Happy New Year! In keeping with tradition, I am making a few “resolutions” for 2022. The following are my top three fishing goals for 2022.
1. Fish New Water
Ohio has over 70 inland lakes. Although I have fished about half of them, I still have a long way to go and many undiscovered gems to cast a line into. My goal every year is to fish a new lake in every region. This year, I am particularly excited about the “big pond” up north – Lake Erie! Lake Erie boasts some of the best small mouth bass fishing this side of the Mississippi. I intend to experience the bite and fight of the beautiful bronze backs as much as possible this year. A few other lakes I have earmarked are Indian Lake, Grand Lake St. Mary’s, La Due Reservoir and Buckeye Lake. I look forward to showing off our catches and informing you all about the water, boat ramp conditions and nearby bait & tackle, camping and other attractions for planning your next fishing adventure.
2. Keep A Diary
As a tournament angler, it is valuable to know your water. I have fished many waters in our state, both for fun and in tournaments. Its always helpful to go back and look up what worked or didn’t work in certain conditions on a given lake. For instance, I know, when I fish Lake Milton in the Spring, what lure I used in the p ast and where I found fish with that lure. Its no guarantee, but a great place to start when searching for fish. I will repeat the same patterns in depth, lure selection and location. Some of the factors I consider in my diary are water temperature, wind conditions, lure color and water clarity. Of course depth and location come into play as well. Repeating what I have done in the past lets me know whether the fish are there or not. This way, I can determine the rest of my day, either looking for similar spots or trying something different.
3. Back to Basics
With the advances in technology available today, bass fishing is much more like a video game. See the fish on your screen, watch your lure drop, watch the fish grab it, set the hook. “Pre-fishing” is boat driving and graphing a lake, marking where you saw fish. Although this is quite efficient and probably saves the fish a little extra wear and tear from not being caught pre-tournament, I love the “old school” challenges of finding fish by instinct and chance.
I also love the feeling of immersion and solitude when we fish form our canoe. It heightens my awareness of the buoyancy and flow of the water. I am more aware of my movements and noise. I rely on my instinct and knowledge of bass habits to find fish. No motor, no electronics to assist. Just man vs. nature.
In 2021, our canoe sat idle as we fished from our bass boat only. This will NOT happen in 2022! There are so many Ohio lakes to explore by kayak and canoe, and I intend to try them! My goal would be to take a canoe trip once per month May – October, bringing you reposts for six new lakes! La Due Reservoir will be the first on that list…
Happy New Year
As we welcome a new year, I welcome the planning of our Go Fish Ohio season. I look forward to bringing you bass fishing reports, tackle reviews and all things fishing in the great state of Ohio! Whether you are a seasoned tournament angler or just looking for a thrill of a lifetime Lake Erie charter, Go Fish Ohio will lead you there. Cheers to tight lines, big limits, full coolers and magic memories in the coming 2022 season of Ohio fishing!
