[PECo]

Yesterday, my buddy Greg (aka Santa Claus) and I checked the weather forecast, and we decided to fish Bantam Lake, today. The forecast was for air temperatures in the 40s and 50s, cloudy but clearing skies, and winds less than 10 miles per hour. Since the clouds were supposed to clear by 11:00 am, we planned to get onto the water at 9:00 am. However, we didn't get there until 9:30 am or so. I said "or so", because I forgot my cellphone in the car and wasn't able to keep track of the time or take any photos. What I do know is that the water temperature was 37 degrees and the water was murky. It had little clumps of pale green algae in it that looked like clumpy falling snow. Inversion, perhaps? Anyway, after we launched The Other Woman, Too at the State Boat Launch (aka Beverly's), we headed up to the northwest end of the lake (aka Keeler Cove) and began slowly trolling back down the west shore. In case you don't know Bantam Lake, here's a map:



We each threw a bunch of different lures. Among other things, I saw Greg try a black hair jig, a jig and pig, a smoke tube, and a smoke curlytail grub. I tried a Silver Pearl 2-1/2 inch Gulp! Minnow on a 1/16 ounce round jighead, a Yellow Perch Rapala Jointed Shad Rap JSR07 and a white slow sinking five inch Sebile Magic Swimmer. At first, there was almost no wind. However, it wasn't long before a light sprinkle began to fall. It sprinkled intermittently for a while, but then it began to rain. It rained for a while before tapering off. But when it stopped, the wind rose out of the south and fog rolled in. As we approached Nick's Cove, Greg finally caught a fat yellow perch with the curlytail grub. A couple of minutes later, he got another. I immediately switched back to my minnow jig, but it wasn't until I threw it over a submerged wall that ran perpendicular to the shore that I got a fat yellow perch of my own. As we worked our way around Nick's Cove, we could see that the south wind had risen significantly. Thankfully, we stayed alee of the wind behind Deer Island until we came around the point and into the channel leading to the South Bay. When the wind hit us, I had to crank the trolling motor up to 45 percent power in order to make any headway at all. When we reached the South Bay, we decided to head to the shallow hump of submerged rocks, so I cranked the trolling motor up to 100 percent power. We wandered around looking for the buoy that marks the rocks, but the fog was so thick that we never saw it. I think that Greg got a little creeped out when we lost sight of the shore. He kept telling me to head to the right, like we were lost in a maze or something. When I finally spotted Beverly's through the fog, I asked Greg whether he was ready for some hot food and he jumped at the idea. We worked our way back to the ramp and got off of the water at 1:15 pm or so. As usual, Wood's Pit BBQ really hit the spot.
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

[hila2006]

Good to see your still out enjoying the new rig. The day was supposed to be kind of nice for December, wrong as usual. Been out in the yak a few times here, water is really low now. Haven't had a hit the last couple times out. C'mon spring

[PECo]

I'm still hoping for an Indian Summer.
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

[NWDarkcloud]

Jjay and I headed for the canal today got there about 8:30 never hit the water rain came, on and off as we watched the radar hoping the heavier stuff would pass us but it ran right up on us. Did see DCAJ head out he had some rain gear with him (we didnt) but we left before he returned and headed for lunch at hibatchi grill south wasnt the way to go this morning.
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I Love to fish......Not a big fan of sitting in the boat alone ....the Conversation and the company make it perfect

[PECo]

Greg and I both had rain gear, but wet and cold hands suck. The wind probably hit a steady 15 miles per hour while we headed back into the South Bay.
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

[bass tracker]

You are pretty brave Phil, was much colder than the weatherman predicted.

BT