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First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 9:36 am
by SteveSchmelzle
Took this big girl, who was feeding heavily in post spawn (68 degree water) conditions, using a standard jig and paca chunk combo.

Fishing was extremely good during our trip. 15"-18" bass were on the feedbag, but finding those elusive 20"+ bass were much more challenging.

They likely were still out deeper, but I love to fish shallow!

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Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 4:40 pm
by Cristo
Wow look at the Buddha belly on that girl, right on man =D>

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 4:59 pm
by tditox4
Looks like you were downrigging. Lol

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 6:58 pm
by KevinL
Nice fish.

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 3:31 am
by Obz
Dude that's a pig! MN bass? Looks like you got all the hardware on your rig there. Catching largest and lakers in the same day ;)

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 7:36 am
by SteveSchmelzle
Yep, while I love fishing for largies, my boat fishes a ton of great lakes salmon and trout as well.

The bass came from northern Ontario waters.

Being from Ontario I can't seem to "pick a species". Brown Trout trolling in shallow water is as much fun as flippin for largies in the cane.

Here's a laker from the week before my bass trip. Love multi species fishing.

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Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 9:32 am
by Cristo
Good God that specimen, fish is nice too :lol:

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 11:52 pm
by stingray23
Wow! How big was that laker?

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:29 am
by SteveSchmelzle
Laker was 27lbs.

Caught long lining a rapala taildancer in 35' of water.

was fun, especially considering I was solo. :)

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 11:31 am
by stingray23
Wow. Huge.

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 2:40 pm
by Obz
Damn dude, a big Laker is a bucket list fish for me. I bought some trolling combos, tail dancers and spoons this spring. I planned on hitting Lake Superior for Coho and Lakers but spring happened all at once this year, never got the chance to put my gear to work.

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 8:12 pm
by SteveSchmelzle
Yes, spring was over with a "blink" this year.

One killer combo for flat lining lakers is a 3 way trolling setup.

Take your deep diving td30 tail dancer (or even a td20) and take 4' of line and attach to 3 way swivel.

Take a light flutter spoon (michigan stingers work nicely) and put it on another 4' section of line on the top of the 3 way.

To deploy the setup hold the spoon in your hand and let the tail dancer dig down in the water...once its digging, drop your flutter spoon, and let 100'+ of line out....

Reef Runners, LJ Power Dives, Tail Dancers, and Rebel Spoonbill Minnows all work nicely as the diving bait.

This setup doesn't work so well for King Salmon as the salmon are nuts, and when they hit, they often snag up with the "other lure". Lakers and Walleye will fight normal enough not to wrap up the 2nd lure.

Wait until you do this and get a "double". Yes, two fish on one line...Haven't had it happen with lakers but we have with Walleye.

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2018 1:01 am
by Obz
Nice! I'll definitely give it a shot. I have TD 20's, 30's and one other brand that dive 30, an assortment of spoons, also regular diving stickbaits. I'd like to avoid downriggers if possible. A guy at the bar was telling me about a line-through Hardbait with a real erratic action but I can't remember what they are called does, that ring a bell? Kings aren't super common here. My friend is a guide, he said they have been catching more than usual this year 1/10 fish ends up being a king.

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:35 pm
by Tokugawa
That there is one porky feesh. Congratulations! :big grin: :big grin:

Re: First Northern Chunker of the season

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 7:04 pm
by MTBF
I know she's over 5 that bass is she over 6lbs? Tank dude what a fish, got to love catching Laker's too I'm hooked on them as well!