8/25/12-8/27/12

[fishnick]

This is our 36 annual fishing trip, which have included the canoe/camping ventures on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Scroon River and Raquette Rivers in NYS. We've also fought the "big ones" and more often "not so big ones" on Lake Nippissing, French River and St. Lawerence. For the last 6 years it has been at Black Lake and we're back again for another go at it. We've been here at the end of June, early August and early September. One thing we have learned is don't expect the same water levels, weed conditions or locations to produce equally well each year.

We learned how to fish rubber worms here at Black Lake and have caught LM and SM up to 19" on them. We were introduced to the under appreciated Bowfin here. We seem to find a different Hot Spot and pattern each visit. My favorite was top water poppers a couple of years ago when the water levels, weeds and fish (LM & SM) were very cooperative. Great fun. This year it has been back to Bombers and Rattle Traps to c for our catch of LM, SM, Northerns and a lone Walleye. Included in our catch was a LM/SM hybrid which had the body of a largemouth with broken lateral line, along with the mouth of a smallmouth. Good looking fish! We've returned all our catches. To fight another day and hope to return many more by Friday.