Camped at the state park Mon-Thurs. Mon and Tues were too windy for our liking with sprinkles here and there.

Weds cleared up and winds calmed down significantly. We tried to hit up the ripraps but there were multiple boats pounding away there, so turned to Goose Island. My partner caught the first SMB on the 2nd cast using a senko. I was throwing a swimbait to see if any chasers. A few casts later and she gets another. Hmmm. I switch up to a craw on a jig. We spooked the birds and they were swarming. You saw all sorts of droppings happening in the water around us. We didn't want to get bombed on so we pulled away to the little island east of Goose. Well we got bullied by the birds there too so decided to see if any LMB are interested in the dunes. The water is cloudy with algae and sediment. I went with a swimjig. No bites. I bought some chatterbaits and never used them before. Thinking maybe this is my best chance to try. Added a paddle tail to it and started throwing. Wow do these throw out a lot of vibration. I was feeling confident in this lure. Welp, blanked out on the LMB in the dunes. Time to head back in and we hit up the ripraps where I wanted to target originally. We caught several small SMB. Biggest for the day was probably right at 2#

Thurs, same perfect weather. Went up Lind Coulee a bit and targeted the shore. 1st cast and fish on. A nice healthy SMB on a senko. Landed about 6 in short order there. Biggest was what looked like a 3# that my partner has on but jumped and spit the hook. Funny thing bc as she was reeling it back in, I could see she had someone else's line too. A nice rusted out small flicker shad.

Went back to the dunes bc I still wanted that LMB. Started with the chatter again. It was about the 5th cast and I feel the rod load up. Fish on! It does a jump and I see it's a LMB. Finally! Not a giant. Maybe 1.5# or a little more. It was caught recently with a crank or jerkbait. On one side of it's gill plate was raw along the edges. Kept at it for another hour or so before headed back home.

I know people load up on lots of fish here. We're just not one of those. Maybe it's bc we don't go out early enough or poor timing. So the catch rate for us is typical from our experience but realistically it's probably poor. Maybe we'll hit up the lake again in fall. Did well quantity wise with the lower water.

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