Fished around Big M from 1-6 yesterday, good action to start and finish with not much going in the middle. Started out on windblown banks and had 2 keeps in first 5 casts, one being a 17.75 sm. Picked up a few more over next 30 minutes before tunning down to a pocket 5hat had been holding some good fish. Got zeroed on next 2 spots before catching a couple 14 inch spots off a point. Ran around a big cove flipping brush for next hour or so with a single fish, 17.5 lm, to show. Threw the ned at some docks for a while and caught 2 more keeps, 1 just over 17 and one at 16, with a handful of smaller fish thrown in for fun. Ran back to where I started to try to hit 20 and I did. 20 total fish with 6 keepers, and most of my better fish came off of wood. Ned and shakey head caught all of them, couldn't get but on the grub or spook. All in all a very good day for me.
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It was brutal last night also, between me and a buddy we brought 3 to hand and lost 2 at the boat from 7p.m. to 10p.m. Same thing deep points shallow brush and everything in between. Really thought the night bite would be on.
Upper, Upper Indian is slightly up and clear, upper shoal is barely stained, im guessing capps is good to go, a lot of sw mo got rain w/o flooding so dont count crane out unless you hear its blown out.....
Before you do anything, run what you have. See what you do and dont like. 16 ft will be nice but better to learn limits with a beat up boat then upgrade once you know what you want. Jack plate may or may not get you high enough, make sure it will before you drop the coin. An aluminum weld shop can probably raise the transom cheaper, maybe. ENJOY!
Go up from the lower bridge where the trees cover the water, several decent places to fish for about 3/4 of a mile. Down stream always has been tough for me, but there are fish there..... tight quarters. The park at Jolly is good at times, some VERY good browns in there and down from the park where the creek runs through the field sometimes holds a few fish. Other places fish good but can be hard to get your line out.
SHHH, There are a few who will get on your case speaking too much about anything above Anderson. (no fish up there anyways) Good luck both are great floats, mcnatt is very very long if you fish hard.
Floated down to town hole this week, didn't have to get out a single time unless u wanted to. Floated that last year and if I remember correctly it's all clear.
Hit it up from 2-530, fished through the rain. caught 15, mix between craw and ned big was 20 in lm, 18 in meanie, 17 in smallie, 8 or 10 between 14 and 16 and a couple dinks. little wet but after the tournament crowd left it was empty and fun fishing.
Float the lower, probably more polluted, but seems cleaner, clearer, with much more diversity and solitude. 2 different rivers in my opinion. Th float was well above elk on a trib though....
Any jighead will work, I try to use good ones but if you have unpainted 1/8 or 1/16 heads use them. Your plastic doesnt have to be elaz-tech (or whatever its called), I do use it most of the time and it is better, but if you are in a pinch go to wally world and get 5 inch senkos in whatever color you like, rip em in half and fish. Good Luck!
Went on a 3.5 mile float today (a trib), great flows, slow start, hot fishing to end it. 3 taks probably 30-40 fish per bost half a dozen 14+ inch fish nothing over 16-17". Great day on the water!