Howdy!



The wind blew from Thursday through Monday. And not just a breeze! I'm talking a 20 + mph gale! Even fishermen with 70 pound thrust trolling motors were intimidated by the velocity of the wind and moved into sheltered bays and coves.


My son Adam, grandson Logan, brother Charlie and friend Brian arrived Friday and Saturday. Charlie and I were thwarted in our efforts by a bad trolling motor battery. Brian brought his boat and found bass fishing to be quit good. He boated over 15 bass using a 6 inch Zoom lizard. Adam and Charlie focused on crappie and finally found some shallow Saturday right at sunset. Charlie boated 5 and the biggest was 13.5 inches. Adam boated 3 the biggest was 12 inches. All the fish were caught on jigs under bobbers set at 3 feet. Most of the fish were missing eggs. I never caught fish!


Sunday had the makings of a nice day. I cooked a nice breakfast for everyone and Charlie and I decided to pull my boat out of the water and exchange the brand new battery for one that works. Charlie had never backed a trailer into the water so he got the job of driving the boat. Hmmmmmmm!?



The wind was a gusting gale so landing the boat wasn't going to be easy. Charlie panicked just as the boat was blown past the trailer end and jammed the boat into reverse so hard the throttle return springs (which were weak to begin with) broke and the throttle stuck in high reverse. As the boat plowed backwards with water gushing over the transom Charlie shifted from reverse to forward in high speed! The lower unit made a horrible squeal and thunk and there was Charlie speeding away from the launch with no hopes of an immediate return. He finally turns the key off. Thank you God!


The wind blew him back but across the cove from the launch. I got a paddle from my brother Steve but the wind was blowing so hard that for every two paddles forward charlie went 10 feet backwards. So Charlie decided to connect the trolling motor I borrowed from Jim to the starter battery. That worked except Charlie broke the thumb latch which releases the tilt on Jim's trolling motor. Charlie told me about that much later. He was traumatized. Jim, Charlie says he is sorry and I've been commissioned to fix your latch. I'm looking up a replacement part today.

We let the boat drift into the back of the bay. The land is clear there, my neighbor Greg owns the property and it used to be a boat launch a long time ago. We landed the boat. Thanks Greg. And I took it to the barn. So, in a matter of minutes I went from a boat that just needed the trolling motor battery replaced to:
1) Pull the carbs and replace the springs
2) Review throttle and shift connections
3) Inspect the the lower unit
4) Find and order a new thumb latch for Jim's trolling motor
5) Replace broken thumb latch

I may not be on the water for 5 or more days.

This past Friday I killed a turkey which some hunters consider a rare trophy! Story coming.


Hey! I got a 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.For current water conditions click on the HOME button or http://www.ubetchaoutdoors.com/



Fish On!!
Mike O.
UBetcha Outdoors

Howdy!

Crappie fishing on LOE continues to be slow. It may have to do with the weather or a change in fishing patterns but the net result is right now, the middle of April, when the crappie are usually spawning the action is very slow. A buddy of mine spent 4 hours fishing for crappie this past Friday afternoon and most of Saturday and boated 3 crappie. One crappie was full of eggs and appeared ready to spawn. He caught all 3 crappie shallow over brush in 6 foot of water using a tube jig on a 1/16th ounce jig head retrieved slowly over the brush.

Weather patterns for the weekends have been brutal. For the past four weekends major cold fronts have crushed the area bringing colder than normal temperatures and rain. This is never good for fishing but...!

For many years now I've had family and friends arrive during the second week of April in anticipation we would catch pre-spawning or spawning crappie. For the past 5 years the weather has been cold/rainy/miserable. And the crappie fishing has been miserable as well. A few years ago my brother Charlie was able to make it back to LOE at the end of April and we had a great crappie fish outing boating many crappie 10 inches or bigger. Some fish were ready to spawn and others were still a couple of weeks from it. Our conclusion was the cold weather delayed the spawn.

Last year a new neighbor of mine went fishing on LOE the first week of May. He was geared for crappie so what the heck. To my surprise we caught a fair amount of crappie. Most were over 10 inches. Some were ready to spawn. Some still had a week or 2 before they would spawn. We continued to catch pre-spawning to post spawning fish all through May.

