Quest Outdoors

fish2much · Lunker Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 285 Location: Monroe, MI

The report section for Ohio should be dropped... the fishing is always good!! If you need a good ego boost or practice setting the hook, go float spawn in Ohio. All joking aside it is a great resource, well managed, and should be aprecciated for what it's worth to each individual.

Finally made it back to my hometown to break in a new rod my dad tied up for me in his spare retired guy time (must be nice). It was a birthday present and nothing special as far as components - 10' spiral wrapped casting rod, 8-12# med. Perfect for my uses which will be floating and plugging. It's special to me cause my dad made it and it's a working man's rod - no frills.

Now for the fishing. Conditions were good and the catching was good but not spectacular. My dad took a few on flies, my stepbrother Chris took a few on spawn, and I couldn't resist breking the new stik in by dropping plugs back through the "re-used" water. The plugs seem to take larger than average steelies, and one strike is worth 10 on spawn (to me). Busted the cherry on a bright 29 1/2" hen and picked up a 29" buck from the same hole a little later. Yeh I had to measure then after the dinks we've been catching in the Huron (mi). Stayed righteous will the artificials all day and picked up a few here and there behind the crowds. Best part of the day was getting to spend a whole day with my Dad and Chris. Sounds goofy but I enjoyed that as much as the fishing. I must be getting soft.

Here's a couple pics...

S Mick · Eyed Egg Joined: 31 Oct 2006 Posts: 7

I saw you guys fishing downstream from me Saturday. Watched ya pull the hen out with the sidedrifter. I can't remember seeing anybody employ this tactic on that trib, and it looked very interesting, got the wheels turning. LOL. Anyways, we also had a decent day with some large fish taken further downstream. Cool pics. -Scott

fish2much · Lunker Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 285 Location: Monroe, MI

If you can stand all the strange looks and comments you get from other guys, it's a very productive technique. Doesn't help when you have a casting rod either. Heard a couple guys mumble something about bass fishing when I walked by. Oh well, they used to say the same stuff about 'pins too. Amatuers.

The side planers have been around for years and I've been using them selectively since the 80's. First saw them on a "Rod & Reel" with Bill Saiff (not sure on the spelling) when he was out west with Buzz Ramsey. No different than dropping back on them out of a drift boat or jetsled.

Have a good one.

S Mick · Eyed Egg Joined: 31 Oct 2006 Posts: 7

Yeah, I know what you mean about some guys, but it sure opens some eyes when you pull a few fish out from in front of them. The only time I had the chance to use the side planer was years ago trolling in a friend's little 16' aluminum in lower conne. Worked like a charm, especially along the docks near the mouth. Very cool to see them used from the bank and produce fish. I've been kicking around the idea of positioning myself above a hole and slowly backing in small kwikfish/hotshots with the pin, can't see why it wouldn't produce a few good strikes.
Later -Scott