Well Good Afternoon to those who are following IFO on-line.  I woke up early and since we had no dock tournament today at CJ Brown, I decided to get my stuff together and head over to Alum Creek Marina and do some dock fishing.  When the morning started out at 60 degrees, it just felt right.  The weather showed the rain had stopped and there was not going to anymore the rest of the day.  Well, with that said, I should have known better.  There was wind but it was nothing outrageous.

I started out with catching a perch and several bluegills from around 8am - 9:30am.  I moved around a bit and since I was not knocking it out the ball park.  But then I went to the end of the C-Dock/Gas Dock and landed 2 keeper crappies and 1 undersize crappie and some bigger blue gills.  Well the last crappie I caught, I was thrilled and didn't really pay attention to the time and how much the wind had picked up.  It was around 11am and the wind just howled and I watched a wall of rain start coming down from inside the Marina and heading straight at me.  But I could have sworn that the weather app said there was not going to be any rain and the winds were supposed to hold up till about noon.  The wind gusts was about 30 to 40 mph and I packed my stuff up the best I could, folded up my chair, zipped up my Vex FL8 and pulled up my rods. For those that know me, I tend to bring more than what I need for every situation.  So, I had my 7 rods with me, with multiple containers of jigs, measuring stick that I just bought at Bayview Baits at Rocky Fork, the Vexilar towel that I won as a door prize at Rocky Fork, etc... Also, I had my brand new Vexilar Tundra bibs on and was feeling just fine.

I ran down the dock and headed straight for the car in the parking lot.  The rain was flying side ways and you couldn't very far with the wall of rain.  The rain lasted about 15 minutes and I was just relaxing and enjoying the moment, and ready to get back out there.  The rain stopped and the wind died down to the way it was earlier.  That is when I looked out to the dock where I left my stuff, and the canvas pull wagon I had was no longer in sight.  I hopped out of the car and ran back down to the docks and that gut punch and kick in the balls feeling set in. I lost my wagon and all but one of my rods.  A sick feeling just came over me, and the realization most of my gear is sitting at the bottom of Alum Creek in the Marina.  The bright side of things, I had my Vexilar FL8 on the dock, my chair, minnow bucket, and my Gruv jig holder which I happened to throw in my Vexilar bag at the bottom, and my bait pucks were saved from the perils of the deep.  I honestly don't know how the wagon missed my FL8 and didn't send it down to the lake bottom.

This where I am asking for a favor, if someone has the tool or ability to drag the dock C at section 21, I think, and let me know if they can retrieve anything.  I lost a Jason Mitchell rod, a Fenwick rod, Shakespeare Rod, and 2 - 13 Rods and reels, and HT rod.  I had a small bucket that had items in it, but I figured that may be scattered all over the bottom.  Thank you to anyone who gives it a try and I appreciate the assistance.

Eyeshunter - Steve

Good Afternoon to Ice Fish Ohio Followers!  Saturday, 12/4/2021 was the 3rd installment of the Dock Tournament, and this time we mixed it up a little bit and had it at Rocky Fork Reservoir.  We met up at Bay View Bait and Tackle in Hillsboro, OH to register and pick up some bait and other items.  17 registered fishermen signed up and the fun began at the East Shore Marina.  The day started out a little chilly, 34-degree morning with a slight breeze across the lake.  I'm speaking on my own experience, the morning bite was on and saw several people catching fish, a hand full of crappies coming up.  As the day progressed and the temperature increased, you would expect the biting to get a little bit better, but from the movement of everyone trying to switch spots and the socializing with each other, the biting actually got worse.  I was able to bring in 2 crappies by 11.30am and then that was about it. I caught several bluegills and 1 baby perch. But from 11:30am till 1:45pm I think I might have brought in 3 fish. One of the guys fishing towards the next to last docks had something big on, but lost it before he could get it to the surface; possibly a big catfish. Rusty, had a crappie in his basket and after a few hours he had his second crappie and in the process of trying to net it, he got his net caught on a cleat and wrangled with it and as he finished getting it off the cleat the crappie decided it would get off his hook. Not knowing at that time, this was the kind of day it was going to be.  Some of the others anglers had more success, Joey, caught a couple crappies early on and moved to another dock which he said he fished closer to the inner portion in shallower water and was able to find some more.  Aaron, moved around and was hunting the crappies; which proved to be the key in finding them.  He landed over a dozen crappie for the day and had his limit and then some.  There were a lot of short crappies reported caught throughout the day.

The results in the end, Aaron L. won the crappie pot with 5 crappies turned in for 2.80lbs.  Since there was no saugeyes turned, there was a 2nd place crappie pot, Joey L. with 2.57lbs.  And Steve I. had the big fish pot with a crappie weighing in at .70lbs. Payouts were handed out and some door prizes given out at the end. Thanks to Bay View Bait and Tackle for sponsoring our event and Nasty Nate's Baits and Slab Grabber Baits.  And many thanks for those who follow us on this forum and on Facebook and to all the members who turned out for this event.  And thank you to Ryan Kerns and Nate Boldman for making the dock tournaments happen.

For those who don't follow us on Facebook, sorry there was no post on this website forum of this dock tournament at Rocky Fork Reservoir.  It was brought to the attention of the administrators, and it should be corrected for next weekend's tournament. Next Saturday, 12/11 will be at CJ Brown Reservoir at the Marina, meeting at 7am -7:30am for registration beforehand at our new Sponsor's bait shop, Leen's General Store on Rt. 4 in Springfield, OH.  Fishing will begin at 8am and last to 2pm.  And there will be a regular post of this sometime next week as a notice and reminder for everyone. Keep an eye out for this post and keep the date open and come out and join in on the fun.

LOL! That elusive Bigfoot and Unicorn.  Congrats on the epic saugeye day.

Sorry, I will be out.  Work has me on the next 2 Saturdays.  Good Luck Gentlemen.

Steve

Good Luck to you Nate in your next adventures. It has been a pleasure getting to know you over the last 4 years that I’ve been dock and ice fishing.  You made laugh my butt off every time we met.  I will miss the stories the most.  My family enjoyed seeing you and getting to know you this past weekend. Take care my friend.

Steve and the Reat of the Ida family. 👍👊😉

Well I gambled incorrectly.  I figured there would be ice on Indian Lake and the dock tourney would be cancelled.  I will not be there for the dock tourney this Saturday.  I will be at the movies with the family watching the new Star Wars.  Good luck to all and be safe.

Hey Nate,

This is Steve Ida.  Can I get 3 of those spots?  Myself, my father(Masaaki Ida), and my brother in law, David Naysmith.

Well, I need all the help I can get in catching saugeyes and walleyes during the ice fishing season.  Definitely welcome Dynamic Lures and I have placed my order for a couple of lures.