OKBT #4 Georgian Bay Port Severn.

Stop number four of the OKBT circuit is no other than the Port Severn area of Georgian Bay. Of all the events on the schedule this year, this was the one I had circled as my top tournament of the year. I fully expected to put myself in some sort of contention here as I have fished it a fair amount, and with good success, and truthfully I had a great day and had the fish to place very well. But some rather dumb mistake cost me big and will likely put some pressure back on me going into the final event of the year in regards to trying to make the cut for the classic this season. Now without getting into it too much, I was really hoping to get some time to pre fish as with these larger bodies of water I like to try and formulate some sort of a pattern of either what is or isn't working, and on the bay especially I wanted to try to find out what depth to target and what the fish were eating best, as for me atleast, in the passed I have found that it is a very patternable body of water. However yet again, life got in the way, and with the weather that appeared to be coming on tournament day the area I really wanted to get to would be unavailable to me as with a South, southeast wind, the waves would likely push straight up and right into that area, making fishing difficult to say the least. So yet again I was left to making a last minute change to my plans. However I wasn't too concerned, I was still hoping that I would be able to get out there and establish a pattern early and replicate it through the day and with the new area I found I figure that if the weather did show up, I still had some very good fishable water. So I turned in for the night and set my alarm nice and early as I wanted to make sure to be on the water as soon as I was legal to do so.

As my alarm starting ringing the next day I was on the road, I got to my area and had to look around a bit for a launchable area and a place to legally park, but once I located a place I started to unload everything and dump the wilderness systems recon 120 in. I put in off of a culvert and it was very shallow to the point where I was actually pushing myself along for a good stretch once I was on the water before I could even start to paddle, let alone drop in the pedal unit. Nonetheless, I eventually got out to more open water and started covering ground to where I wanted to start. It was a cluster of small rock islands near a fairly deep channel, something that is rather typical of Georgian Bay, and I figured I'd be able to catch a quick limit in the mix of these islands before risking it out deep or shallow searching for a upgrades. It didn't take long at all, throwing the Great Lakes Finesse juvy craw and a 15.25 inch small mouth decided it wanted to eat, it was actually the first on the board overall. Continuing down between the emerging rock platforms and working slow with light line proved to be key, I have fished Georgian Bay enough to know that it usually pays to keep things simple and today I was committed to finesse fishing and honestly I didn't have any plans to use a baitcasting rod at all, that may have cost me big later on in the day. However before I got to that point, I kept true to my plan of working this area and before long I was hooked up yet again, and this time it was one I really wanted in the kayak. After what honestly felt like 10 minutes and multiple sketchy jumps finally hit the net, and measured up an 18.25" smallie. That's the kind I'll be needing to keep finding if I'm going to compete at all in this tournament. As that fish swam away and I sorted out the kayak again, I felt confident that although I had never fished this area, my experience on the bay helped me not only find a good area just from maps, but that I made the right choice to fish it light and keep it simple. Two casts later at the opposite end of that small island I got smashed again right up shallow. Another 15" fish for the board, but oddly it was a largemouth, I wasn't expecting that. Safely released back to the bay, and I was on to the next rock. At this point all of my fish were coming within 3 or 4 feet of the island bank and with the projected weather still in the forecast, I wanted to cover water and hit as many of these areas as I could before the weather came in and potentially shuffled things around. The next rock top was a dud but it lead into a large calm shallow flat, with multiple small visible rock points. Each of these broke off into the deeper water but at various degrees. I check into the flat for a little while in the hopes of maybe seeing a fish or two cruising, but other than some small bait fish there wasn't much life to be seen. So I made my way out where I came in and continued to cover that outside edge. Still only throwing the juvy craw on 6lb line, it was working and I had no reason to change, and it would work again soon. As I casted towards the island I felt a sharp pain on my knee, dang horse fly got me good, but while I was swatting at it with evil intentions, I didn't pull my cast back and ended up landing on the rock top. No biggie I'll just hop it off, and that's what I did except it snagged up on a little protruding edge and I had to pop it with a bit more energy to get it free and in doing so it launched a good couple feet, and it seemed to land on a fishs head because no sooner did it hit the water and I was hooked up after a nice fight and some acrobatics 13.25" smallie. Only one more to fill the limit and then chip away and try to load up on these 18" plus size fish. I wouldn't have to wait long as the edge of the next visible rock would produce a nice spunky 17.50" smallmouth, by far the most docile catch of the day, and rounds out my limit. 15.25, 18.25, 15, 13.25, 17.25. 

