After three years of being skunked on planers and flat lines (well besides catfish and gar but never the targeted dreaded spring stripers) I had a real confidence which might be fixed today. I needed to resort to some sort of Brett and Dan D. ritual to break the skunk. I was intimidated to say the least knowing that this day was nearing. I prayed for rain, tornados, and for Larry to have the flu and be closed today but neither of the afore mentioned happened. After all I was going to have to spend some real money. How much can Larry make selling me 4 dozen crappie minnows? I gotta do my part for the local economy. I met Dan D. at the bait store. He wouldn't cancel, and I'm a man of my word. I'm game in all conditions and since I worked this trip out months I couldn't cancel under any conditions even lightning so I decided. No such luck. I had to stare down the animal and dance. I am a doubting Thompson to very very frank, well on that spring pattern anyways. I was hoping I would wake up, and it would be June. That means possible leadcore and umbrella rigs and downlines. See my first real striper season was summer, and I always thought this is really easy. Then the Lord showed me that I was fixing to have some major humbling for the next few years. Yes, summer wasn't quite so easy nor would I ever be able to captain I concluded. I was convinced that I would be a deckhand forever. I accepted my fate, and I soon came to the realization that being on the water as the "HELP", make that help small letters only, as that is how bad it had gotten was still better than sitting on the couch waiting for summer again.
When I striper fish in the spring, I usually put of crappie jigs which do the trick to the tune of my persoanl best of 24 lb 7 ox on 6 lb test. Since Kroger was out of bananas and candles, I put on a Georgia hat. Now for the hard part to type. I am a die-hard gator fan. Yes, the ones that lost to Butler? WTH? I promised my fishing partner that I would be photograped in his Georgia hat holding my first striper caught on a planer. I put the hat on a 4:50 a.m. and with that needed some advil. Now, I risked a skunk and humiliation which doesn't sit right. A double dose of Focker was set into motion in my head.
I decided not to eat breakfast and have cokes all day so I could keep myself upbeat when the doubt started creeping me. I figured I was with Dan, and at the absolute worst that could happen was I would learn some things, and at the best we would catch a spot or two. We got to the boat ramp with anticipation, and as Dan drove the boat off the trailer, I wondered how I would feel soaking wet, skunked, and out some money. The only positive part is that no photographs would ever bear my likeness in that G hat Well, my wife told me to go, and my daughter said today would be the day daddy. To be 10 and full of hope is a wonderful thing. You know how cynical us 40 somethings are.
We drove to a great little place on the north end, and I learned how to lay the spread. Dan was done by now waiting on me, and all I could think was where in the hell does this clip go and what side does this go on? How many clips are on this rip off item? How did I get suckered into these expensive boards as I have yellowbirds? Did he say back 10 feet or 100? I was so scrared of these things. Just kidding. Dan set up this first batch faster than bread turns to toast. I think Dan said Get her done or some kind of southern expression. We had a few short strikes, and pulled bait for a while. 8 baits out. What could go wrong. Surely, we aren't fishing 19 crappie rods. Now that is easy. We pulled up the baits to try another spot, and of course the fish boiled. We watched wildlife and no, not the local VFW? I am a veteran so I can say that with a smile. Dan threw a bait which I think he called a McNugget. I was at a loss for words as they boiled just out of casting range or by the boat and wouldn't hook up. Dan reassured me that fishing was tough, and I was ready for the guide speech. You know. Well they weren't biting today due to the pressure change...blah blah $400.00 please. If you had booked Wednesday we caught 107 yada yadayada.
Dan of course was the total optimist and professional. We moved from the banks and the boiling fish to an area with no fish that I could see. I don't have captains eyes, but I will never doubt the signs again. He got the great idea to vary our presentation a little and give us some new million dollar homes to look at. I like sighseeing and looking at the graph. We got to the spot, and the graph lit up. I kept saying come on baby.
A planer board on my side raced across the water at lightning speed. I wanted DNR to stop that jetski for reckless driving and running over a line or two. I thought stripers had to stay in the lanes. Haven't they ever run track before. My heart jumped out of my chest. That couldn't be on Dan's side could it? Oh no. I remembered all my coaching just hang on and raise up until 11:00 o' clock. Take line of he gives, but don't force him in. He will let you know when he is ready. I was jazzed, shaking, and praying I didn't have another war story to tell. I fought that beauty with pride and said yeah the planer board produced. I grinned ear to ear, and a spring rookie planer board kind was born. I had it, and I owe Dan one hell of a thank you. My finger are sliced up, and I don't care. I won't even wash that hand. You can't imagine what relief that was to see that planer fly across the lake and that reel is humming. The skunk was over. We even caught two spots to top the day off.
The best part of the day was giving a fellow boater a jump on the lake. Dead batteries suck, and the Lord blessed us. Never leave a boater stranded. I haven't stoppee smiling, and I can't wait to get my planers and flat lines out. Thanks all for keepin faith and Dan, my friend, you are a true fisherman and living legend.
Wahoocreek

