I took the day off yesterday and had a great day out on the water. In fact, it was the best day I’ve had fishing in many years. What surprised me the most though was not the quantity of fish caught (well over 20), but the quality. I’ve been fishing the Pyongtaek River for a good five years now and can’t remember another time where I caught so many nice sized, healthy bass in one day. And sorry, once again I didn’t have a scale or tape measure with me so I don’t know what they weighed or measured. I have a good idea, but since ideas aren’t official I’ll keep them to myself. lol
As you can see from the first pic, I started early. I left my house at 0520 and had the boat assembled and was on the water fishing by 0630. Even though the air temperature was in the low 30′s, the water temperature was in the 50′s. I know there are a lot of different theories out there about the best time of day to fish, but I say it’s hard to beat the break of dawn on any day, and yesterday did nothing but ingrain that in my mind even more. By the time 0730 had rolled around, I had caught several nice sized bass, including the biggest of the day.
I caught everything on 5″ black Senkos with blue flake, both wacky rigged and weedless. And truthfully, I didn’t notice that one rig produced any more fish than the other. I’d say they were about even for the day.
All in all a great day, and for that I am truly thankful.
Continued…
The Good:
I got out on the river and caught some decent fish, and couldn’t have asked for better weather. Fishing is a lot of luck, a lot of being in the right place at the right time, and with how unpredictable the weather is over here this time of year, yesterday turned out to be pretty decent. Again, I am thankful for that.
The Bad:
Just when I started catching nice fish I totally forgot how to tie knots. I didn’t actually forget, but wasted at least twenty minutes tying knot after knot only to have my line break when I cinched it up tight. I don’t know if my line was bad or what, but it was really
pissing me offgetting on my nerves. Also, I dumped my tackle box into the bottom of the boat TWICE. You can actually see some of my gear and tackle lying on the bottom in a couple of the pics.I’m still not that impressed with the boat, and I realize that that probably sounds pretty unappreciative of me, especially considering that I would not have had the day I had yesterday without it, but it’s just not that easy to fish from. The floor flexes as you walk on it, and since it’s v-shaped, it’s hard to walk on and all of your gear wants to slide to the bottom, right where you need to step. On the good side it’s pretty stealthy. You can slip up on a fishing spot without making much of a commotion in the water at all, which is great. It also moves out and planes on the water rather nicely with one person in it, but with two grown men forget about it. Oh, and it’s hard as hell to take a leak out of as well. lol
The Ugly:
I thought that since it was a weekday I’d have the river pretty much to myself, and did up until around 9 AM. That’s when I got crowded off the place where I was catching some nice fish by not one, not two, but THREE boats and six other fishermen. Also, there were at least, and I mean at least, twelve other boats out there yesterday, on a weekday no less, and some of them were really nice outfits. What really bothers me though, is this: Koreans seem to be no different out on the water than they are fishing from shore or waiting in line for a bus ticket; they just cut in front of you and do as they like. I suppose some of that tendency is due to Korea being a small and overpopulated country with not too many natural resources, but some of it is also just plain old selfishness. Like Nomad told me in an email last night, this is 2008 and they should know better, but apparently not.
I grew up fishing and hunting on public land, and ran into my fair share of pissed off hunters and fishermen when they showed up and realized that I was in one of their favorite spots, but for the most part people back home understand that it’s first come first serve when it comes to that sort of thing.
Yup, the old river sure aint what she used to be….
Rob,
Those are some nice fish anywhere in the world. I need to have me a day like yours; just one and it would make me happy. As for the lack of ettiquete, that just seems to be a norm in Korea, be it fishing, golf, driving, or just plain trying to get on the subway. I just think it’s part of the culture and they could care less how others feel about it as long as they are happy, that’s all that matters. Although, this tyope of crap also happens in the states. Many a times when fishing off a boat, other boaters will just cut you off knowing you are fishing a certain bank area. I can say that at least you killed them, which probably made your day.
