Big eyes

[bigeyes]

Hi Ed, always enjoy seeing your reports and know you know your admire your passion for, well big eyes. Any mosters to report so far this fall? Sure like hearing the stories of some of the pigs you get. Take care bigeyes

[Ed Carlson]

Thanks BigEyes, I try to contribute and be helpful where I can.

Ya..well...not too many big eyes to chat about recently. About a month back I scored a couple trophy class eyes.

30" 5" Sassy Shad BLU/WHT on 3/8 Darter head jig. 4' of water.

31" 5" Mondo Twister Tail WHT/GRN Stomper head jig. 3-4' of water.

32" 5 1/2" Bomber Long A BLK/WHT (Suspending). 3' of water.

Since then it has been mostly eaters. About then we got hit with that 4" of rain and changed everything fast.

This fall with all the higher water it has brought new opportunities, and new complications. Some of the classic haunts have changed dramatically due to fast flows and higher water, this moved the fish around. The trick has been locating good looking areas and then deciding when they will use them. It is a challenging fall for sure.

I am still after them and a few spots look great. The sumo eyes have yet to show up, for me anyhow. If they have, so far I have not been able to trigger them into a strike. I think they will show up yet on a few prime spots before the ice caps them over? You need to think like they are there, even if they do not hit that outing.

Sorry, not much to share as far as big fish stories, or new hot tips. Just keep after them and bring lots of jigs and big Fathead minnows.

[bigeyes]

3 over 30 sounds like a good fall to me! Sorry to hear the bit has been so spotty. Kida sounds like fishing though. Been trying like heck to crack 10 pounds or 31" here on Mille Lacs, but just can't ever get it done. Nice to have you back and posting. Kinda missed you when you were gone.

[Ed Carlson]

Ya that was a good pattern, while it lasted. The bigger girls were gobbling up 5-6" Drum by the handful, even the eaters were stuffed.

So the trick was to find a bait that kinda looked and acted like a slow Drum near the flow. The big plastics were just the ticket. The one I did get on a crank was not in the same area, but… she felt kinda lumpy like she was also wolfing down big Drum.

I have some Drum colored (CD-4 Dace Glow) Chubby Darters I am eager to get wet once the river ice sets up on the Reds tribs.

The new Glow Orange Dace may be a bit hard to locate at retail stores? I sure would grab a couple if you can. I know of only one on-line spot to order them now and that is the main distributor of Salmo here in the USA. Whoever does get them in will sell them out fast, I am VERY sure of that!

[bigeyes]

Ed, happy to report after being out all night in the snow and cold on Friday we hit a 10lb 11oz fish. Not much boat time left for me on the lake this year so I better keep going while the boat still floats.

[Ed Carlson]

Nice fish! Was that on Mille Lacs?

My boating days are done for this year. Looking to the ice season now and then back to spring and the river.

It will be a while before I get on any river ice over this way. Some reports of a few sloughs being tested to the West and North of me. There may be some perch action to hunt soon in those areas. I could go for a pan of fresh perch any time now.

Keep at um!

[bigeyes]

Yup, Milly. Going again tomorrow. Sure hope she don't freeze over too hard. Would like to hit it for a few more weeks.

[Wiskers]

Hey Ed, did you check out my RP video on my web site yet???? now that is cool........ burrrrrrrrrrrrr... lol

almost time to put it away..