Well, I made it out today. First time to Burnt Mills and besides the ramp I like it. The ramp makes it hard to impossible seeing that I have a 50 on the back of my boat. We made it out later than I wanted but ended up staying longer, the little one seemed to be having a good time and not complaining too much. Normally, she (almost 4y/o) is done after about 1 to 2 hours and makes everyone miserable until we pack up.
Anyway, got out about 2:30 and left around 5. We caught 12 all together but only one crappie. I caught some shellcracker that were big enough to bring home but decided to let them go when we got done as I was really after crappie and 3 bream isn’t nearly enough for us to eat. All in all, we caught two chain pickeral, one LMB, two yellow perch, 6 bream, and one crappie. We were casting using white, money color, and chartreuse and chartreuse was the only color we didn’t catch much on. Wife decided we need to head back without the little one next time and I agreed. Sorry but no pics this time. I don’t remember that part much, always decide if I am keeping and then release if not. Will work on it though.
The first trip to a lake is the toughest. I have not been out there since Aug. 21 and have not fished it this time of year since before it was closed so I don’t have a lot to offer. Believe it or not, the ramp is actually nice now compared to how it used to be. Oh well, hope you have better luck next time.
Thank you George. The ramp is not bad except I have to get wet to pull the boat onto the trailer. If I get out there more often I will figure out how to get the boat on the trailer more efficiently. I get it off with no problem. Also, I plan on hitting the North Landing again after that advice you gave me I had one of my best days out there yet. I have only fished the West Neck creek and want to head down to the other areas that I have heard produce well.
If there’s no dock and the ramp isn’t steep enough, you have to do some acrobatics in order to avoid the bath. The key is getting the trailer far enough out into the lake while still being able to climb across your truck/van/car and onto the trailer tongue without getting your feet wet. You need a long bow line–mine is 50’. When you return to the ramp, beach the boat so everyone can get out dry. After backing your trailer far enough into the lake so your bunks are wet, push the boat well out into the lake (the reason for the long bow line) in line with the trailer (windy days can make this tough.) Scramble onto your trailer and guide the boat on as far as it will go. If it’s lined up straight, you should be able to pull it with enough force & speed to get it all the way on. At a minimum, you should be able to reach far enough to hook the winch cable and crank it on. Even if you need to don a pair of knee boots to avoid getting your feet wet, that beats wading in up to your waist and riding home with wet clothes.
I just drive mine on the trailer..lol but I gotta feeling your boat is WAY bigger than my 1448… Not a bad short trip… Just remember to hammer the spot you caught that crappie. if theres one there is many
Thanks for the report. I am sure you will catch more crappie, because you are doing the right thing–pursuing them! If your line is not wet,…well you know the rest.
corker, thanks for the advice…that is pretty close to what I normally do. I might have put the trailer to far in the water because I would have had to get wet up to my knees to get around my Tahoe to get on the trailer. Yesterday my bow line pull loose right as I was pulling it onto the trailer so I had to get a little wet. I will work out how far to back in to make it all work right. It doesn’t look like there is ever really a big line to get out so that will definitely help. That, and some non-skid on my trailer as that is how I got wet. My foot slipped right off my trailer when I was connecting my trailer winch to the bow eye on the boat.
Percidai_papermouth, yea my boat is a little bigger but the real issue is I have a 50hp on the back so can’t run it there. When I caught the crappie I was thinking of staying there but it was within the first 30 minutes and I wanted to explore the lake and when I returned we didn’t get anything in that area. Oh well, one day I will remember if you are catching fish to stay put.
I was there Sunday, after reading your report I believe I may have saw you, I had a G3 boat we were pulling in near the time you were going out there were two guys and two young boys on board, me driving.
If that was you I’ll make sure I introduce my self next time.
Might have been, I saw a couple boats don’t remember a G3 in particular though. I was in a Tracker Pro170TX and it was the wife, daughter (4y/o) and I. I was really paying attention to the depth finder when I first started as I was suprised the depth there was so shallow. Yea, next time say hi…but I warn you wife says I have been blessed (read that as cursed) with the gift of gab.
Also, I forgot to add that I am normally wearing a white University of Kentucky (UK) hat while fishing. That should make it easier to spot me next time for certain.