One of my go to for information and advice is a gentleman who has been crappie fishing LOE since it opened for fishing in 1967 or so. He said last year he had one of the best Mays he's had in 40 years.

Hmmmm!? I wonder if this is a trend driven by weather, water conditions or do black crappie spawn in slightly warmer water than white crappie? I don't know but I'm going to try this weekend and all through May and I'll let you know what I think.

Hey! I got a 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.

For current water conditions click on the HOME button or www.ubetchaoutdoors.com



Fish On!!
Mike O.
UBetcha Outdoors

Dead Bird Running – As told by Arlen Leslie & Written by Mike O.

Monday. The alarm went off at 5:00AM. I looked outside and it was pouring rain. I turned the alarm off and went back to sleep. At 7:00AM my wife nudges me and ask if I was going hunting. I look outside and it is drizzling. Oh well, I’ll try again.

Turkey hunting is not something I grew-up with. During the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s there were no wild turkeys in the state of Illinois. Spring meant crappie and bass fishing or yard work. Since then I’ve had children and they had grandchildren. My son Mike has killed three toms with his bow and my grandson Austin has killed as many or more with his shotgun. For the past 2 years I’ve drawn a tag but never for the same season as my family or friends. And let’s just say I’ve been learning as I go along. Maybe it’s time I get me one!

Saturday started the season and I hunted to 9:30AM. Early in the morning and at the break of dawn I had at least 2 toms working my calls. They worked me for close to 2 hours and one was right at the edge of the woods coming towards the decoys when a couple of noisy fishermen chased him away. Disappointed I picked up the decoys and went to a restaurant for some breakfast. Sunday was Easter and a day of family, worship and rest.

Monday. I grabbed a quick cup of coffee, loaded the decoys, call and gun and drove to the field. It’s 8:00AM. I unloaded my stuff and decided to do a couple of shock yelps before going into the field. Immediately I received a gobble in return. Looking down into the field and about 80 or so yards away I spy about 10 gray heads bobbing along the edge of the landscape. I let out a couple of clucks. The hens turn my way and a gobble comes from behind them. Tailing the hens are 4 redheads! I grabbed my gun, loaded it and found a small bush to hide behind. Looks like I won’t need the decoys!

Monday. 8:01AM. The bush I’m hiding behind is not very big and I’m afraid the hens are going to see me. Sure enough one of them makes me out and the entire group veers away at about 70 yards. I think about shooting the tailing tom but…!##**!! Hmmmm.

8:02 AM DANG IT! I missed my chance. In desperation I yelped a couple of times hoping to turn them back. Immediately a get a gobble in return but it is behind the group and where I first saw the hens enter the field. I turn and looked and holy cow there is a lone tom working his way towards the other birds!!

8:03 AM the tom is walking fast and will cross at the closest 70 yards. I raised my gun and just a flood of thoughts flow into my head. Knowing it’s a far shot I decided to aim at the very center of the bird hoping to break a wing and a leg with the outside chance of landing a shot into a vital area. BOOM! THE BIRD IS DOWN! NOW HE’S UP! HE’S DOWN AND GOING IN CIRCLES! Heck with this! I run after him and as I close the distance I stop to shoot him again. I pull the trigger and nothing! S**t! I look at my receiver and my spent shell is lodged in it. I quickly pull it out and my gun loads a live round. Where’s my bird??????
8:04AM there he is and running, flopping and running towards the woods! I take off to run him down again! I close the distance to 20 yards, stop, and aim at his head BOOOM! HE’S DOWN AND FLOPPING! My god this turkey hunting is hard on an old man! Good thing I listen to my wife and only eat good food and keep myself in shape!?!?!

8:05AM I’m standing on his head and the bird expires with a sigh of relief. I do too. Well, almost.