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I appreciate the kind words. You should of seen his face when I said we are going to pull this area out in front of a large cove in 75' of water. All he could say was I thought you just pull the shoreline this time of year.

I think this is a huge misconception around spring fishing. Yes the fish will feed in very shallow water, and this is the time of year we all love for this. But the truth be known is that unless the bait is in shallow water. And the rain has not blown out the backs of the creeks, and also the lack of stable wheather all equal (fish deep)

These fish will usually pull out to deep water to either sulk, or chase the bait balls. This I find alot of times will be in 35' to 75' of water. Yes they are harder to get to come up, because they might be suspended at the 30' mark, but over a 75' bottom, just as we found them today. These fish are more fickle and harder to get to come up and hit, but are usually much better fish. I found in my bass fishing days that when you had a front on you, be it cold or rain. The shallow fish were the first to shut down and you would have a much better chance of pecking out fish by going deep.

This is where the fish came from and we started out with only one weighted planer board. Guess which one the fish came on?

An experienced captain knows these things. Fishing with Dan is a real priviledge. Striper fishing is so much trial and error or just having the focus to listen to a man that has proven time and time again that he can catch them. The facts are simple. I could have gone by myself or with my partner, and we would have fished banks only to get shutout again. We would have then sank deeper into the confidence killer doldrums of Lake Lanier. Needless to say knowledge is power. I received a wealth of it. I hope to mentor my kid and wife and close friends and allow them to catch the powerful and big spring striper. I ran into Plan B and Gavin on the lake. Amazingly, the three people that I know from the boards were either in the boat, next to us in a creek, or just passing being there usually friendly selves. I have heard it time and time again that newbies need a guided trip to learn what to do in each season. I am also a newbie at least to the spring pattern. Thanks for never letting up Dan until we got one and went for more harder after we hooked the striper. Cloudy day with no rain and calm winds was amazing judging from the poor down earlier in the morning. Fish weighed around 16 or 17 ans was safely released to grow up. Kudos too for amazing boat control, and that is a big part of catching. Use every advantage you can get to hook up. Ateention to detail is very important on your boat and presentation and in life too. I closed my eyes finally last night late, and I kept seeing the planer board head away from the boat at light speed. That feeling and memory changed my fishing career and gave the needed boost of confidence to never let this great season pass again without landing a nice fish.

Oh man I guess wearing that ugly hat, I mean UGA hat, paid off. I am a gator fan too and that would have killed me. However I am in the same boat as you and would have no problem putting it on to catch a striper. Call me a sellout or just call me desperate. Thats awesome man glad you got them.

Way to go. First striper on a planer is great, but then all stripers on a planer are great. You certainly fished with the best under tough conditions. Way to go Dan. Love the hat. See you on the lake.

That's a great morning read... thanks! Congrat's, too! That's one well-deserved fish, and a nice one at that.

Maybe if I throw on a FL hat I might have the same luck.

