Ham

So apparently light hooks are not great for Musky. I’m shocked that I managed to land it.

We found plenty of Shad for Whites to eat on so I don’t think it’s lack of food. I was thinking they need to import some BIG sows from TR or BSL to help jump start the gene pool, but maybe that isn’t the answer. I thought they were a fast growing fish, but maybe not. I heard a tale about the PDT die off, but was not aware BSL had experienced that also. I need to do some research.

So June?

What’s the deal? Are there no Sows? Are all the White Bass gay midgets?

Johnny’s Big fish. 6 lb 9 oz on the Normark digital. FTR, I don’t think I’ve caught a LMB over 5 lbs in my time fishing Ozark lakes.

Musky Pic. Released.

So CajunAngler and I headed North for our annual Spring Fishing Trip. This was a terrible year to decide to try a lake further north, but that’s how it goes. I was pushing to go back to Oklahoma, but he bamboozled me with talknof catching a Musky. Pomme here we come. Sunday AM I’m driving thru snowy sub freezing temps with heavy clouds and a pretty stiff wind from NW. Things didn’t look so Great, but we’re hard headed and reasoned that the weather would steadily improve as the week wore on. We stowed our gear inthe rental place and launched at an unimproved ramp in Decker Creek. Water temp was 51 or so. Water had a Lot of stain, but wasn’t muddy. Wind was brutal, but we bundled up. First freaking cast of the trip, Johnny catches a 4 plus LMB on an A rig. As it turns out, That was the only A rig fish on the week, but still. Fish was holding in 15 FOW on downside of wind blown point. We move inside the pocket a little bit and first freaking cast with a Wart he catches a 6 lb 9 oz Largemouth. I’m freaking out over the fast start and the quality of the fish he caught. Before too long, I got a > 3 lb Largie on a crank. Warts, RK’s, and the like would occasionally catch a fish the rest of the day. It was a grind, but quality of the fish was Excellent and we were Happy to be getting bit at all. We almost didn’t fish and assumed we might zero. We planned.on quitting a little early, but stayed to almost dark. Monday was colder and almost as windy, but no snow and no clouds. It felt a little warmer, but water temp was slow to respond. Fish were slow. Crankbait fish were not biting. Johnny got a Goo on a jerkbait to get us started. I got a non keeper on a Ned. We headed into Quarry area to get out of wind. Johnny got a couple little guys on Ned. I was trying a GYCB 4 inch Twin Tail Hula Grub in 236. Throwing tight to rock wall and hopping it down the ledges. No much happening, but I stuck with it. So, I lifted it up after a cast and it felt heavy. A sharp lift up for the hookset and there was no response just got heavier and heavier. Johnny asked what was up and I honestly did not know. Finally, I got some slow kicks deeer and deeper under the boat so I knew I had something heavy. Eventually, I worked it up to the surface and we got a big flash of color as it drove down again and Johnny asked if that was a Musky. I realized it was a Musky. Holy Crap! I’ve got a Musky hooked up. Johnny got a big net out and helped me get the beast in the net. It had been caught before and didn’t look pristine. The fight was fairly subdued for a fish just under 38 inches which was good since I had 8 lbs line. Woot Woot! My day was made andda new fish added to Lifetime list. Monday afternoon we continued to search around and caught a few more fish primarily on Ned rigs. No more crankbait fish. Saw water temps approaching 56, but most places cooler. Tuesday Morning was warmer with fun temps forecast for afternoon. We packed shorts in the boat. We launched in Pittsburgh Public Use area. That ramp is fairly far up Lindley Creek. That ramp is long and steep with a poorly designed and executed turn around area. All parking on top of hill so there is a long walk back to boat. Another windy day, but out of south. It warmed nicely. The fish did not care. It was still a grind. Ran around lots of places, but finally Johnny said let’s go back to dirty water up river. We found warmer water and a few fish in some wood cover. I got a 4 lb ad a 3 lb LMB pitching Baby Brush Hogs, Johnny got a few chunky bass as well. We got to wear shorts. Life was Good. Wednesday the forecast was for even heavier winds from NW again with falling temps. We opted for lauching at Boliver and going as far up Pomme De Terre river as we dared. we got a couple of nice fish in shallow dirty water off river channel. We kept heading up looking for a wind break and exploring the river. We went far enough that the water got clear and the river bottom got rocky. Johnny said no more when electronics said 2 FZoW under keel. We expected smallies, but caught everything else except smallies. Using a variety of baits we caught LMB, Drum, White Bass (Small), crappie, and a little walleye. It’s beautiful up there and we caught fish, but quality was gone. We talked it over during the day and decided to head in a little early and load up. We fished BSL Thursday and caught almost 30 bass with a lot of keepers including some smallies. All in all a good trip. Fishing was slow because of water temp, but quality was excellent. I know they must have good numbers of fish, but you would know it by the numbers we caught. I was surprised at how small all the White Bass were. What’s the deal with that. I was stunned by the amount of used fishing line we caught with our lures. At least 11 times we got tangled in lost or discarded fishing line. Id love to go back to Pomme De Terre in early Summer or Fall. This post has been promoted to an article

