8-23-11 Tue

8-23-2011 Tue
6:00 PM – 10:30 PM

H2O: 6.75 falling, 49.6 kcfs, 75 ˚, clear
Weather: S7, clear, 77 ˚, 29.68 falling
Location: Mississippi R. pool 7 side channels directly off the main channel
Caught: Lots of bluegills for bait / Dillon – 10 lb. flat head, Tim – 20.5 & 27 lb. flat head
Partners: Tim and Dillon Leis

Comments

Tonight I was taking a co – worker and his son for some flat head action. Dillon is going into the fourth grade this fall and he has plenty of energy. When I met the father and son team at the landing I could tell Dillon was loaded with excitement. He told me he likes to fish and he was very excited to be going.
We started off fishing for bluegills at a spot I had discovered the other night. Dillon was the main bait catcher, and poor dad could not get the fish off quick enough and of course never did get to fish for bluegills himself.
After catching plenty of gills for bait, I decided it was time to give dad a little fishing time for bass. Of course, Dillon strongly objected to this. It is hard for a young boy to leave a spot where the fish are almost jumping into the boat to go into the unknown and possibly not catch any fish. We fished for bass for about thirty minutes with very limited success, but at least Tim was able to make a cast or two.
We started off flat head fishing a large scour hole on a side channel off the main channel. Tonight was a special night and I was grilling burgers and potatoes in foil. I knew we would eat well and with any luck we would catch a flat sometime during the grilling process. After about thirty minutes of fishing and grilling it was fish on. Since Dillon was the youngest guest on the boat I handed the rod and tugging fish to him. I soon realized he needed immediate assistance or else the pole or both he and the pole were headed for the deep. After a brief battle with a broken reel our first flat was smiling for the camera. Dillon was quite apprehensive of these large creatures of the deep and did not want to get any closer to the fish than he absolutely had to.
After a nice meal I decided it was time to pack the poles in and move to another spot. Just as we were getting ready to organize things before bringing the poles in one of them got slammed. The sound was unmistakable, it was a definite hit and it was done with some force. Tim handled the fish perfectly during the brief battle. Shortly Tim, Dillon and the not so happy flat head were posing for the camera.
Our final spot resulted in Tim bringing the largest fish for the night boat side. For the final portrait Dillon was calmer and more settled down and not quit so cautious of the fish.
It ended up being a very successful night with all three of us having a very good time. Tim told me the next day that Dillon was just a jabbering about the fishing trip all the way home. I always enjoy taking young kids and others who are not as fortunate as I am to experience the wonders of the Mississippi!

Observations

The largemouth bass along with the baitfish have pretty much vacated the Hammond Chute area.