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Nah, don't think I will take that chance of ruining two seasons. I love to fish but I love my dawgs more. LOL

Great job on a couple of nice fish.

I learned it is not the hat. It was the captain, his attention to every little detail, a great presentation, fishing where fish are, a clean organized boat, and a good sense of humor. Don't wear the gator hat if you are not a true fan as you will regret it the following day. Once pictured and in print it becomes the truth to some people. Anyways thanks for all the very nice compliments. I was so thankful to have some hands on OJT, and an expert set of eyes to correct my minor mistakes. That was a fun fish, and I still believe in doing it yourself to really learn. Things seem easy when you are the passenger. Anyone agree. Charles, you always have very pleasant things to say. Thanks for the encouragement.

This post/reply is great. I was the same way. What does it take? I'll do anything. I gotta see it, feel it, hook her, and boat her. Too awesome. Power baby, pure power. You wanna borrow the lucky G hat? It's got blueback scales on it.

Great story.................I got my trolling motor back today and it arrived in one piece, thank goodness I'm ready for some fishin.
I'm a hardcore Gator fan for the last 50 plus years but I don't think I could ever wear a Ga. hat no matter how bad the fishin got, lol. I better go to the dollar story and pick the candles up & get a stock of bananas. Well Wahoo & Troutman we're gonna have to show these guys some Salt Life :-)

Hold on guys! I haven't told you guys on this board, but I too grew up in FL and my brother went to Gatorland. So I too am a hard core gator fan. My son went to UGA and I have ties on both sides, so I can tolerate each fan. But for me its about Gators Yeha Baby!!!!!!!

I grew up in the marshes of FL and have duck hunted and pig hunted, and deer hunted in the nastiest cypress swamps with the gators and mocasin's all around me. NO BIG DEAL so when it really comes down to it "Gators will bite the head off any dog"....LOL ROTFL

Corey where are you?

I second that. Back to my roots with a Go Gators. I thought that the G on the hat stood for Gators. Dan knows that I love my gators, but aren't fisherman a little superstitous? Big Bro, woody, Huddy and all that read the story. I tried to make the story interesting with some actual thoughts that I had but never said. Chime in if you've ever thought the same things. I knew Dan was a grinder, but hunting by the snakes would scare me off. Gators not so much. We would try to recruit a good Q.B. Thanks to you all for the great words of encouragement and for reading that piece with numerous movie references. I like hearing about others stories of fishing and catches along with overcoming many obstacles or long odds to chase the dream.

I knew there was something about Dan that made him unique, He' a brother Gator. Did you ever hog & gator hunt down in the Withacochee? My brother had a place there by Turners Fish Camp & we'd hit that many weekends up from Tampa, the 5 brothers & my Dad, what a mess we were. Boy were those goodtimes, it's nice reflecting back on that.

This board is tanking fast Captain. We'll all be wearing jorts soon. Corey, the board is filling with gators now.....


John

LOL I've never wore jorts I have neon legs :-)

OK John that is wear I draw the line!!! Jorts are a new thing and I am to old for that crap...LOL The women fine the men I draw the line.
Just Remember my son is a Dawg so keep it clean guys. I guess this is why I never came forward.

HA HA HA.

Nice

I have hunted all over FL hunted Turkey down at fish eating creek. 3 Lakes and all around the Disney property. Now it would cost you about 4 guided striper trips for one Turkey hunt down there. But when I grew up there is was pristine and still as it had been for hundreds of year. We used to go to Boca Grand for the Tarpon, and Midnight pass for the Snook.

I will tell you the things I have grown up with would cost you a million dollars to recreate. It is over down there for the young to experience what we had back then. I have to quit I am getting melancholy. You could only imagine!!!

You should go to JAX and see all the jean shorts on both team's fans. Me neither B-Bro. Hop Head funny post. I've never seen any retailer in Georgia turn away my money or business because I wear a Gator hat. That is the long and short of it. Paper plays no matter what logo is on the truck, boat, house flag, kid etc. The point is in the offseason I could care less about sports. The goal here is to catch fish. My daughter just received a golf scholarship from a wealthy dawg/coach. Do you think I won't put the hat on to support my kid as she prepares for college golf.

