Lake Monona

sorry but lol!!  hope the lil guys ok but great story!! lol

In this episode of "Tales at The Wall"..... We recap the "event" of last night's fishing adventure.  As I'm walking in this trio of kids run, walk, and skip by me.  Rat think's to self... "Are they here fishing or just running wild".  Turns out they are fishing with Dad.  After fishing a while I understand why they were running around.  Fishing is painfully slow and they are bored. A bit later the trio of sibs come by me and the "star" of tonight's episode pretends like he's going to jump over the wall and into the lake.  He's the youngest and has the most energy.  Some time passes and I catch a glimpse of the youngest kid running by me with a fishing pole in his hand.  Little does this young rambunctious kid know that a nano second later his summer is going to change drastically.....
I hear a thud and see the kid laying on the ground. He didn't move right away and I thought maybe a head injury.  I lay my poles down and move to assist.  At the same time the kid, who was kind of laying on his right side, sits up and we all realize what has happened.  He looks down at his newly reshaped left forearm and lets out a blood curdling yell.  His sibs see that he is down and they start screaming once they see the crooked arm. Dad comes running down and gets the kids to calm down.  They do.  Eventually some EMT's stretchered him out.  It was very chaotic and the dad did do a good job given the situation. 
You see those types of injuries all the time on video but to see one up close is quite unsettling.  The bone did not break the skin but will need surgery to be fixed.
Fishing did not get much better.  One of the slower outings I've had in a while. Um yeah....Walk don't run with fishing pole in hand.  Good luck out there. Rat.

Out Thursday morning and Saturday afternoon.  Bass fail at my "dependable" sunrise spot.  The area I usually cast to was weed choked and impossible to get at.  Oh well.  Did catch one gill to avert the skunk.  
Did a lot of sight fishing for gills Saturday.  That's always fun as it is frustrating.  It's that time of year when the 1/64 jig head shines.  The slow drop makes it easier for the fish to chase and eat.  The frustrating part is the biggest gills rarely bite as they aren't as aggressive as the smaller fish.  Had I been keeping would of had a mess of gills. Catching a lot of spawned out females. All fish caught on plastic plain or tipped with wax worms. Yellow jighead out preformed the chartreuse.  Good luck out there. Rat.
 

Late report. Fished Saturday morning for gillies with my buddy John. Started on east shore of lake and got some fish but not steady. Moved to the cluster of boats where it rises up (I am a newbie to Monona),. Steady bite. Had to sort through the gillies but we kept 8 of them. Caught bluegill, rock bass and largemouth bass. No fish on beds on east side. Leeches and red worms both produced under a bobber.

Hit my tried and true sunrise bass spot on the 23rd and this morning. Got eleven between 4:45 and 5:45 on the 23rd.  Got hit on the second drop and it was on.  Usually get hit on the first cast. 
Got to spot at 4:25 this morning expecting to get bit and catch bass no problem.  Yep.  Not a tap.  Moved to a different spot. Same thing.  Went back to original spot.  Said to self, "downsize your Dinger"?  First cast was about at the end of my retrieve and got slammed.  About tore the rod out of my hand.  Next cast same thing.  It was on.  Got twelve and was done by 5:45. Each outing I'd say seven or eight measured.  Lot's of 14" to 16" bass in Monona.  Always a blast.  Good luck out there. Rat. 

Out 1 to 4 yesterday. Got into an unexpected crappie bite.  Males all had that dark black hue indicating the spawn is on.  Sight fished gills as well.  The small gills are the most aggressive.  The bigger ones take a look and move on.   Fishing gills is so much better when the lake turns green. Lol.  Good luck out there. Rat.

The lake is clear and low . The Muck bars are back at Olbrich . Just in time for Memorial weekend . 

I will not buy red worms this year.  I will not buy red worms this year.  Of course I did.  Results never change.  The little ones nip away and steal your worm.  Occasionally you'll even catch a nice one.  Wax worms and gold ice jig still working.  Things have really slowed down the last two weeks.  We're entering that transition time between ice out and spawn.  The main lake is gin clear so you can see fish everywhere. Some of that filamentous algae is starting to form on top.  You know the stuff that fouls your baits.  
The bays and triangles start to get weed choked and the fish seem to disappear.  Crappie bite is pretty much a dusk bite.  It lasted five minutes on Wednesday night.  Caught three and then nothing.  Did catch three bass and a decent pike as well
 We getting to the time of year where if you don't catch bass on Monona you aren't fishing for them.  My signal is when I start catching bass on my panfish presentations. Then its time to go Wacky and bring out the trusty old tube jigs.  Gonna get out some Ned rig stuff I bought years ago and never really used. It'll be nice to get away from gills for a bit. Lol
Good luck out there. Rat.

fished 7 to 1,  4 fish (lm0 lost 3 more.  stiil cvool temps.  fish still in 2 to 5 foot range for me.  where's the warm weather?  good luck :)  RT

Yes, there are piers in at Olin. I don't think they have all of them in, but I believe 2 of the 3. Good luck!