Monroe County Classic 6/27, 6/28

[Sweet Caroline]

With the lack of reports I figured I would post our results for the MCC. This was the first time fishing in my boat this year so it was a bit of a shakedown for us the first day. With the east wind, lake transition, and general poor fishing this year we knew Fridays multi-species would be tough. Set up just east of Braddocks in 20ft looking for a brown and proceeded to rot in the 15ft to 40ft for the next 3 hours before pointing North. Went 1 for 3 over the next couple of hours in 150-200 fow range with a small Atlantic in the boat before we decided to head to laker grounds. Picked up two lakers within 5 minutes on hammerhead cowbells/gambler rigs then tangled a rigger and called it a day. Didn’t place at all that day. Licking our wounds we felt confident Saturday would be better with a wind change to the S and W. I’m never optimistic fishing in an east wind and normally wouldn’t even go out had it not been for the MCC. 
Saturday we headed west again and realized after the east wind the water temp had dropped 10 degrees from the day before from 65 surface temp to 55.  We motored north until we found 60 degree water, set up, and then bumped up our speed to 3-3.5 with an all spoon program and went in to search mode pointing north. Temps slowly climbed from 60 to 64 between 24N and 28N. We settled in the 26N to 28N area where we had consistent 63-64 degree surface temps and had a slow pick on salmon. No spoon was really consistent for us other then taking 2-3 shots on a raspberry carbon. Ended up with 4 in the box, 3 two year old kings and a nice Atlantic. Had 3 fish in a row the last hour shake off at the back of the boat which was frustrating given we needed a box of 5. Glad we stuck to our plan of working out deep given we ended up 5th overall in the MCC. 
Fishing is going to get better this year for sure once the lake sets up, but I’m doubtful we will have the consistent stellar fishing we have experience the last few years. Those of us that fished the 90s know what a year like this feels like. Bright side is that a tough year like this makes us all better fishermen. Thanks to everybody that made the MCC happen. We always have a great time regardless of the fishing. Good luck to everybody the rest of the season. See you at the Sandy Shoot Out! 

Edited June 30 by Sweet Caroline