Hammer time

Put in at daybreak started on chunk rock banks slow rolling 1/2oz blade caught 6 with 3 keeps. Switched over to 3/8 fb jig on channel banks and swings, game on. Fish were in 5-10 fow. Caught over 20 more 5 more keeps and a 6.24 eye. Loaded up at 3 water temp 61-63 Tight lines and CPR

I understand now, figured you what a tube bait was. But was trying to help if you didn't. O well.

A gitzit champ, lot of guys call them tube baits. I used to slay em on it. Kinda like the hula grub for me also weird how stop using certain baits that have been successful.

Great job! Thanks for the report. Looks like you got some nice slabs as well.

On the MDC properties that I hunt the season ends December 15 and until 3 years ago 1pm. You can hunt private land till January 15. Because of the quail emphasis areas have been successful you can hunt all day but stop end December 15th Took my dog out today and seen another covey. Have got up birds 4 of last 5 times out. If not for MDC their would be no birds in my opinion.

Thanks for the knowledge, learned something new and cool. Will look at their eyes from now on.

Sounds like fun, those whites will stretch your line. Did you catch them on top or under? Congratulations on finding them, for most it has been a struggle catching any.

Put in at daybreak with my friends son and started working lucky 13 and spook mainlake points. We caught 8 with one nice spot and one other keeper spot. Tried some crankbaits on windy swings and points only one short. Went up the White around big m area and caught 14 more on 1/2 oz fb jig between us 12 spots 2 blacks, only 1 keeper spot. Very tuff bite for us after 11, loaded up at 3. Tight lines and CPR

That's a dandy! Biggest meanmouth I've ever seen!

I had a great time trying and only seen 1 boat the whole night.

Hey guys, don't be to negative. Times are always changing. Bird hunting is a traditional for me and will always own a birddog and hunt all season. It's just a whole lot tuffer than the past as is bass fishing. I love the great outdoors and regardless of the results you'll see me hunting and fishing forever Try your best to stay positive and enjoy "Gods Country"

Put in at 6pm water temperature 68.35 hit wind blown points with wart, 2 short brownies. Hit secondary points with fb jig 1 short brownie and keeper spot. After dark threw 1/2oz fb jig on swings and points till midnight and caught 9 more brownies with 2 keeps. Tuff bite for me but I'm sure someone hooked em. Tight lines and CPR

I agree completely with all the changes of farming, loss of habitat it will never be as it was. I feel blessed that enjoyed many years of tremendous hunting and have many great memories with my dad bird hunting. MDC has done a lot for the birds. Statewide there is lots of places that are now called "quail emphasis areas " were thier main goal is manage the property for quail. I hunt these areas and have seen progress, more birds! The birds are smart because they are bumped by deer, turkey and rabbit hunters a lot but they are there. I personally wrote MDC a letter and thanked them because without their help I would simply take my birddog for a nature walk.

As I drive to both Stockton and the Rock to many different ramps I take in the scenery. Sadly I notice maybe 5-10 % of the land that could possibly hold birds. Fescue fields galore, hardly any fence rows and virtually no native grasses. Dad always taught me quail need 3 things to survive feed cover and water. With cover the most important. It's sad that most of thier cover is gone thus very very few birds. So bad that the last 4 years after the season I go to hunting preserve and pay 100 bucks to have 10 single scattered in a 40 acres field just so my dog can have a great hunt. The days of getting up a covey and watching them spread out in a sage grass field and watching your dog work the singles is long gone. To me there is nothing better than watching a good birddog work and that magical moment when they lock up.

Walcrabass, I always look forward to your posts. You seem like a true naturalist and have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Thanks for sharing, I admire and respect you. Chime in more often!

I agree with Lowestx that fescue is the main reason for no birds and no cover. All the native grasses are gone thus no cover= no birds. Back on the early 80's while in college at SMS I would kill over 100 a season, last year 11. I still have a great time trying mostly feel sorry for my dog. She is one of the best dogs I've ever had but so few birds. Luckily her first few years there was still birds on the private land I hunted now they are gone so I hunt public land. I'm going opening day and all season, kinda like fishing it's my passion and regardless how tuff its gets I'll be going.

Put in at daybreak tried spook and pop r twin bridge area not a bite. Went up big sac using 3/8 oz fb jig and caught a 4.98 and 1 other keeper and 3 shorts. Sun came over the horizon and game over. Threw several different crankbaits on windblown banks up to monkey island and only caught 5 more shorts and 2 white bass. Tuff day other than first 2 hours of daylight. Loaded up at 4 should of at 9:30, still fun trying. Water temp 63-66 Tight lines and CPR

That's a very nice buck!

There will always be a few inconsiderate people in all aspects of life, I have learned the quicker you you can overlook them and not let it get to you, the happier you'll be.

Great job for a short trip and all the boats out. Water temp?

Fun reading and thanks for the post.

1/2 oz has always been the size I use unless fishing really deep . Like Champ says anything bigger and your always hung up. Failed to mention that I tried c-rig finesse worm today as my son caught them on football jig so I changed over. Just really tuff to figure out what they want right now.

Chunk Rock, that c- rig lizard is my go to bait in the spring and football jig all summer and fall. Maybe I should through it some now. I know you can catch them on it year round but have had best success on football jig in the fall.

Thanks Champ, was up the white last Wednesday and caught mostly blacks and a few spots but otherwise not very many lakewide.Like you and so many I love the scrappy brownies but have seen a big decline in quality blacks over the last 10 years. I tend to think that since Lbv hit us in the late nineties the brownies are becoming more and more prolific.

Mike, other than pre-spawn or up the white river I totally agree with how scarce the blacks are. Interesting note though, I went to weigh in couple of weeks ago when BASS boys were here and talked to the guy tending the holding tanks and asked about percentage of blacks to brownies and he thought 60 percent blacks to 40 percent brownies. I guess guys like us just can't find em. Anybody catching very many blacks?