Due to the fact that it was a little after 11 am and the wind had not picked up and it seemed like there was no rain to be had, the realization that I might have been able to go to the spot I wanted to crept into my head. But I was around the right fish in this spot and far enough out where I was committed regardless, not to mention I had been flirting with the top ten for most of the morning, but I knew that if I wanted to stay in contention I would need to get those smaller 3 out of there and likely that 17.25 as well. Just a little while after the release of that specific fish I got hammered again, the type of hit that leaves no doubt it was one I needed, likely an 18 plus class fish, but I'll never truly know as I never landed it in the kayak. While fighting the fish I had brought it to the surface and next to the kayak but did not have my net in hand yet. As I reached for it I gave the fish enough room to get below the surface again and dive off for another run. So instead of dropping the net and reeling the fish back in, I tried multiple times to extend my rod behind my head and reach out with the net. By the time I had moved to change plans and reel back into the fish, it came up one last time hit against the kayak and broke of. A foolish and costly mistake, still hurts reliving it in my head to write it down. It took me a while to shake that one off, I have lost fish before, but that was completely avoidable, and unnecessary. Can't dwell on it too much though so I start fishing again, and by this point I have covered the large section of rock islands and am starting to wrap around to the other side, as the pattern was still producing so there was no need to call it quits on it just yet. Unfortunately this side seemed to be less productive as I fished the same type of structure but with no real success. 1 under and another 13 inch fish, but I eventually cross this channel to a larger island positioned out infront of a shallow grassy bay. It looks good, like really good, but as I approach it another angler comes into view and he is fishing his way around the back side of it, so I start off on the front side, at a point that stretches out towards the channel, and honestly I am shocked but I didn't get hit. I continue and make my way around that point and the other angler is already on his way up and out of this channel, I take my time going in, and try to pick apart some nice looking spots but still nothing home. As I get to the backside of the island it flattens off and the grass shows up thick. It's maybe 5 feet deep and there are numerous docks scattered around, I pull up the pedal drive and start to paddle in. I hit the first dock and instantly hook into a very healthy 15.50" largemouth and after a quick photo I dump it back and continue on searching for even bigger upgrades. I work another dock and catch some smaller fish that don't help. While I am on my way out I cast towards a smaller island in the middle of this bay and I get demolished instantaneously, this is when the whole 'should have thrown the bigger baitcasting gear' comment comes into play. As I get dogged down into the weeds, I'm paddling myself to the fish and reeling to keep tension. Finally I get overtop of the fish and it is a true giant, I can see it clear as day, this will be one heck of an upgrade. Now whether it was my own excitement, just not throwing enough lately, or being used to the capabilities of a finesse set up like this, it really doesn't matter. I got the bright idea that I'd be able to lift this fish out of the weeds. WRONG! As I start to lift I can feel the fish give a couple head shakes so I know it's still hooked, and what I should have done was given it some time and ease off and see if the fish would help me out of the weeds, but I pulled a bit more and felt one more head shake and then a snap. Losing that fish in that way stung hard, especially when coupled with the loss of that earlier fish. Two very avoidable mistakes on two very key fish, even more so when I still have fish on my board that I need to upgrade in order to get the finish I am looking for on this body of water. Again after a brief pity party, I get back on track and start working my way out of this bay and along the shoreline. Knowing that there have been good fish up shallow all day so far helps keep me focused on where I want to target, so I cast at every odd looking area I can see along the bank. I catch the odd fish here and there for the next hour or so, but nothing that will help me. Eventually as I am coming out of a pocket against a bluff rock wall I hook up right against shore, and again it's a drag puller. After a couple tense runs I get it to the net and on the board. 18.50" smallmouth bass, and with a little over an hour to go and still two more 15 inchers on my board, I was hopeful that this next stretch was going to produce. Having the 2 18's, 1 17, and 2 15's remaining, didn't leave me feeling good but I knew that if I could get around the right fish I could quickly make some big jumps up the board, unfortunately it just wasn't the case as I caught 3 more fish, 2 of which were equal to my smallest and one that was under. So I had the bites and the fish I needed to place well but two very foolish mistakes cost me big. What could have been a day with over 90+ inches wound up ending with 85" and in 21st place. The good news is, even with this fumble I only dropped from 5th to 6th in AOY, so there is still a chance to meet the season goal of qualifying for the classic. But the pressure is on for Charleston now. I'm gonna need to put something together to stay in that top 20 or better I think, so I'll still be looking to get acquainted with as many quality fish as possible and climb the board as high as I can.

 As always, thank you to the great anglers that come out to these events. It's always such a blast and an enjoyable experience being around such like minded and passionate anglers. Thank you to the people who put in all the work to organize and run these events. It is because of people like you that this sport continues to grow and get better and bigger every year. And lastly, thank you to the sponsors that support the OKBT and Ontario Kayak Bass Nation. We are so fortunate to have the best companies in the sport fishing world supporting us and helping us maximize our time on the water, making us more proficient anglers. Being a leader of innovation and quality in their respective product areas, you can be assured that if they are on the OKBT Banner or website, they are top tier.