Howdy!

Bass fishing continues to be good. We are in the middle of the post spawn and a lot of the bass were catching are small. Many fish 14 inches and smaller being caught. Now the lake limit allows you to keep 2 bass under 14 inches per day. I strongly suggest keeping 2 under 14 inches. LOE has a very healthy bass population. Keeping those small ones has 2 advantages. One, pan sized bass are the best to eat. Two, it will help cull some of the bass aiding in keeping the population under control.

Size and quantity limits are developed only after an extensive study of the lake. Size and quantity limits are then used to manage the quality of the fish in the lake. If you return all the fish you catch you will upset the balance the tool was suppose to maintain. In this scenario the lake will eventually become over-populated with bass and the size of the fish you catch will decrease. With the hybrid stripers essentially gone we are the only real predator on the lake that preys on the bass. So if we release all the bass we catch....

My brother Charlie and I got out this weekend. We caught 20 plus bass. We fished for about 8 hours total over 2 days. We fished with medium diving crank-baits. Charlie used a black and sliver "Little O". I was using a Rebel Crawdad brown and orange. I got Charlie both days for the most and we split big fish. On Saturday I landed a 16 incher and on Sunday Charlie boated a 15 incher. Charlie might have beat me with the most on Sunday but I captained the boat and I just kept on fishing until I was one up on him and then called it an evening. It pays to own the boat.

Charlie and I were fishing in front of the weed beds and on the 6 foot deep shelves found in the mid to back sections of the major bays. The trick was to concentrate on the wood structure (stumps, trees, branches). Almost all our fish came off the wood.

Jim was out there as well and stuck with a worming pattern, working the worm over the weeds and on the point drop-offs. He caught fair quantities of fish and found most of them to be on the small side boating some 15 and 16 inchers.

Old Tim went fishing with his grand-children. Here's his report!

Took the grand kids out for some evening bass fishing and we had a great time. Everyone caught fish and a lot of 15-16 inchers until Josh let out a whoop and his rod bent almost double after a short fight we boated the fish,19 1/2 inches 4 lbs 15 oz and round as a barrel. Josh said he was shaking like a leaf and that this was a huge adrenalin rush. It makes us old guysrealize how important it is to take a youngster fishing and hunting.

Amen Tim.

Crappie fishing is better and what I mean by that is I received a report of up to 12 crappie per day. Brush piles and structure in 12 to 20 feet are doing the best. And minnow rigs are out fishing jigs.

Bluegill fishing is going gonzos! The fish are in the pockets in the back of the bays and coves as they prepare to spawn. Tie a cork on and a small hook baited with a cricket or meal worm and take a kid fishing.

My brother Alex took a group of people he works with on a salmon fishing trip. He charted the X-Tasea IV out of Wakegan Harbor, Lake Michigan. Joe Galto is the captain and a great person and fisherman. Joe wrangled up 4 more boats (Alex took a lot of people fishing). Here's Alex's report:

Mike, I had 5 boats out on Saturday. We caught a lot of fish. Great time had by all. Call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx when you get a chance.

So he ended up calling me and said:

Mike, I had 5 boats out on Saturday. We caught a lot of fish. Great time had by all.

Hmmmmmm?? I'm going fishing with Captain Joe in a couple of Saturdays and I'll add some definition.

Hey! I got another 24 foot single slip dock for sale!!! 4 foot plus decking all around!!! Brand new, never been in the water. Call or email me at 314-614-9290 or mikeo@ubetchaoutdoors.com.

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Fish On!

Mike O.

UBetcha Outdoors