August 30, 2015

Date: August 30, 2015

Body of Water: North Lake- Harrisonville, MO

Weather: 74-75 degrees

Air Temperature: Upper 70's to mid 80's

Water Condition: dropping and clearing

Wind Speed & Direction: south at 4-5 mph

Moon Phase: Full

Fishing Equipment: Nine foot, eight weight fly rod with sinking tip section at times and without sinking tip section at other times and eight foot 6 weight fiberglass fly rod

Flies/Lures/Bait: The brave, John Deere, black fur and foam mouse

Hatches or Fish Behavior Observed: baitfish all over the places.  Some looked like schooling minnows with others looked like shad but none of them seemed spooked.

Species Targeted: Largemouth and bluegill

# of Fish Hooked: 20

# of Fish Landed: 15

# of Fish Released: 15

# of Fish Kept: 0

Largest Fish Description: 13inch largemouth bass

What Happened:

Pat and I headed to North Lake for the first time this year and wanted to try and catch some bass that have suspended in the main body of the lake in the past.  He was armed with some different crankbaits and chatterbaits while I was throwing the brave on an eight weight with a section of sinking line added to the floating fly line.  We tried that for an hour with no success and were not marking any large fish on the fish finder.  We decided to throw some smaller lures/flies in the shallows around moss, grass, and laydowns.  Pat put on a John Deere under a bobber and immediately started catching bluegill, small bass, a golden shiner, and his first crappie.  I started off throwing a mouse with no reactions and probably a little too late in the day.  I switched to a John Deere under a float on my glass rod and didn't get bit at first (which Pat found humorous and which I did not) but eventually started putting some fish in the boat.  I caught a few bluegill, crappie, and even a small female redear.  We picked up a few fish here and there and the small fish were better than no fish.

Notable Fish

Time: 1:45

Size: 12-13 inch bass

Fly/Lure/Bait Used: John Deere

Location: On the south end of the lake near the spillway about 10-15 yards off the bank

What Happened:

Pat and I were about to go throw some flies around some baitfish schools to see if any larger fish were picking off stragglers when I made a half-hearted cast to some open water.  Immediately my indicator went under and I had the largest fish of the day on a very flexible fiberglass rod.  I felt the bend of the rod deep into the handle and he felt like a whale.  I bought a glass rod for this very purpose and it did not disappoint.  Pretty fish and fun fight on light tackle.