Strawberry 10-29-25

[Kent]

I fished Strawberry yesterday with Don.  We arrived to enjoy a 17 degrees launch!  

When I used my boat, a week ago, we discovered a leak in my primer bulb, so I replaced it with a kit that included new fuel lines.  My outboard would not start and so we used the Minn Kota to get to our first spot.  The catching was quite good until late morning when I decided that we should move to where we finished up last week.  I tried the outboard with the same results as previously.  Don disconnected the fuel line, at the outboard, only to find that gas was not reaching the outboard.  We found the inner liner, in the hose, had collapsed.  This is the second time that I have had this happen to me with a kit that I have had on my boat, as a spare, for a few years.  We cut off a couple inches of fuel line and we were good to go.

We moved to the next spot and the bite was fast and furious until we decided to call it a day.  The outboard started out fine and then after a couple minutes it would start losing power, so I will be replacing the hoses and pump again today.

A few fish were caught straight down, off of the boat, but most were caught under bobbers.  I used my balsa slip floats and I was glad that I did.  Well over 50% of the fish I hooked when I noticed the float was just laying flat on top of the water.  Had I been using a weighted float I would not have recognized these bites.  This time of year, at Strawberry, a lot of the trout just hold the bait in their mouths or stay close to the surface.  My preferred setup is a balsa slip float and a 1/8 ounce tube jig, or similar, tipped with a small chunk of cut-bait chub.

Another fun outing with Don.

[obifishkenobi]

I fished Strawberry yesterday with Don.  We arrived to enjoy a 17 degrees launch!  

When I used my boat, a week ago, we discovered a leak in my primer bulb, so I replaced it with a kit that included new fuel lines.  My outboard would not start and so we used the Minn Kota to get to our first spot.  The catching was quite good until late morning when I decided that we should move to where we finished up last week.  I tried the outboard with the same results as previously.  Don disconnected the fuel line, at the outboard, only to find that gas was not reaching the outboard.  We found the inner liner, in the hose, had collapsed.  This is the second time that I have had this happen to me with a kit that I have had on my boat, as a spare, for a few years.  We cut off a couple inches of fuel line and we were good to go.

We moved to the next spot and the bite was fast and furious until we decided to call it a day.  The outboard started out fine and then after a couple minutes it would start losing power, so I will be replacing the hoses and pump again today.

A few fish were caught straight down, off of the boat, but most were caught under bobbers.  I used my balsa slip floats and I was glad that I did.  Well over 50% of the fish I hooked when I noticed the float was just laying flat on top of the water.  Had I been using a weighted float I would not have recognized these bites.  This time of year, at Strawberry, a lot of the trout just hold the bait in their mouths or stay close to the surface.  My preferred setup is a balsa slip float and a 1/8 ounce tube jig, or similar, tipped with a small chunk of cut-bait chub.

Another fun outing with Don.

Glad you got the big motor going. Interesting observation on the bobbers I set up my rods for the kids this Saturday with both balsa and weighted bobbers, I’ll see how it goes. I’ll be there Saturday with several teens that love to fish should be a fun trip.

[wiperhunter2]

Sounds like a fun but chilly trip, too bad about your motor issue. Do you store your spare gas line kit on your boat? Maybe it sitting out in the sun, in your boat, for years had a part in it going bad.  Hope you are able to get it working again Kent. Any slot busters on this trip?

[Kent]

Sounds like a fun but chilly trip, too bad about your motor issue. Do you store your spare gas line kit on your boat? Maybe it sitting out in the sun, in your boat, for years had a part in it going bad.  Hope you are able to get it working again Kent. Any slot busters on this trip?

I replaced the hoses and primer bulb yesterday.  Yes, I store it on my boat (I can't use it in an emergency if it is at home).  It is stored in a dry place totally out of the sun (same conditions that it would be stored in at home, except it wouldn't get to enjoy regular boat rides if it were kept at home).  

I think we caught 4 slot busters, the largest one was ~14 inches.  Don lost one slot buster, at the boat, that he estimated was only 10 inches long.  We didn't measure any non-slot busters, but the largest were ~21 inches.