Thanks Tex! From my experience with fishing everybody has their day, and I guess mine was yesterday. I probably won’t catch a thing for the rest of the year now. LOL
Yes, it can be the same way in the states, but I don’t think it’s as bad. Although I did read recently where people are getting into fights over areas on public lakes where one guy has sunk some kind of structure to attract fish, and then gets pissed off when he finds somebody else fishing it. Honestly, on public land and lakes nobody really has a right to complain, including me. A little common courtesy is all I’m asking for, but for some reason I don’t think I’m going to get it anytime soon. lol
How are the tournaments by the way? Are the KSA guys pretty respectful about that sort of thing?
WOW
Great photo’s Rob and great looking Bass, now I can’t wait to get up there and fish that river with you guys (except for all the “other” boaters!!!).
That river is deep, 23 feet, most of the lakes I fish don’t get anywhere near that depth.
I agree with the floor thing in these boats, you’ll have to get some wooden floor made, it’ll make it an entirely different boat, but it’s extra things to carry in the car. Are you still concidering getting a trailer for it ??
What line were you using and what knot do you use Rob ??
Thanks Steve! It really was a good day of fishing.
Yesterday was the first time I used a depth finder out there, and the deepest I noticed was 29 feet. I caught all of my fish in 2 to 15 feet of water though, all on some sort of structure, either rocks or trees.
And if anyone needs any proof on the power of the Senko, I caught that big fat one that’s on top of my tackle box in the picture above simply by throwing the Senko out to the left side of a big rock. I then sat the rod down without doing anything other than closing the bail on my reel, picked up the other rod I was fishing with, which was wacky rigged, and while I was jigging that one back in I noticed that the line on the one I had just thrown out went slack.
So, I sat the wacky rigged rod down, picked up the other one, and sure enough, after about three cranks of the reel I felt some resistence and a tug, set the hook, and it was fish on. She sucked that thing in her mouth as it was free falling and kept it there. I’m guessing, but it was a good ten or fifteen seconds from the time I noticed the slack in the line to the time I set the hook. She wasn’t letting go of it, that’s for sure. Hungry Momma! lol
The way you have your boat setup is sweet! I need to do the same, or something similar, and definitely need some type of flooring.
I use eight pound test flourocarbon line and tie a polymer knot. I’ve been tying it all year and haven’t had any problems until yesterday. As soon as I would cinch it up, snap! I’m thinking that my line on that particular reel was bad, but I just bought it this year.
It would be great for you to come up. Let me know when you plan on coming and I’ll take a day or two off.
I’ve been using Senko “copies” for a couple of years and thought they were great until I tried the real senkos just last week..they are amazing lures especially when wacky rigged.
Rob, I just wish I lived closer to you so I could help you with your boat and show you how I did mine.
What brand of fluro are you using (please don’t say Berkley Vanish!!). I fish with P-Line flurocarbon and use the clinch knot and NEVER have any problems with the knots breaking but I did have problems with Berkley Vanish, as does most other Berkley Vanish users.
If you can get time off during the week, I’ll definately come up there for a couple of days of boat fishing on the river in May.
Rob,
Sorry for not commenting earlier but as you know I headed out early this morning, right as you were making this post. I already saw most of these pics but to echo what others have already said, you had yourself one of “those days” that we all wish for out on the water. Not only did you catch a lot of fish, you caught a lot of big fish, and that rocks, my friend.
LOL, you know how I always fish with two rods, a different size/color Senko on each…how many times has that same thing happened to me…I cast one out, put it down, go to cast the other one and a bass will slam the Senko on the first rod. The power of the Senko!
Hmmm you do use Vanish Transition, don’t you? You should really check out the various forums out there…I’ve read so many stories about problems with that line – and most of them are that the line breaks real easy, right at the knot.
