Mixed bag on the Rock

[Hookmanski]

Hit Splitrock reservoir at sunrise this morning for some fishing. I’ve been neglecting the sweet water recently, so I threw the kayak on the car last night and drove up to the launch early this morning. On the water by 7, it was stained brown and warmer than the air temp. The plan was to fish spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and Ned Rigs for whatever was biting. Fourth cast I get a dink smallie on the ned rig, a good way to start the morning!

About 20 minutes later I was paddling along the shoreline throwing a large white and chartreuse spinnerbait when I get smacked by something. I immediately thought it was a decent pickerel. Much to my surprise it was a good sized yellow perch! Definitely my PB. Couldn’t believe it when I pulled it into the boat!

Kept paddling along the shoreline and picked up a crappie on the ned. Right after the crappie I casted into a cove and I thought I was snagged until I felt some head shakes. I fought the beast for what must’ve been a full minute or longer, got him all the way to the boat and he decided to do a backflip, launching the hook back into the water. It would’ve been my pb smallmouth!!

Picked up a few more dinkers before calling it a day right at noon. No love on the jerk bait but the other two lures got some fish in the boat. A good day on the water! Tight lines!