Fishing with Terry and Becky Frank...8/13/2026

I told Terry and Becky that I would be at the Whitecaps at 5:30 to pick them up, but, as usual, I showed up 15 minutes early. To my surprise, they were already outside and ready to go. I took my time going through town and headed out to Hi-Way Bait to pick up some shiners and some ice. I was hoping they still had some minnows after getting some in yesterday. They did, but there weren't many left, but enough for me to get 5 scoops for the three of us. 

They were a mix of Emeralds and Sand Shiners....I'd say it was a 50/50 mix.

It was still dark out when we got to Mazurik's. I pulled over near the bathrooms to ready the boat. We would be waiting about a 1/2 hour before launching the boat, and it would be a much shorter distance to walk if they needed to use the bathroom before heading out. I know I always do! ;)

We launched at 6am and headed north... to North Bass.  The first area I was interested in was "Lucy's Point"... (For those wondering what "Lucy's" is, it's the green buoy off the NE corner of Middle Bass). Much to my disappointment, the Garmin didn't mark much there, so we kept going...sweeping the nose of the Vexus to the NW...towards the shipping channel buoys on the northeast side of North Bass.

The Garmin picked up some fish between Lucy's and the green buoy, so I stopped over the marks and deployed the Uterra. The Spot-Lock was engaged and held us over 26 feet of water.  I got Terry and Becky set up with a couple of perch rods, showed them the various ways to hook the minnows, but said, "It's not a rule. Hook them however you like, but those little Houdini's will steal a bait quickly if it's not holding onto that hook very well". 

Terry and Becky love to fish for Crappie, so I only had to tell them once how I work the crappie rig, with its 1 1/4oz pancake weight, to catch perch. The first spot was entertaining, but it was all small perch that we threw back. I think it was 15 itty-bitties caught before the first keeper went in the box.

It was the same story at all the spots...east side of North Bass, in the middle channel between North Bass and Middle Bass, the west side of Sugar Island, and the last spot on the east side of South Bass.

Mostly little perch with some White Perch, Sheephead, Gobies, and one out-of-place Smallmouth Bass were caught. 

Becky caught the bass, and while reeling it in, she asked, "Are Sheephead brown?" I looked at  Terry and said, "OMG! She's got a smallmouth!"  I grabbed the net and landed it for her, so she could get a picture with it. She put it back in the lake and watched a 3-4 pounder swim off. She was very excited, because it was her first smallie, and Terry and I were very happy for her. :)

I think it was the 4th spot in 25' of water by Sugar Island, where we had just set up, when both Terry and I got our baits down to the bottom... just set the bails on the reels when we both got hit by big bites. Both of us pulled up a nice perch 10+ inches. I thought we had finally found "THE" spot, but it wasn't meant to be. They must have been the only two large perch down there, because it went back to being little fish, after little fish, after little fish again. (Deep frustrating sigh...)

Terry and Becky wanted to make sure I knew that they were having fun, even though the cooler wasn't filling up with keepers. "This is more than just catching fish to us", said Terry...adding, "It's the whole experience to us. The great weather, the good company, the boat, the ride, the scenery, the birds...everything!" Becky agreed, and that made me happy! They want to come back next season to do walleye, since I told them I would show them how to set lines while trolling. 

I have another perch trip tomorrow, but am waiting on a reply from the customer. I gave him tomorrow's forecast of rain and an east wind, and the info from today's less-than-stellar catch.  I'll see what he wants to do. I told him we could wait and see what the forecast says in the morning, if that's what he wants to do.

Stay tuned....

Capt Juls