Lake Arthur 10/8/15

Actually made it out tonight.  Thought I'd do an old school Arthur report.  So here we go:
 
Lake temp @5pm - 65 degrees   @9pm - 63 degrees
Location - 422 side 
 
Got to the bear run ramp at 5pm.  Lake was as flat as I've seen it this year.  Maybe a dozen trailers in the lot; launched without issues.  Tried some shallow water perch spots first.  The water has a solid coating of pea green sludge (floating algae) anywhere off the main body of the lake.  The weeds seem to have died back a little though.  Perch were not attacking minnows.  Caught a couple dinks off the bottom.  Moved to one of our wiper/catfish spots, caught a few decent crappie on minnows.  They also weren't very aggressive.  Then had a beast of a wiper chew one of my crappie rigs.  Managed to land him after a really nice fight.  More details and a pic later.  Fishing buddy caught a middling channel cat on a 6" gizzard shad that I netted.  Also caught a few bluegills and one bullhead.  Got off the lake at 9:15 or so, home by 10pm.  Pretty good short trip, had fun.  
 
So I'm going to lay out the exact details of the wiper I caught, as an illustration of the unpredictability of these fish.  Our spot isn't one of the high profile spots for wipers on Arthur.  In fact, we chose it as much for less boats/idiots as for wiper/bait counts.  But it is a solid area and I know we can catch fish there (mostly channels) if the wipers don't show.  
 
The rig I hooked up on is a 6'6" ml berkeley lighting rod shock and a cabellas 2000 guide spinner (generic 5 or 6 bearing reel) spooled with suffix 8lb camo monofilament.  Hook was a #6 trokar octopus tied directly to the line with a palomar knot.  BB sized split shot about 8" from the hook and a bobber 2.5' above that.  Bobber is a Thill weighted with the spring jobber.  Bait was a "large" fathead minnow hooked up through the lips.   Drag set pretty light and the rod was sitting on the floor of the boat (not in a rod holder) when the fish hit.  The bobber was in appx 5' of water at the time of the strike.  
 
The fish is a nice one, 25" or so and I'm guessing 6lbs.  I will get the real numbers tomorrow, didn't feel like getting fishy again tonight.  (see pic)
 
So what did we learn there?  Pretty much nothing.  The truth is that there is no substitute for time on the water.  Spend enough time on Arthur and eventually some nice fish will eat your bait regardless of your intended species.  The real takeaway here would be two things: 1 - set your drag appropriately (light!) and 2 - fathead minnows are your friend.  If you spend any amount of time soaking bait on Arthur chances are very high that a channel cat will eat your bait.  Doesn't really matter what bait it is, or where you are fishing.  And some of the cats in there are really big.  You can land a 15lb channel cat on your snoopy rod, but if you have the drag cranked down that thing will asplode in your hands.  A light drag is your friend.  And other than the two or three species of baitfish on Arthur, EVERY OTHER FISH in there will eat a fathead minnow.  That is a fact.  Is that my (or anyone else's) first choice for wiper bait?  No.  But here is a list of the fish I have personally caught at Arthur (or witnessed on my boat) on a fathead minnow:
 
Musky, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, crappie, perch, bluegill, channel cat, bullhead, snapping turtle, red eared slider
 
And I'm probably forgetting something on that list.  And yes, two of those aren't even fish.  
 
Anyway, that's my report.  Wasn't a great night number wise, but we had a heck of a time in a short 4 hours.  Completely worth it to drag the boat out on a nice fall evening.  Oh, at 9pm there wasn't a boat left in the 422 lot.  I think I saw some lights down by the island but I can't be sure.  Ghost town.  Not even any bank fishermen.  
 
 
 
 
 

I think I know the problem.  The gasket on the lower carb leaks fuel and is letting the carb suck air.  Guessing that's the remaining problem (running seafoam and spraying carb cleaner into the carbs seems to have helped it some).  Had intended to take the boat down to Delaware or failing that Erie last week or the week before but got hurricaned.  I'm still going to sell the pontoon in the spring.  Selling it now would just cost me money.  I'm thinking I'll miss it... hard to beat fishing from a floating mancave.  

Nice catch on the wiper.  Go figure, I spent about 5 hours targeting them and ended up with one, 10" shorter...  Usually though, if you target them, and get one, you usually are rewarded with 2-3 more.  Sucks that the panfish haven't gotten the message about Fall being here yet.  I need to get the kids out, always much more fun when catching with them.
 
Tough call on the toon.  As long as you can stand and walk around on the new boat, that is the key to comfort IMO.  Might not be able to stretch out as much, but you'll get used to it.  I can't get used to my 12'er.  It just irritates me to have to sit for more than an hour, and feel every time someone moves.  The wind is even more annoying then on a small boat.

  Son is going to take me panfishing tomorrow. Only been down fishing twice this yr. Once right after ice-out for Byrds & once this spring for crappie. If it's half as good as those 2 days catching it will be some time at the butcher block. Old lady said buddie stocked the bait tank this week while I was up Linesville. Hope to get out a few more times before Christmas.
 
crappy

 Tim,
Didn't make it out 'till after 6:00 & the Steeler game made for a quick trip. Perch= slow 2 Jumbos, 12 Slabs, handfull ov gills & 'bout 7-10 smaller Crappie. Nice to get out with son & sit down while fishin' for a change.
 
crappy

if you cast it, they will bite.