My buddy always said that the only thing that would change his fan hood would be a college paying for his kid's education. I'm sure all of you parents are in the same boat. Now, if they are good athletes and you are good parents, you'd send them to LSU.

Back to topic - how is the fishing out there? You guys still pulling herring or dropping them deep?

Funny. Oh no LSU talk. Yes, who went fishing today?

Pretty much all pulling until April then we will see some down line action. Right now though keep it up in the water colume.

Dan,
I got your back. Next time we fish, I am bringing you a brand new UF hat. Looks sharp. I love Orlando too, but things have really changed since I left in 88 yes? I appreciate you coming forward. I knew most of this, and you have reasons to support both universities. I didn't know that so many Gators are/were on the boards and contributing to the Lanier community with our passion for fishing. Should be nice Wednesday. I might throw McStick and catch the afternoon/evening cycle.

By the way, congrats on a productive trip. I'm sure that you're itching to go again now.

Oh I also forgot too mention, that my son graduated with honors from the Grady School of Braodcasting. Now he is one of the producers at 680 the Fan, and hates the Gators...LOL

Congrats to your son and there's many GatorHators but if we weren't hated we would know that we weren't good then. I'd like to also thank Clay for having this mini Gator-Nation Forum, your a great guy for being a Dawg :-)

Well done.That is a great fish

Dan, I knew that I liked your family! Your son is a Dawg and mine loves the Gators. It is ok because we get to trash talk alot on the boat.
Wahoo that is a great story. I have had the pleasure of fishing with Dan before. We had a great day. The folks on this forum have been a great help to me over the years. I have made some great friends. I have fished next to Dan many days in weather that would turn most people back to the house!

Dan is a trooper just like me. That is why we get along so well. If you get mad after being on the water for 10 hours because you can't believe that the day is already over, you love fishing. If you are planning your next trip at the same time you are launching for the day, then you are a grinder. I love the hard core fishing experience, but t-tops and a spacious boat take away some of the elements. Stripermack agreed on the forum and folks on here being very helpful and encouraging. If you can fish next to Dan in weather that would turn people back, then i want to meet and fish with you. Striper bait (Larry) Thanks. A compliment from you means alot, and I appreciate your store and helpfulness everytime I am in. Good work keeping us fishing.

I must love fishing, cause catching or not, I yearn for the water the second I pull that boat out.

Me too. Amen Troutman

Clay, I am here, but do you really want me to post my initial thoughts on this one?

I'm just trying to figure out who's goig to be the first one to send Dan some flowers. Jeez, we all know Dan's a great fisherman. Can't you guys get a room? Still, anyone that pulls for either Florida or Georgia can't be right ib the head. Only thing worse is being an Alburn fan.

Or an Alabama fan.

I think that was not a typo....Al-burn, I get it. That's good, I finally figured out why you Ga. guys hate Alabama football so much. Just took a couple of decades of watching ya'll play. I even root for those Dogs. Yeh we had a few bad years too, but I think......We Back!! When does Ga. play Bama again, can't wait. Sorry about the off topic, just had to take up for my team.
I've been reading this blog and really enjoyed it, Way to go Wahoo, and Dan, you are Da Man. Next time I get to go, I'm taking actual written notes, if I have time. You learn a lot of great stuff from a great teacher.
Wahoo, I hear ya, Dan says "the Devil's is in the details", that's easy for him to say, because he's got it, and he makes it look much easier than we all know it is. Like my old boss used to say, " Prior planning prevents poor performance".
ROLL TIDE!

we all use to call it the 6 'P' plan:
previous planning prevents piss poor performance
Go Gators..........

Come on weather I'm ready for some 70's & 80's.........

I'm ready for some solid 60's. This up and down stuff is for the birds. Just as I think I have it figured out **WHAM** water temp drops.