Quinte Fishing

Well, I stopped posting the reports which included MANY extended skunkings. I hesitated to go out for one last kick at the quinte fall walleyes, but I'm glad I did. Hit the water around 7am Sat Dec 8th. East winds made adolphus reach pretty bumpy, but we would not be deterred. Had a 6 rod spread running with myself, AD29 and Laker2011 - running various TD 9 and 11's, Reef runners and a few shad imitators as well as a NK spoon in gold/yellow that had been productive earlier in the fall. Trolled the south side of Adolphus reach in 50-85 fow from the ferry to the bat cave. I was up first when the yellow/white reef runner fired back 200' from the outside, (shallowest) board and reeled up my new personal best walter at 8.7lbs Hit just West of Kieth's Shoal, going slow 1.5MPH


Switched up the spread to nearly all reef runners, leaving a few TD11's out and continued to troll the same line back and forth for about 45 minutes when the same lure fired again! This time the fish actaully put up a decent fight:



We finally had a the first double digit 'eye any of us had ever seen. 10 lbs and change, a new personal best for AD29:


Laker with same fish (I think):


The hot lure:

I'm not really that concerned with color (usually), but when you have 6 reef runners out and the only ones hitting are the same color, it makes you wonder.
Laker had to hit the road around noon, but AD29 and myself decided we'd give it a bit longer and try to top our PB's. Started out on the south shore of Adoulphus reach, had only 2 boards set as it was getting rough and we only had 2 guys on the boat. While setting the 3rd I accidently dumped a board off the lines (for the second time that day). Scrambling to clear lines so we could double back for our wayward planar board I was quickly reeling in the last line (hot lure) and with about 350 feet of line out still it got REALLY heavy and I reeled in what was probably a 7-8 lbr. No pics, a quick torpedo release and we went back for the board. Things we looking up.

We got 4 lines back out and continued to troll west for about an hour. AD29 wanted to get some eaters and I finally caved for his plan to join the jigging masses at Thompson's point. While clearing all the lines, one just didn't feel right.

"I think there's a fish here, you're up" I said.
"Nah, just reel it and let's hit Thompsons" was AD29's reply.

I got the board off and leaned back on an unfamiliar rod, which I honestly couldn't read if there was a fish or just the pull from the reef runner. It bent, then relaxed. Lean back, bent then relaxed - just like you'd expect from a deep diving lure. I reeled in about 100 feet more with absolutely no resistance at all. With about 100 feet left out it didn't seem to be coming up like it should.

"I think there's a small one on here, it's your turn - take it!" I said.
"Nah, just get it in and we'll go jig" was the reply.
"It's staying down, come take your fish" I said.
"Nah, hurry up, lets go!" was the reply.

I reeled up to about 60 feet out and still it wasn't rising. Then, it started to fight hard. Digging and head shaking I thought it was some kind of lazy trout.

"Come take this, there's definately a fish here" I said.
"Hurry up and get it cleared" said AD29.

Well...thanks Andrew for my new personal best. The one I've been hunting for 2 years, I finally cracked that double digit mark with a 12.1 lbr!! I'm still smiling like an idiot:



Here's a few more from recent trips for the ever-ellusive Falleyes.
AD29 with his PB pike, got it on a tiny blue hot-skirt jig and minnow while looking for Mr. Walter on Bob's lake a few weeks back:

AD29 with an equally beautiful snot-rocket from Thompson's point, same jig and minnow the following week:


That's it for me - see you boys on the ice!

Awesome report, great job guys those are some beauty fish.

Jon

P.S Andrew lose the Habs hat