nxs

if it works get a patent !!

My wife works there in the ice cream dept

we've been catching at least one about every trip. Most in the 2# or so size. Minnows or a white crappie jig

Bull Snake maybe, seems to be about as many variations of them as politicians. I should have taken a pic. I forgot to mention we've been catching some whites mixed in with the crappie and walleye. Nothing big but big enough to keep if you like them. Hope to get back out next week then probably hay time.

Lot had several when we got there but not as many as last time and the campgrounds were about empty. Most of the boats were scattered so that was good. I like it when everyone is playing nice. Picked up a couple of crappie early but they just weren't there. Caught several black bass some up around 14" and walleye about the same. No keepers this trip. Finally in the afternoon we found them and they had moved out into deep water or deep for me anyway. Running 22' to 25' and hugging the bottom for the most part. Brought home 23 crappie all female and full of eggs but 3 males. Some were kinda ragged looking on the bottom and red. Would they be making nests out that deep?? All had bloody eggs sacs and a couple just looked like red mush. Most were in the 11" to 13" range and fat. Wife caught a channel and a 16 1/2" black along with some crappie so she was happy. Her and Ralph pretty much whipped up on me but that's ok. Minnow's was all we could get them to hit on. Water temp was about 66* all day. We did see some small nests up in 4' of water but nothing around them. Now we saw a snake just before we left that I don't remember having ever seen one like it. Wish I had thought to take a pic but it was about 4' to 5' long. Fair size around and not quite as dark on the front half as a black snake and the back half was about the color of a copper head. A little over half way towards the tail it had 3 bands about he same color as the back half and they were about 4" a part. It was definitely acting aggressive and watched us for a while before it went on towards the other side of the cove. Anyone have an idea what it might be??

Been reading this and have a question. Is it legal or not to carry a handgun on Federal Lake?? Regardless of permits etc I've been told in the past it is not legal and I'd hate to have an "issue" if they tried to confiscate my handgun. I don't wave it around, guy I fish with doesn't even know I have it. It's not in plain sight but handy. One reason I'm asking we were checked up on Sons Creek couple of years ago and the agent wanted to come into the boat and check our Live well or so I thought. He just glanced in it and started going thru our lunch boxes. I ask what are you looking for and I'll tell you if it's here or not. Just looked at me and said thanks got back in his boat and left.We never did figure out what he was looking for. Like everyone else I've had my problems at Stockton. Quit using the buddy bearings after someone took the last one and broke the hub getting it off. But have not been to the point where I feared for my safety enough to pull my gun out. I did quit bank fishing because of the jerks but there are guys in boats that are just as bad.

Wanted to fish same banks as last trip but was tough going for us. Only had 7 keepers and about that many shorts. Several walleye mostly 14" to 14 1/2" and I give up counting the drum. Caught several bass thru the day most really small but had a few later in the day around 13" to 14". Only had a couple of whites. We caught fish so shouldn't complain just not what we wanted. Some on minnows and some on jigs. For the most part if they wanted it they took it and you knew it. Lots of people out and the ramp and campgrounds are busy.

I believe I know the boat you're talking about. We"run" into them down around the power line cove. The upside is we fish in places at times to get away and occasionally find some nice fish. Going today and hoping for the best

Don't think I'd want to run that mess in the dark but we've caught a lot of good crappie and walleye up there. The first bend below the bridge has been a good place, have not fished the other side much. Heading up tomorrow might give it a try.

We use too but just got away from it.

Just wanted to add that the first shop picked up the bill from the second shop. Said it was his fault and he should have caught it. I've never had anyone do that before so everything is good in my book!!!!!!!!!!

We started to go up into Sons Creek and from what you're saying sure glad we didn't. It's a big lake and I sure don't mind sharing but I kinda like a little room. Couple of years ago they boxed us and we finally left out but again turned into a good thing went to another cove no one there except for some of the biggest black crappie we've ever caught at Stockton. Sure hard to leave fish though. Everybody have a good one.

Got busy yesterday and didn't get the report up. Lot was pretty full by the time we got there wed. went down to Power line Cove and not much going on there. Moved on up Sons Creek but lots of boats scattered in places we wanted to fish so turned and headed over to Big Sac arm . Didn't seem to be as many boats and found some crappie and walleye on the bottom in 11' to 13' of water. We must have caught over a dozen walleye but only had 3 big enough to keep. Brought home 22 crappie all most all females full of eggs. Not too many short crappie this trip. Most caught on minnows but some on jigs with minnows. They were moving up and down the bank and had to use the graph to stay on them. Also caught a few whites and they were about as fat as any I've ever seen. I've got to mention though that for a change everyone was playing together nice. Sure unusual for Stockton this time of year.

