Went out with the brilliant Jigmeister and fishinChristian for a day on Scooteney Reservoir. Always heard mixed news about this lake, usually that it can be quirky due to significant flow changes imposed by the irrigation district. I've frequently shot carp up there, but never fished it very systematically, and always from the shore. The other day I got into some pretty nice bluegill from the shore, and wanted to explore it by boat.

Ironically, bluegill was the one spiny ray species we didn't do super well on (a few nice ones, including a very nice one caught by Jiggy). However, the bass fishing was pretty much non-stop for smallmouths, although the size left something to be desired. We did, however, come home with a nice bunch for a fish fry, and the action on ultralights was both amusing and fun. The perch were really scarce until into the evening, when we (OK, actually fishinChristian .. LOL) found a big school actively feeding around some weed beds. We hit them, and brought home a nice mess of perch.

We did reasonably well on the walleyes. Brought home a few small ones for the dinner table. Jiggy lost what was probably a very nice one.

We caught an interesting mix of warmwater spiny ray species: largemouth bass (biggest = 16.5"), smallmouth bass (we probably caught at least (conservatively) 100+, nothing bigger than perhaps 3 lbs), yellow perch, walleye, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. Personally, I blame Jiggy and Joe for not helping us find channel cats, crappie, and most importantly ... carp. On the latter item, it is their loss for not taking a yummy carp home for a fish fry. Perhaps next time they'll try harder...

All and all, a really superb fishing day with good friends!!

fishinChristian

9/9/2014 9:16:00 AM

I promise I'll try harder next time. When 3 guys only catch fish in the low hundreds... Well... What can I say?

Great trip, and you captained the boat well. Good fun! You have good ideas, sometimes...

fishinChristian

9/9/2014 9:37:00 AM

And as for Jiggy, I know he's trying. So very, very... Err... Never mind.

tluedeke

9/9/2014 10:47:00 PM

LOL..

Seriously, it is always a privilege to fish with you and Jiggy. I may come off as frustrated and petulant, but I'm usually backing off ( petulantly and frustrated...) to take some time to observe (I am, after all, a disastrously committed engineer). Watching you guys entice those walleyes off the flow-shelf-thingie was magic in action!!

Don't know about you and Jiggy, but this trip makes me even more fascinated by the body of water (except for Jiggy, who no doubt [eyes rolling in exasperation will yack about Moses Lake .... LMFAO...). Pretty sure there are some huge fish in there, but the body of water is so complicated that I'm inclined to take it on as a personal challenge....!!

I'm actually hoping to entice you two out for another, second-iteration try at that lake!!

The Jigmiester

9/10/2014 1:53:00 PM

Thom . Likewise, I am quite sure. (My first girlfriend would of been proud of you too!) You more than proved yourself many times over as quite capable of hanging with the Joe-master, as I can explain his uncanny fish catching abilities as a mixture of Jiggy sense and divine favor. I brought on the pain of loosing that big walleye only because of my stubbornly insisting on using an ultralite rod for those toothy critters, but it was sure fun while it lasted. Until next time, my finely tuned engineer friend, I pray that the fish gods will smile on us once again.

fishinChristian

9/11/2014 8:58:00 PM

Go figure. Any of his girlfriends would be proud of you... they couldn't be THAT picky...
Any time we can, a repeat trip would be great. You both have good fish sense, for youngsters.

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