Fishing Report July 13-19

[fishnick]

Another year's fishing trip to Black Lake has come and gone. The fishing was unexpectedly slow for an earlier Summer trip. The water was high and the weeds were low. Fish were located generally very close to shore and the typical seasonal hot spots did not produce. The fish were overall also smaller than usual. We caught many more small bass in the 10-14" inch range and almost exclusively Largemouths. The few pike we caught were also small compared with past catches. We did find a few larger bass in the 16-18" range using rubber worms (wacky worm style) and crank baits, again all very close to shore. Lost a few big fish to breakoffs and cut lines. May have been bigger pike. Biggest identified breakoff was what looked to be about a 10lb bowfin, which put up a solid fight before cutting the line at the boat. We had a great time as usual, but long for the days of greater catch rates and more action like we experienced 10 years ago. Conditions change each year, but water clarity has visibly decreased since we first started coming to Black Lake. I remember working top water baits to bass I could see and cast directly to. Each year presents new obstacles, but once the fish are located you can usually coax a few to hit the usual collection of lures. Good luck to all and hope to back on the lake next year. Keep letting those big ones go to get even bigger.