THEY'RE STILL HERE! Picked up a couple the other morning. We were using lighter tackle and these fish put up a helluva fight. Out of town for the next couple weeks so CLOSENFF was cleaned up and dry docked. Capt. needs a bigger boat may be putting her up on ebay to try and catch buyer. That maybe the toughest one to land but we'll see. Capt. is graciously taking donations. This boat here would be ideal.

Ok apparently the stripes aren't as deep as the capt. has been chasing for them. Finally got one in bout 45ft. on a plug with out a planer. The photographer will start taking pics while the fish are still in the water, this may put less pressure on the capt. to actually land the fish. The photo below has about 2 dozen blue heron in it, never seen so many in one location. Would have bet the boat that there'd be fish there, not a bite.


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Well the live bait fishing didn't go as planned. We sat around and not even a bite. Capt. Ray says not to give up on the live bait if you truley want to catch a real big fish. Kinda tough to argue that point with the good ole capt. Check out this monster circa 1981. That's a 781lb. giant tuna, unfortunately these fish are not in the lake but you see why I can't argue with him.

Alright well CLOSENFF has recently hired part time fisherwomen to procure bait. Thanks to Mrs. Shirley and Michelle for filling up the bait bucket on their 1st call to duty. Just need to train them to put the worms on, although think that may take some coercing.

Mr. Bob and his inlaws made it out after their 1st trip was a rain out. A lot of running around led us back to the dock for some striper action. Notice the man who caught the fish seems to have a more genuine smile for the camera. Looks like Mr. Ron Ricco is skeptical bout the CLOSENFF call of 4lbs. and DA is looking at the capt. wondering where all the largemouth are. The capt. caught one as well that he fumbled at the boat.

Why is the captain smiling with the fish?? Isn't the crew supposed to catch 'em?? I know Todd and his buddy Bob didn't come along to hear the captain's bs. Although the bs turned into reality, as the capt. was explaining how he caught one at the dock last time, BOOM the striper on the left hit right at the boat and took off for the deeper water. Maybe Todd really does like being the photographer... maybe not. Todd CLOSENFF owes u a big one for all your great pics!

Well when the captain is not fishing he is hanging out in the garage with his bud. Check out this clip that the STIGA ping pong co. thought was interesting enough to put on their site. Way to go Bob, on closing the deal.

Watch the clip. .

Went this am all alone, business has slowed no one is too interested anymore except the capt. Going to be tough to justify a 17' for the fall season. Found the smaller striper in 25ft. and the bigger one, just over 5lbs, in 55ft right next to the dock. He put up a hell of a fight, took off twice, music to a fisherman's ears. Almost fell in tryin to grab him tho, still shakin here.

Mrs. Michelle holds what she calls a big mouth here. Got him trolling the honey hole not 2 minutes after we put it in the rod holder.