Think I'll pass too. She's good to me. Lets me spend more money than I should. Didn't say anything when I bought that new Sig P238 couple weeks ago. Boat was in the shop and no idea how much to fix. Besides as I get older I've found I like sleeping indoors a lot!! And in keeping with things had to go and get a new bilge pump and live well pump yesterday and a few other assorted goodies. So I'm good. Now if I can just get a break on the weather.

Wife said there best not be anymore problems. But I will keep it in mind and thanks.

Took boat up to Whites Marine at Pittsburg just off Pomme de Terre Lake. Had to wait my turn of course but they got it in a few days quicker than they originally thought they would and I thank them for that. Turns out it was a heat alarm and the first shop I had taken it too had pushed a rubber grommet up into the water intake tube when they put the lower unit back together. It was partially blocking the water intake and at an idle it would get enough water to cool but not running down the lake. Anyway we run down to the ramp and took a short boat ride and the alarms didn't go off and boat seems to run right. So sure glad to get boat back, just in time for the storms, and maybe can get out next week. Long run I'd have been better off going to a dealer I guess, but sure there are some independents out there that do good work and maybe even the one I went too. But don't let people put parts on "to see if that will fix it". Glad I didn't and went elsewhere.

thanks for the advice but most of that has suppose to have been checked out. They keep talking about the power pack maybe going bad. Sure it's another expensive fix. But I'm not going to start putting on parts just too see if that fixes the problem . I'm going to give the shop til first of the week to come up with a fix then I'll have to take it to a Lund dealer or ??? and hope they can sort it out. What I get for having something worked on that was running fine but it had been several years since anything was serviced and I thought I was being smart trying to get a head of any problems before spring fishing started.

Put in a Ruark yesterday. Water run from 52* early up to 58* later in the day. Had motor trouble (?) right off the bat again. Been an ongoing issue for the last 2 trips. As luck would have it boat was running pretty good but decided to take it to shop and have it tuned and new water pumps put in the Merc 175 and the 9.9. Now 175 runs rough seems low on power and has a constant alarm that goes off about 1 minute after getting up on plane. The alarm is coming from the dash of my 1800 Lund. So far no one seems to know what the alarm is for. Nothing shows up on the computer check. So if anyone has an idea I'd appreciate a heads up. It has been back to the shop twice and is going back today. As for the fishing. We caught a couple of whites up in Sons and some short bass and a few crappie most being short. We did get into some keeper crappie then this boat came in and run over the top of that spot and that was the end of that. Crappie still seem to be scattered and are starting to get some color to them. Boat = money pit !!!!!

Thanks I'll pass the info along.

Went and put in at Beaver Creek Ramp again. Still lots of trash floating in the water in places. Didn't fish where and like we wanted. My 175 Merc was putting out some kind of alarm so I shut it down. Just got it out of the shop so this wouldn't happen. Anyway headed back to the shop as soon as they open. fishing was not good for us. 2 short bass and one turtle hooked in the tail and he wasn't happy about it Kinda ruined my day and can't even remember what the water temp was now. Seems like it was around 47* up towards the ramp. Several rigs in the lot when we got there and I'm guessing most are heading up Beaver

they went over the weekend but haven't hear any report. maybe he didn't want me to show up for the fish fry

I had hoped they'd be moving up to more shallow water by now. We were down there a week or so ago and there were a lot of either water patrol or Conservation agents in the lot. Had a couple of boats and were taking turns running up into Beaver and then back towards Barkers. Anyone know if they were just training or what.

I'd take the crappie any day over the whites. I figured this weekend would be busy down there. Going to try and head down again tomorrow. Were your crappie deep??

Water was up a tad still lots of leaves and assorted junk floating on the water in places. Water temp was running around 48* when we got there and saw some up at 51* before we left. Other than a couple of short bass and seeing a couple of something's caught fishing wasn't much, for us anyway. Got to watch an eagle trying for a duck dinner but he missed his chance. May try again come Monday.

thanks appreciate it!!!