and virtually every cast was generating interested in that popper, I decided to try the Yozuri. After 3 casts with absolutely no interest, I went back to the CC, and BAM, it was fish on! Sorry Little Bro, your favorite is NFG up here...
The key observation this AM was that almost every hit on the CC was on the drop back as the plug sank below the surface. Many hits occurred with absolutely no warning, the fish just crashing the plug below the surface. Later on, when fish got a bit pickier I tried the Yozuri again, and it generated some interest, and even a light hit, but no hookup. Bottom line is that the CC outfished the Yozuri 15 to Zip A Dee Doo Dah.
YTD Summary: 201 total bass caught, 27 in the 28-31" slot, of which 6 came home for dinner with us. I've caught, and released 6 fish >31", only one of which was >35", my Maine PB of 37".
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