I guess I’m not a nice guy after all. Well IF it helps, they aren’t native and I did not catch it on a fly rod.

I have historically had some success with bladed jigs like Chatter baits. Most of this was further south where there is more flooded cover and aquatic grasses. I’m going to try to force fed them to Bass since I have flooded bushes st BSL. I primarily have 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz baits. I like dark colors for heavily stained waters, Bluegill colored ones for Post Spawn, and I have some shaddish colored ones. I’m using paddle tail swim baits for trailers mostly, but I have used straight tail worms in a pinch and I got some GYCB Zakos that I’m trying. I bought the High Dollar Evergreen version Chatter Bait and it is first class, but only marginally better. I don’t think I will be buying more of them. I throw mine on 15-20 pound fluro with a MH spinnerbait rod. I think it is 6’8” with a soft tip. This has been such a slow spring, but my efforts so far have been fruitless. Maybe water temp has not been sufficient yet. What water temp is required for this bait to be most effective? Anybody else using these type lures? Details?

Sorry to hear that you’re not feeling tip top. I hope that resolves soon. Sounds like a nice trip. Tell Doc C that I’m an ok guy if you would please.

It’s been a very frustrating Sprng.

This made me a Laugh Out Loud. You’re Going to Be Disappointed. That location is so Bad at having stuff in stock that I’ll never ever, ever ever Go Back.

Been there.

Sounds about right. Same thing happened to me on the Blanco River. Later on down river, someone opened up with a long burst of Full Auto. Not in any way associated with my group being on the river, but intimidating as hell. Huge difference between semi auto and Full Auto.

I’m not starting a fire with 20 oz of Gas much less 20 gallons. Holy Crap what a FIREBALL 20 gallons would create.

Lots of companies making baits like that these days

Man, I think it would be a better plan to have the gasoline removed and start with fresh non ethanol gasoline. You got less than $75 bucks of free gas that might end up costing lots of bucks in the long run.

Less Expensive : St Croix Eyecon ECS66MLF per Dave Reeves suggestion. Good Ned rod, grub rod, etc more expensive : Falcon CS-4-17M S light, sensitive, throws well, good backbone too

Sometimes, a good #1 or #2 is all you need. 1/2 a zinker is 2.5 inches long. A Ned head might work on that one.

Makes me Glad I stayed away from the lake. Nice one though.

Hard to argue with your results, but I can argue with $2.00 a Jig Head when I’m likely to go thru a few. I like the look of the Berkley 1/2 heads, but I have not fished them. I have fished the Lunker City heads with swim baits and I am very Happy with the results. Both of those products are available at TW as well. I really appreciate the companies that list the hook size in their Jig Head descriptions. All of them should to help us make informed purchases. I have the Keitechs but I’m don’t think I have the 2.8 or 3.3. I do have some swim baits I’d love to do a comparison fish test to see if it is the Keitech or just a good bite.

I want to party with you Doc. You’re a crazy man.

What jighead are you using with the swim bait?

Nanofil isn’t perfect and amazingly, it’s not for everyone, but I’m convinced that it has improved my fishing and my catching. For me, it’s better than braid on spinning, I do not use Nanofil on bait casters nor do I have any desire to do so.