Hoooo, hoooooo! I got my first turkey and today it only took 5 minutes!! My lord this is exciting! I measure his beard and it is bigger then the scale the state gives you so it must be 10 inches or more. I measure the spurs and the biggest one is 1 inch long. Not bad! It’s time to go to the restaurant and celebrate! And I might even order the home fries. Heck, turkey hunting didn’t kill me and the home fries won’t either!! Don’t tell my wife. (Ooops! Sorry Arlen)

My good friend and neighbor Mike O. helped me clean and dress my bird. Before we started Mike was showing me how to pull the beard off when he realized there are two beards, one lower than the other by about a half inch. Holy cows! A double bearded tom, now if that don’t beat all! Both beards measured 10 inches. Prior to the dismemberment I weighed the bird and it weighed 18 pounds. Most of the shot hit the head and neck except for 4 or more shot that hit the rear spine. Hooo, hooooooooo!

I thank my buddy Chuck for letting me borrow his decoys (even though I didn’t need them and by the way I didn’t break the tom decoy tail feathers and I strongly suspect Dwight did) and scale. I thank Mike for helping me clean my bird and assist in the celebration (he made me buy a six pack of refreshment for his services).

See patience and tenacity paid off. And no, thank you Arlen for showing me how a 60 year old or so man can become a boy making his first kill all over again.

TURKEY DOWN!
Mike O.
UBetcha Outdoors
Fishing Report (Read On!)

Compliments Of Rob Tiemens

Mike got back last night. Fishing was very tough over the weekend, but what a beautiful lake. Saturday we fished from app 8am to 5pm boating 7 bass. My co angler lost an absolute monster it would have been his biggest bass ever. The cold fronts plus hail Friday really hurt us I think. The dealer I bought my boat from was also there which I didn't know going down there. I spoke with him and his success rate was about the same a fish here and there but, nothing fantastic. Water temps in the first bay by the gen station was 65 water at the opposite end of the lake was 55. Surprisingly enough all our fish came in the 55 to 60 degree water. Crank baits seem to work best and I had one fish roll and miss a cottonmouth black/blue jig. I am trying to tell myself this is not the norm for this lake as everyone has told me how great of fishery it is. I would like to return when the weather/ water warms up. Sunday was cold and a storm was coming in we fished from 7 to 12 and caught 3 fish. I appreciate the helpful advice and have a strong feeling this is not my last trip. Thanks again Mike

Thanks Rob!!

Crappie fishing continues to be slow with most fish being caught in 10 to 15 feet of water over brush.

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.

For current water conditions click on the HOME button or www.ubetchaoutdoors.com

Fish On!
Mike O.
UBetcha Outdoors

Here's a turkey report and a fishing report!

