St. Mary's Lake on Columbus Day

Type: Nontidal
Region: Southern
Location: St. Mary's Lake

Columbus Day wasn�t too bad! I fished St. Mary�s Lake this morning, putting my kayak in right before sunrise. I caught three largemouth bass, two on a white spinner bait and one on a white chatter bait. I caught the biggest fish in the stick ups to the left of the dock and the other two off a point back in the cove off to the right (as you stand on the dock and look out at the lake). I was pretty far back. My biggest fish was 20�.

There were quite a few other kayak fishermen on the lake along with a few bass boats. I spoke with a few of the fishermen and they were taking fish (bass and pickerel) on orange/brown plastic worms. Those fish were reported to be average sized fish for the lake (under 15�)

The water temperature was in the high 70s and it was slightly cloudy. In the early morning the lake was dead calm but a slight wind picked up towards noon. The fish I caught were in deeper water. Other fishermen were trying their luck along the shoreline.

Note: I caught a 17� largemouth bass and eight others in standing timber and in the same aforementioned cove and point on September 21st. On a white spinner bait too, plus skirted jig, and in deeper holes near the point. I expect these bass to move shallower over the next few weeks as the water starts to cool. The bigger pickerel will begin to move in also. Try fishing the leeward side of points and other structures as the bait fish will be pushed into and over points and lay downs. Get ready, Bass are already starting to fatten up.