Hammer time

Nice bag, and thanks for the break down of your day, much appreciated!

Cool, my neighbor fishes from the bank at Aldrich every spring and generally has pretty good luck. Glad you got into some.

Yes, that's what I meant.

Fished today with OA member Jim M. Great guy, we had fun talking fishing and enjoying the lake and outdoors together. Put in at 9 with temp at the ramp 54.2 and around chicken rock 50.7. Was a tuff bite with northeast wind and high pressure, but grinded out 20 with 4 keepers between us. Had one nice fat pre-spawn female. All blacks and one spot and one white bass. Caught fish on grub, gitzit and cb's. Fish where on channel and swings in 6 - 20 fow. CPR and tight lines!

The Rock can and will humble the best fisherman in the world. One day a hero the next a zero. Fishing can change not only day by day but hourly. Glad to learn you tried for big ones or power fished, like many, but had the savy to adapt and and find a pattern that worked! Congrats! So many times many anglers including myself want to catch em "their ways" and not the way the fish want the bait. You are a very versatile fisherman, and that's what the Rock demands many times. Thanks for the in depth post and shared knowledge and experience.

You're a class act and I wish you a very successful season! Hook em and tight lines!

Yep, airborne a few times, it's definitely an equipment check. Was headed towards Birch creek and hit the big stuff, turned around and worked back to ramp. Im sure the mainlake was unfishable!

I fished Stockton yesterday, just stayed in the river but still 3-5ft rollers in spots. Had great day and never seen a boat.

I've been actively fishing the Rock since 81, some of my best days have been on the foulest weather possible! Ask anybody who's put in the time on horrible weather days, the Rock comes alive and many "life time" trips are mentioned, and reveared!

Happens every spring, some worse than others. Way up almost every main river will be the least amount with the dam area usually the most.

Great read and information! That's what this forum is all about! Letting folks know the where and how without giving up sacred honey holes! I commend you for you honesty and straight forward report! Thanks again for your time and insight on your days here on the Rock, really appreciated!!!

Put in at 9:30 water temp 52.8 at ramp and pretty consistent where I fished. She was windy today but the fish were biting! Stayed on channel or very close. Active fish I found were in 8-14 fow. Banging bottom and pausing with wart and rc did all the damage with one bladed jig fish. Ended up with 19 and 11 keeps. 17 blacks and 2 spots. Never seen a boat all day. Fishing from ramp down to Shaw bluff and back, loaded up at 2:45. Was fun, really had to be presise with casting in all the wind, but worth it. Seen 2 immature bald eagles and lots of blue herrings. Also seen several groups of ducks that took to wing before I could identify them. CPR and tight lines!

Great report and awesome for the experience she enjoyed and shared. Her smile tells the whole story!!!

So true, seems all my bank fishing experience is to cast out as far as possible and work back. Something is very appealing to fish working uphill! Bo has a very great point, on why or how sometimes bass want the bait in a different direction. Have been out on many occasions when they are active working bait from deep to shallow, especially on humps or points. Great insight Bo!

Did you win sir?

You have a great passion for fishing since your trailer is under repair. I applaud your determination and passion for fishing, and the results!! Most people would never think of bank fishing! You are a fisherman!!!!!

Not sure of your implication or meaning of" they like the color they bite on" Please help me understand, thanks bassfisher.

For sure Dan, they're all pretty but that one has a lot of markings and looks awesome. That's the same thing I thought when I landed her. She hit a bladed jig.

Great water color in river, up at Birch pretty clear and noticed the "slime" or rock snot getting on my jigs and cb's. Hate that stuff, but it happens every spring. Some worse than others.

Put in at 1pm to 54.2 water temp and gail south wind. Stayed on channel banks and swings entire outing. Fished down to Birch and back. Temp at mouth of Birch 49.8. Caught fish on several baits, rc, wart, bladed jig, jig and deep diving rouge. Active fish I found where in 4-18 fow. Cranks had to be banging bottom and paused to get bit. Jig bite was mushy and soft. Bladed jig just loaded up like usual. Rouge bite was also soft and fish hit bait on long pause between jerks. Had a fun day, seen several bald eagles, group of pintails and one huge otter. Ended up with 22 blacks with 7 keeps, 1 drum and 1 channel cat. CPR and tight lines!

Put in at the Knob also today at 8:30 to a loaded ramp. Found active fish in 6-18 fow. Caught over 40, with 14 keeps. Caught spots, blacks , smallmouth, two mean mouths and one nice eye. Channel banks and swings with cb and jig. Water temp 52-59

Way to hang in there and put together a pattern! Thanks for the report and information.

Welcome to the Forum, thanks for the report and information.

I use scent on all my swallow baits, all plastics I simply spray in bag move baits around and close. Scent soaks into baits. For jigs I spray at beginning and maybe later in the day. Main reason is to mask any other scent you might have on your hands, including human scent. As Bo stated, if it gives you confidence then use it. Best bait to use is the one you have confidence in, you'll fish it harder and concentrate more.

Very cool and interesting reading! Thanks all you guys!