5 star morning today on American Lake.

I have been close numerous times on filling my daily limit this season, but due to numerous variables and several instances of operator error, the fifth fish has seemed ever elusive. I was determined to get over the hump!

After catching four Kokes yesterday and losing my fifth before I could get my net out, I figured it was time to revisit and hone a few tactics.

I decided to get serious and to catch the early bite. I was up at 0345 with a target of 0500. Finally set up and lines wet at 0530 this morning. It looked like the start of a great day- overcast, light winds, no water skiers and amazingly enough, I did not forget anything!

I started with my normal "go-to" lure set ups, speeds and locations....NOTHING. 90 minutes into my trolling run and empty handed, I could not figure out why my techniques that worked less than 24 hours earlier were not producing....and now I am beginning to think that the zero dark thirty wake up was maybe not a great idea!!

Clearly I misjudged the early morning depths...I figured with the sun down, cloud build up, lack of traffic and winds, that I would start at 25-30 feet on the wire. I gradually descend as the sun rises and after marking a few schools, I have an idea where to position my gear. This morning was different...I was not even close to the correct depth as I later discovered. I continued to change my speed, depth, set ups and location. I guess this is supposed to be fun!! Not much action and decided to make a run to the north end of the lake to try things there.

I traveled to the north end of Silcox Island in 70' feet of water and turned north. Changed out all of my gear yet again and dropped a green Wedding Ring tipped with corn and UV dodger to 50'. On the other rigger, I had a gold Wedding Ring tipped with corn and Dick Nite 50/50 dodger at 45'.

Finally... at 0700 I had my first hit. Green Wedding Ring with a UV dodger went off. I quickly re-rigged and sent it right back down. There we no boats around and decided to make a large continual slow orbit over the area. I triangulated the north end of Silcox, north to almost abeam the big mansion and the Lakewood Launch to the west, while remaining in 60-90 feet of water.

Another 10 minutes and the second hits. Another in the following 5 minutes followed quickly by the fourth. I am a happy camper now and patiently awaiting for the 5th. He hit at 0740 on the gold Wedding Ring positioned at 45' and actually made it into the boat and the cooler:)

Off the water by 0800 with my first limit of the year, a huge smile and more importantly, many lessons learned and relearned:)

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