wc1063

Envy! that is one awesome looking fish! Did you catch her at PC as well? We went out this morning from 7:30 to about 11 out of PC. Dense fog at first, then turned out to be another beautiful day at the lake. About 20 to 25 trailers out there, that's the most I've seen besides that day when there's a tournament. Saw a couple of guide boats(cc with lots of rods sticking straight up) or boats that geared toward striper. Saw them trolled around PC, but didn't see any hook-ups. There's maybe 6-7 boats fishing at PC cove at that time. And since I didn't get any bait the day before, We just did the usual black bass thing, near points and slopes, throwing worms and senko and drop shoting. Never thought to check the back of the cove for shad since I didn't find any at the creek. Didn't catch any at PC, went to Ventis cove next, only caught a decent spot and a few small ones. So I guess if you want to fish for striper, you really need to find them shad first. For one moment, I thought maybe I should go look for them, but then I thought it's past dawn, I probably won't be able to find them. I guess I'm dead wrong on that. Anyways, that's one monster!! Congrats!!

I went to the very back of PC(old 12) and try to catch some bait in the creek, I didn't catch any shad or golden shiners, Most of what I caught look like minnow but brown in color, baby bass and sunfish(threw everything back). Maybe PC is not a good creek to catch bait. Someone passed by told me I should try to net my bait at Lake Atlanta, I didn't even know there are shads in that lake. I thought just minnows. And also is there a law against catching baits with a cast net at creeks or lake for that matter? I got some dirty looks and shoutings from the road while I was at the creek casting the net. May be some thought I was netting gamefish, I don't like that feeling, maybe wouldn't get bait from that creek again. Anyways, things you do for fishing!!!

Couple of questions for F & F: Why use a sinker that weight 4 oz when you are just going stright down from you boat to about 35 ft or 40 ft? Are we trying to present the bait asap when we see fish on the graph, so that the heavier weight will get there faster? I don't think I have use a sinker that weight more than 1 oz yet! And also 4 oz egg sinkers are hard to find. And the 1/0 circle hook, is this the size that you caught most of the fish on? I thought maybe 2/0 or 3/0 hooks are better for the fish you are targeting(over 5 lbs). It seems like all my bass worming hooks are 3/0 or 4/0 hooks. Thank you for any comment!

Well, let's just say building my own shad tank didn't worked out too well. I end up breaking more parts than I know what do with them. I guess I could still return the bilge pump and some parts to Academy and Lowe, when I was there earlier to pick up the parts, I noticed Academy has a 5 gallon round bucket with some kind of air pump($70). Would that work? Anyways, I'm trying to say I'm not very handy at all, so if something like that would suffice, I think I would get it instead of building one. Will try to go out Sat or Sun morning, I guess we'll put the boat in at PC to see any guide boat are around and try to get some shad around the cove first, and go from there.

Thank you for the advice and the map. I'll try to go out this weekend, but mean while, I guess I need to build a shad tank first.

That was a great article, thanks for sharing. I guess I need to get my lazy butt up in the morning and give it a try. I think finding shad and keeping them alive is the most important thing since without them, you don't have any bait! I often see some big fish on the graph, I'd try jiggin spoon and bucktail at them, but no takers yet. I've got a little minnow bucket with air bubble, is that too small to hold shad? Is back of Rambo Creek or Van Hollow a good place to catch them? I have not fish Rocky Branch before, can someone suggest some general areas to try? I think I remember the report said to try point 6 and in front of the marina. Thank you for any suggestion!!

Now when you say EARLY, how early are we talking about, before sunrise? I actually haven't fished the lake in the morning, I usually go out in the afternoon and fish till dark. I do notice that the bait fish are easier to find around sunset since they surface more around that time, I guess it's the same around sunrise. I do have a HDS unit on my boat, but since I only had the boat for less than a month, I'm still trying to figure out how to work the electronics. The unit I have does have the structure scan on it, but I don't know how it would help to dial in the fish yet. I guess by knowing what is on the sides of your boat, and not directly underneath, help you to chart a better course. Like I said, I'm new at fishing and do appreciate any comments or suggestions! BTW, save a few years would be great!!!!

Forgot to mention that I just bought two line-counter reels, I was thinking about using lead core lines on them, so I guess it'd be kind of like fly rod with sinking line that F & F is using. Now all I need to do is get me a couple of rod holder on the boat, find me some shad, and locate where the fish are, I'll be in business(Give me a few years, I should be able to figure this one out!) Thanks for the advice again!!