You all don’t have any problems with flourocarbon line? I have tried several types and have had nothing but problems with the line breaking easily due to abrasions. It is such a delicate line and wears quickly. In last years international tournament at Andong, I lost three nice ones because the line kept breaking on me. Just having caight one of those I lost would have probably earned my partner first palce and some cash. Instead we did not even place. I like the sensitivity of the line but man do I hate the way it falls apart quickly. Anyways, you all appear to be kicking ass. I may just make a trip down there on Sunday after church, if the wife gives me a kitchen pass.
Tex Mex,
For years, I’ve used nothing but Stren Magnathin 10-pound line and have never had a problem with it (except when I tie bad knots, which is on me). It has very little memory, doesn’t twist easy or tangle up on me, has low visibility and it casts very smooth and far. I’ve tried several others but keep going back to the Stren…right now I have some Suffix Elite 8-pound line on a couple of my rods to test it out and so far, it’s been pretty good but it’s not as sensitive as the Magnathin nor does it cast as far.
Rob,
I keep looking at that bass in your 4th pic…what a beauty! That has to be close to 50cm and what, 4, 4 1/2 pounds? Nice bass!
Rob,
How well does that side view work on the humminbird?
I always wondered if you could actually pick anything up with that.
Dave
Steve, Yup! It was Berkley Vanish!! lol A friend of mine fishes with P-line too and he really likes it. I might have to give it a try.
Thanks Nomad. I was thinking around 4 probably, but doubt that she was 50cm long. Maybe around 46 or 47… She was definitely fat though.
Dave, Friday was the first time I took it out, but it seemed to do ok. More than once I caught fish when they were showing up on the side finder screen, but I tried not to go by that too much, just fished the areas that I’d normally fish anyway.
Way to go Rob!
Vielen Danke Gar! By the way, it was great seeing you and the Mrs. on Saturday. Now I want a Harley!
Rob, I’m like you and love the river and remember just a few years ago that you could be out all day and not see another bass fisherman. I think now you have to go farther up or down the river to get a little solitude. What is really bugging me is the chain across the new boat ramp put up, I assume, by the commercial carp fishermen. I thought the city put the ramp in, if so, how can someone restrict access? If someone knows who I can call about this, I’d appreciate the info.
John, in years past you and I were probably out there at the same time and didn’t even know it. That’s how desolate it was. But that was before the new road was put in, before the levy was cleaned up, and most importantly before bass fishing became popular. I can remember, and this is only going back about four years, coming back to the rest stop area on summer evenings in Joe’s old boat and not seeing a soul, definitely no bass fishermen. It really is amazing how much it (bass fishing) has taken off in this country. Truly amazing!
And I don’t know what’s up with that adoshi. As I told Nomad last night, Joe used to park his boat right there beside adoshi’s farm equipment and he never had a problem. At that time the guy wasn’t in to fishing though; he only farmed the island. Heck, we’d sit there drinking cold beer after a day out on the river and he never even paid us any attention, and on more than one occasion we gave him and his wife cold bottles of water to drink. I guess maybe the old guy feels that his livlihood is being threatened by the influx of people and boats; I don’t really know. One thing is for sure though; he did not pay for that ramp to be put in and putting a gate up with a lock on it is pushing it a little bit.
Hell, I remember walking that shoreline near that area just a couple of years ago and being the only soul, period, on a weekday. It was the same way when I would drive the levee near the 38 and 45 bridge, park and then walk the shore along the river. I was the only one that was fishing. Back then, even the carp fishermen stayed mainly in certain areas but no more.
Now you can go to the same spots and there are cars parked all up and down that levee, and in the warmer parts of the year, people are even camping out and spending the night.
Idong was the same way though…up until maybe two, three years ago, hardly anyone fished that lake for bass but now, on a weekend, the north end by that creek is packed elbow to elbow.
You can thank the Oh Brothers from FTV for all this!
The freaking Oh Brodders!!! I knew it!! LOL