Hi Everyone,

I’m lovin’ this “Indian Summer” and judging by the number of boats on the water Saturday so are many other anglers!  What a great day especially when you consider that a week ago the high temperature was in the teens!  We did have to boat around a thin sheet of ice before entering the canyon but as we went further up the lake the water temperature rose to 45 degrees.
                         
We began our search for active fish in the same area I had success two weeks ago.  My partner for the day hadn’t had much success jig fishing so I offered him a Mack’s Lure Rock Dancer 1/4 ounce jig in Pink and White.  The color was a surprise to him but it had produced a few fish on the previous trip and I beleived it would work for him today.  The only hitch in my plan was the timing as we were getting our baits in the water about 9:30 am…the last couple of trips the bite was after 12 o’clock.  Jerry asked for some technique tips and I simply showed him what was working during my recent trips.  I’d like to say it was “magic” and the first cast produced but it took a little bit.

After I got Jerry into the game plan I got started with my program and that was to test Mack’s Lure “Sonic Baitfish”, a new product to their lineup this year. This is an all around bait that can be cast, swam, jigged or trolled and this was my first time using it.  I was excited to give it a try because the bait in “silver” finish matched the natural forage and I reasoned the colder water temps may be causing a die off of the baitfish.  I tried some different retrieves and within a few minutes using a lift and fall parallel to the shore, a 23 inch saugar inhale the bait!  I never felt the strike which told me the fish took the bait on slack line as it was falling, I just felt the weight as I lifted the rod tip and then set the hook.  I’m going to continue testing this bait on future trips and I’m really looking forward to working it during the hard water season not far away.
 
My partner hooked one up shortly after I got the skunk out of the boat and together we landed five by 12 thus “busting the myth” that they don’t start biting til the afternoon!  All in all Jerry landed seven sauger on the pink and white Rock Dancer including a tagged fish!  We had a great day together, calm wind, lots of action, Big Horn sheep to watch on the slides of the canyon…a very special day!

The weather forecast for Northcentral Wyoming and Southcentral Montana sounds great for the next 7 days and with some luck I’ll get one more trip out in my Ranger!

Til next time….Be Smart and Be Safe!

Pat Slater
Pro Staff: Mack’s Lure & Ranger Boats