Thank you for all the support and comments. I've been out a couple times this week, fished at Coose Hollow and around the two islands near the 12 bridge, only caught a few small bass. I tried senko(wacky rig and texas rig), baby brush hog, small finesse worm(drop shot), hard jerkbait, spinnerbait,and jigging spoon. Met someone at the ramp told me to try Ventris and Rocky Branch next time I go out, He thinks the fish have not made their way this far yet. I'm interested in catch my own live bait, I have a small castnet(5 ft radius). I tried a couple time to catch minnow or shad in the back of the cove around sunset at PC and Avoca when I see a swarm coming towards the boat, but no luck so far, seems like they get spooked easily and went down deep. Do I need a bigger and heavier sinking net to catch them? F & F, those are a bunch of great looking fish! I think I'll be happy just to catch one of them! Thank you for sharing your tips on how to catch them!! The temperature has gone down about 20 degrees these past few days, is now a good time to be out on the water or should I wait til the weather stablize a bit first?(even though the thought of running down the lake when it's only 40 degree doesn't really warm my blood)

Went out yesterday and fished aroun PC areas and near the 12 bridge. It was cloudy and windy, I guess it's what they called a perfect day for fishing. Too bad we did not catch anything worth mentioning. Met a gentleman at the ramp while loading the boat that evening, He caught a bunch of big white bass using umbrealla rig with smoking ice color grubs, most of the fish weight 2-3 lbs. He said that the two islands near the bridge are good right now, and told me to give it a try next time. One thing I found out after starting fishing is that you meet the nicest people on or near the water, they don't mind sharing their experience and they actually want to show you how and where to catch fish! It has been a great experience for me (Including the gentleman that showed I've got the trailer too deep in the water, that's why I'm not getting the boat on the trailer correctly) Maybe in a few years, I'll be able to share my wisdom to someone new to the lake or to fishing! Thanks again.

Mainly black bass, but when I troll cranks, I'd have walleye, crappie, and white bass hit on them sometimes. Actually, I just like to catch fish. It great to feel the fish bite and you set the hook and feel the fish fight on your line. Too bad you can't feel that when you troll. Went down to the dam today, caught a few sm bass(never caught them before), but they are all pretty small. Saw a guy pulled in a striper about 10-15 lbs using umbrella rig with swimming bait near Lost Bridge North. Now that is a fish!! He tried to show me how to catch striper, but I'd have to get brand new fishing equiptment for that(heavy rod with big reels) and maybe a different boat fot that matter. It sure would be nice to catch a fish that big, the nice gent said striper caught was a average size one. He has caught much bigger ones. Anyways, I guess as long as you enjoy being out on the lake and enjoy fishing, that's what counts.

I guess I need to venture out to other parts of the lake, maybe fishin is tough no matter where you go this time of the year(or maybe I'm not using the right bait at the right spot, I can barely keep my bait caster tangle free!). But a short drive to and back from the lake sure is nice. Thank you for your advice.

Thank you so much for clearing that up for me! It has puzzled me for days. Now I do remember seeing a big 11 sign coming out of Monte Ne on the right. Here is another stupid question: Say I want to go fishing near the dam, am I better off going by water or by land if I'm in Rogers? BTW, did Prairie and Avoca coves today, caught a few small bass and crappie on drop shot and crank bait.

Can someone help me with a question I have? Sometimes the fishing report will say fish are caught between the dam and point 1, or somthing like between point 3 and point 6 are holding fish. What kind of point are they talking about? I just bought a map for Beaver Lake, the only points I can see on the map are gps points. Is that what they're referring to, or are they actual physical points, say if the dam is base, going clock or counter- clock wise, the big pointed places shown on the map? BTW, Tried drop shot and caught 3 small bass near Monte area, nothing on crank nor spinner bait. I guess fishing is a lifelong learning process, which I'm just getting started. Thank you guys for the help!

Thank you for the advice, will try them on the next outing.

Went out yesterday to Monte Ne and Horseshoe Bend area from 3pm -7:30pm. Caught a small white bass and a spotted bass. Tried spinnerbait, worm, lizard, crank bait, and grubs. Jeb wasn't kidding when he said Beaver is not the easiest lake try to learn to catch bass! Was hoping to see white bass schooling at sunset, but no signs of them at Horseshoe Bend yesterday. If anyone have any suggestions(where and how to fish), would be greatly appreciated!!

Went out today for 4 hrs. Mainly fished around the 12 bridge, the nearby island, and the shoreland from PC to the bridge. It was a great day to be out on the lake, catch a few more fish would be even better(only caught one bass)! Met a guy who told us to stay til 7 pm, the white bass might be scholling on top near the bridge, but couldn't stay that late.

I don't know the name of the tournament. I was too busy trying to catch my fist fish from Beaver.

Dad and I went out today for the first time. Fished around PR, caught 2 small LM and a good size wally. Had a great time! There was a tournament today, I saw some of the pros carried numbers of big fish in their bags. Wish I can fish like them!!

Thank you for the advice!!!!

Just bought a fishing boat. Couldn't wait to go to the lake. The problem is I don't know where to start? I'm in Rogers, so I guess the closest ramps will be Prairie Creek and Hwy 12 bridge. Is this a good area to fish? Or should I go to Rocky Branch or Lost Bridge where from the fishing report are the places to fish now? And what type of lures should I be throwing around this time of year? Thank you for any ideas!!!

Good looking boat! How about 8?

Do you still have the boat and where are you located?