Monday morning started at 4:30 with a cup of coffee and a lot of hope. For the past 3 months I've watched many turkey in the fields that surround the places I call home. As the season came on I watched as the toms split-up their heads changing to a bright red and the big group of 50 plus hens and jakes separate into smaller groups of 20 or less. Two weeks ago I witnessed a tom strutting and snapped a picture. The Saturday before the first season my truck and I got between a tom and a group of hens as they crossed the road. The tom charged my truck with a scolding gobble for the interruption. The table was set for the perfect spring season turkey hunt. Chuck (or as some of you know him as Uncle Chuck) arrived Sunday evening. On Monday morning I confirmed we would hunt together in the big field. We gathered our decoys in haste and headed for the field. We got here before 6:00 but had to go back and get my sitting bucket. Fortunately it was less than 3 minutes from the field but...!!! Back at the field we packed our equipment guns, ammo, decoys, buckets and my big thermos of hot coffee. The sky was overcast and occasionally it drizzled. At 6:00AM the air temperature was 39 degrees and the wind was gusting from the west. We set-up on the north side of the field under a big oak tree. Under the tree are bushes and smaller trees providing the perfect ambush spot. To the east the forest meets the field and drops into a valley. That's were we hoped the turkeys were roosting and not so close as to detect our movement as we set our trap! This year we opted to use Chuck's 2 full bodied hard plastic hens and his new strutting tom decoy with a full tail fan. We set the decoys up in a straight row stringing them out from east to west starting with the 2 hens and ending with the tom on the west end. The decoys were placed 25 yards from our hiding spot. We were ready by 6:05AM. We loaded our guns, I had a sip of coffee and started making hen clucks and yelps. Within minutes I got a gobble from what I think was at the bottom of the wooded valley. With a few more calls the gobble was closer and stronger. I told Chuck to get ready because he was a com'in! I stopped calling and the tom stopped calling. Chuck had a new mouth call and was using it for the first time right then and there. Just like using any call for the first time the sounds that came out of him were not exactly clear and at times sort of goosey sounding. I started chuckling but quietly and I'll be danged if the tom loved it so much he gobbled back and this time he was right at the edge of the woods and field! We couldn't see him because there is a rise to the field and he was below it. The decoys are positioned on the rise and the tom could see the decoys but likewise he couldn't see us. Perfect! Before we started the hunt Chuck and I agreed to not shoot the first turkey until it was in the decoys in case there were 2.The tom came in from the east side of our set or my side at full strut. As it past me I whispered to Chuck to take him. The tom went up to the tom decoy, strutted around the decoy chest butting it and then he jumped the decoy racking him with his spurs. I raised my gun and pleaded for Chuck to take him. Well, Chuck didn't want to shoot his new decoy so he waited for him to clear and then....BOOM! THE TURKEY WAS DOWN!! No he's up! Now he's down! No he's up stiff necked and wobbling like a drunken sailor. Chuck looks at me and ask if he should shoot him again? I said no. He's hit pretty good but with that the turkey made some stutter steps towards the woods. Chase him down Chuck! Chase him down!! Chuck got up running and as he got close to the turkey it fell over for the last time. Chuck stood on his head for a little bit and dragged him back to our hiding spot. Number one is in the bag. With high 5's, knuckles and congratulations now let's get number 2!! It's 6:25AM. I took a sip of coffee and started making some clucks and yelps. After a little bit I hear a gobble from down in the wooded valley. A few more calls and I hear some hen clucks. A little later I hear the tom gobble and he's closer but still a ways out. There was a pause in the action. An eagle flew over and some geese looked like they were going to land in our decoys! I asked Chuck if he would measure his tom's beard and spurs. With that I heard a hen in the woods make some load clucks, looked to my left or to the east and there she was!! CHUCK don't move! Because of the rise all I could see was her head and then there was another head! She was bringing company and her friend is wearing a blue head and in full strut!! I didn't need to wait for the tom to get to the decoys so as his head and part of his chest cleared the rise I clicked the safety off and BOOM! HE'S DOWN BUT I CAN'T SEE HIM BECAUSE HE FELL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RISE!!! I jumped off my bucket and took-off running. As I cleared the rise I could see him flopping on the ground but there was another tom! The sight of this chunky polish boy running over the hill scared that bird so bad it fell over trying to run backwards to get away! Once it got back on it's feet the turkey jumped into the air and took off flying. Chuck saw the bird flying away and suspected the worse. So he came charging over the hill just in time to see me holding my tom by it's legs. Time is 6:58AM. Hoooo, hoooo! It doesn't get any better than that! High 5's and many knuckles later the congratulations were over. Chuck killed a 22.9 pound full fledged tom with 1 inch spurs and 10 1/2 inch beard. My bird is a very big jake weighing in at 19.4 pounds and a 4 inch beard. The spurs are hardly noticeable. All of this excitement happened in less than 1 hour! On the way out of the field we almost got a chance to take a coyote as well! I've attached 3 pictures. The picture of the tom strutting was taken 2 weeks earlier and I believe it is the same turkey Chuck killed. The beard looks to be about the same length and it is the same field. One more season and permit to go, hoooo, hoooooo!!!

Fishing Report

For those who fished deep and hard crappie fishing was good this past weekend. Most fish were caught in 15 feet of water over brush. Bass fishing continues to be great and even though a variety of lures are being used spinner baits in the back waters are working the best.


See my front page for current water temperatures and remember if you need your dock repaired or it's just not there!! I've got one single slip dock ready to go!! Call me at 314-614-9290 or email at mikeo@ubetchaoutdoors.com.

Turkey Down!! Fish On!
Mike O.
UBetcha Outdoors