I went against my usual procedure and added up before the year end. The chances of me getting to go fishing again in 2009 are slim and none, so I decided to go ahead and add.  The total times fishing was only 65 as opposed to 78 both of the last two years.  I was disappointed in that number, adding it up twice just to make sure it was correct. The total number of fish was 934, about 100 more than I would have guessed,  much to my pleasant surprise.  The biggies were good too, with 5 over 7 pounds. The FOY, included in the 5 over 7, was 8 – 3.  One of every 19.9 fish caught was over 4 pounds, for a total of 47.  I only made 7 trips to Wolf Lake, but it was smokin’ with a 68.6 fish per trip average.  If I went there a few more times I’d be up with Hal in the 2000 fish range. The fish are getting bigger there too, with 8 over 4 this year, none in 2008.  The next best two lakes were the Garhole with 10.6 per trip and Ferguson with 10.2. Monticello yielded only 5.5  fish per trip, but 25  over 4 pounds, 4 of which were over 7.

This is a photo of the  2008 “ledger” that I keep all this data in.

The book

My “takeaways” from all the math are that I should go to the Garhole more and earlier next year.  Ferguson is best for me below 25 feet from June to September.  Monticello is stingy in January and February so I should be going to the shallower, warmer Cane Creek  Reservoir then.  Wolf is full of bass and they are getting bigger with age. Caught a 4 -15 there and  7 more over 4 this year after none last. The MDWFP limit of 2 bass seems to be working to make this lake a great bass lake.

I hope Santa brings every one that reads the Bitespot  a sleigh full of good fishing stuff.  MERRY CHRISTMAS and tight lines in 2010.