Temperature: Hot, Fishing: No So Much

With only five days left in the 2010 Spring Open and temperatures in the low 90s with barely a breeze, four anglers took to MI-60/MI-10 at lunch today. Steve and Tomski worked the south end of the MI-10 Pond while Bridgett and Tim worked the dual MI-60 Ponds.

Here's the creel count:

Steve: 2 lb 13 oz, 3 lb 0 oz

Skunk List: Bridgett, Tomski and Tim

Steve - 3 lb 0 oz largemouth bass

Steve - 2 lb 13 oz largemouth bass

Lake Michigan Results

Six of the brightest and best took to the foggy waters of Lake of the Puans on Friday in search of the illusive coho salmon. Here's a selection of photos (in no particular order)

At day's end the creel count was 18 fish and a bag of nut clusters

Getting Ready to Leave

Fierce Fighting Fish

Tim and Jim on a Double

Tim holding Steve's Fish

Tomski

Merle needs longer arms

Tim fights it in the boat

Tomski Lands Another

Steve's Sleek FIsh

Ron is on the board

Merle

Jim's FIsh

Tim Showing Off and One-handing it

Tomski

Steve

Ron with a Nice One

Merle Holds on Tight

JIm Holds a Fish and Practices His Wide Stance in Case he is in the Minneapolis Airport

Heading Back To the Harbor

Sleepy Time

The Cooler

The Anglers

Windy Tuesday at MI-60

With stiff breezes out of the north on Tuesday, three sturdy anglers took the the dual ponds of MI-60 for a lunch time break from the mind-numbing, soul-crushing world that is high energy physics. Here's the creel count:

Steve: 2 lb 14 oz

Skunk List: Ron and Tomski and Tim

(picture to follow)

Reminder: Team Invitational is June 4th - NOW JUNE 11

Just a reminder that the Team Invitational has been rescheduled for the afternoon of June 11th.

Please let the Commissioner know if you and your team are attending

Here's the details from the earlier blog posting.

Team Invitational Segment

This is one day team tournament at the Main Injector Ponds. Here's the rules:

1. The Event is scheduled from 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm on June 4th;
2. There will be two (2) fishing periods, each followed by a weigh-in period;
3. The first fishing period (known as FP1) starts at 12:00 noon and runs until 1:45 pm.
4. The first weight in period (WP1) runs from 1:45 pm until 2:15 pm. No fishing allowed during this period. The weigh-in will occur at MI-60. All fish weighed during FP1 will be released after weigh-in.
5. The second fishing period (known as FP2) runs from 2:15 pm until 4:00 pm;
6. The final weigh-in will occur at 4:00 pm at MI-60;
7. All ponds in Main Injector are eligible for fishing;
8. Each team consist of two (2) anglers;
9. Rankings will be determined by the greatest combined weight of five (5) fish per team;
10. Each team member must catch at least two (2) of the five (5) fish;
11. The fifth fish can be caught by either team member;
12. The fish should be ALIVE when measured;
13. Any form of bait is allowed (real or artificial);
14. Two (2) pole per angler maximum;
    
15. Pictures of all fish caught are required;
16. Three (3) scales are available (Steve, Tim and Tomski). Only one will be used for all weigh-ins.
17. Entry fee is $20.00 per team

The plan is to have an award ceremony in mid to late June to award the trophies for the Spring Open and the Team Invitational segments.

Bridgett Is On The Board

After more than a month of fishing, Bridgett is finally on the board with an actual bass. It happened at lunch today at MI-60. The weather didn't make it easy with a steady wind from the northeast and dropping temperatures. Despite it all she managed to land a 1 lb 8 oz largemouth. Well done Bridgett, well done.

In an obvious attempt to steal Bridgett thunder, Tim managed to out do the poor girl and landed a 2 lb 0 oz smallmouth bass.

Steve, Merle and Tim started the day at Bulrush (which seems to be devoid of any life) and also MI-10 and MI-30.

Here's the rest of the creel count:

Bridgett: 1 lb 8 oz

Tim: 2 lb 0 oz and big bluegill

Skunk List: Steve and Merle

Bridgett - 1 lb 8 oz largemouth bass

Bridgett - 1 lb 8 oz largemouth bass

Tim - 2 lb 0 oz smallmouth bass

Tim - big bluegill

Angler Question

As everyone knows (or should know) the Tournament Rules state that only species of bass count towards the Spring Open. It been pointed out that perhaps other species of fish should count. As you can see from the photo below, some anglers (Chuck and Bridgett) have landed large bluegills.

Bridgett - 0 lb 13 oz bluegill

It is recognized that perhaps the rules are less than crystal clear, so the benevolent Tournament Office will leave it up to you, the angling community to decide if bluegill and other "garbage" fish should count towards the creel count. Please vote at right.

What a Day!

There was plenty of fishing done today starting with an early morning trip by Merle. MI-10 was crowded at lunch as five anglers worked the windy water. Tomski and Steve recovered from a week long dry spell. Here's the creel count:

Morning: Merle - 3 lb 3 oz (personal best for the 2010 Spring Open)

Lunchtime:

Tomski: 1 lb 12 oz

Steve: 2 lb 08 oz (personal best for 2010 Spring Open)

Skunk List: Tim, Merle and, sadly, Bridgett

Merle - 3 lb 3 oz largemouth bass (morning)

Tomski - 1 lb 12 oz largemouth bass (lunch)

Steve - 2 lb 08 oz largemouth bass (lunch)

May 5th and Merle's Streak Continues

Merle stopped by MI-60 on his way to work onWednesday morning and was rewarded with two fish. Rumor has it that Bridgett made three trips to the ponds, but came up empty. The day also saw the first trip to the ponds by Ron.

Here's the creel count:

Merle: 2 lb 14, 3 lb 01 oz

Skunk List: Bridgett and Ron

Merle - 3 lb 01 oz largemouth bass (morning)

Merle - 2 lb 14 oz largemouth bass (morning)

A Sleeping Dragon Awakes

On Tuesday May 4th, after spending the first month of the Spring Open letting everyone else run out ahead, Merle finally got on the leader board with a morning visit to MI-60. He then followed it up by being the only angler to land a fish at lunch at MI-12. Here's the creel count:

Merle: 2 lb 14 oz, 1 lb 12 oz

Skunk List: Bridgett, Steve, Tim and Tomski

Merle - 2 lb 14 oz largemouth bass (morning)

Merle - 1 lb 12 oz largemouth bass (lunch)

Tim Rolls On at MI-30

The fishing continued at MI-30 at lunch today. Five anglers visited the pond, but only Tim managed to land two more bass. The day also saw the return of Merle for the first time this season and had a lunker estimated at 4 lb 4 oz on the line before a year old knot let go. Since it was so close, the Tournament Office is considering counting it towards the leaderboard.

Here's the creel count:

Tim: 2 lb 8 oz and 3 lb 4 oz

Skunk List: Steve, Merle, Tomski and yes, Bridgett

Tim - 2 lb 8 oz largemouth bass

Tim - 3 lb 4 oz largemouth bass

Lonely Angler

It's been reported that only one angler visited the ponds at lunch on Friday. Unfortunately, Bridgett remained on the skunk list.

More importantly, when will Merle and Ron fish in the Spring Open.

Ron - No Show to Date

Merle - When Will He Fish?