dookie65

I can't see the pic either. I caught what I believe to be my personal best also last Saturday at a private lake. It's a good time to catch some big ones!!

Thanks for the reports!! Heading down tomorrow for 5 days. Can't wait!!

Thanks T, same to you!!

I learned a harsh lesson this past weekend on just how the correct size and retrieval speed/ presentation can make such a huge difference between catching fish and not. I used the exact identical spinner bait as my partner, the only differences were he was using a 3/8 oz and I only had a 1/2 oz size. He fished it really slow and I tried to do the same. He kicked my butt and I couldn't buy a fish in 2 days on the same bait!! That is how subtle differences in lures and presentation can make a difference some days. That is why I tend to buy several different weight sizes and blade combos in a spinner bait I like. Personally I prefer a 1/2 oz spinnerbait but that's just me. They all have their place though.

Thanks Ketchup!! We had pretty good wind both days which seemed to pushed a lot of debris to the banks.We didn't experience any issues though I'm sure it was a lot worse before we got down on Thursday!!

Thanks willyfish!! I ran all the way to the back of Aunts Creek and Little Aunts with no problem. I didn't see any floating debris. It is very murky though!! You will have no problems by next week and hopefully it will clear up a bit. From Aunts Creek on up the James is where I saw the most debris but I only ran up about a mile.Everything up there is chocolate milk also. As I said, we had guys run from Aunts down to the dam and saw no debris. The water clears up as you go. Hope you can get after them!!

Thanks Bill!! Appreciate that!! :-)

We had a small 25 man buddy tournament on 5-6 I had a rough time but my partner finished 3rd and took big bass with a 5.54 pound LM.. Water in The James and Aunt's Creek looks like the Mississippi. As of yesterday, the water started to clear a bit around Kimberling with 1-2 foot viability The water from K.C to the dam continued to clear and looked pretty good I was told.A lot of guys ran from A.C all the way to the dam with no problems, From A.C. on up the James still had quite a bit of debris still though. Water was near 62 degrees but found some 65 degree water up the creek but no fish. 25 guys weighed in close to 60 bass.Biggest bass was 5.54# caught on a spinner bait. Ned rig and hula grub and grubs worked in the clearer water.No shocker there. The spinner bait bite was a tough grind but paid off with the better keepers in the muddy water..Painted blades fished SLOW!! Some guys caught some with a War Eagle mouse color. All of our better fish were caught shallow less than 5 to 6 feet from the bank. Shade was also key, Not a lot of quantity but definite quality. A lot of the bass were still pre-spawn much to our surprise. Here are a few pics of what the water looks like in the James and Aunts Creek area. If you can get out there, do it!!

Yep, our resort had a jon boat with a rope on the front tied to the dock and a rope on the back tied to the shore. Just shuttled back and forth. No problemo!

Thanks Vernon, same to you all!! A few guys made it down today and fished and did really well!! Several over 3 pounds. Hope we are as fortunate!! :-)

Well, after much debate we decided to go for it and are heading down tomorrow; A few of the guys that made it down today and fished said they caught several bass over 3 pounds and said the bite was good!! I'm hoping we can get into em on Friday. Thanks to those who replied, much appreciated!

From another post: as of this post, the open ramps on the lake are Baxter, Viola, Mill Creek, and Indian Point. She said with water dropping that more will be opening up. Also mentioned that theres alot of private ramps around the lake that would be worth checking out.

Thanks for the update Ketchup!!

Dang, I'll have to pay closer attention and get in next years group! Don't worry, I've been sucking it up this season! If I would just go with my gut instinct I would have done better so far. But nooooooo!!

Thanks for sharing this info!! We are supposed to stay at a resort in Little Aunt's creek Thursday through Sunday and fish. Hoping the additional rain stays away and the bite turns on!!

Thanks for the report!!!

Appreciate any opinions/advice on what you think conditions might be like around Little Aunt's Creek and Aunt's Creek come Fri/ Sat5-4-17 We are supposed to fish a small buddy tournament this Saturday. We are coming down on Thursday afternoon and staying until Sunday. There are so many different on some of the other threads, it's hard to tell what's good advice and what's not. I'm more concerned about debris and safety., Also wondering what you guys will think the fishing will be like? I'm assuming the shallow bite should be good. I have fished the lake several times but only get to fish it about once a year so my knowledge of the lake is limited. I appreciate any info and advice anyone might have. I just don't want to make the trip down and not be able to fish if conditions are that bad. Thanks in advance!! Ken

I'm supposed to be heading down on Thursday for a small buddy tournament.It's not looking good. I'll be watching for some reports.Appreciate any info out there!! Thanks!!

I found some nice whites still out on the main lake bluff wall and bluff ends when I was down on Oct.22-23. C.C. Rattle trap and a jerk bait was what I caught them on. It was blue bird skies but we had wind. Caught them late morning to noon. We had to leave about 1:00pm so we didn't get much time in. No surface activity that I saw but again that was a little more than a week ago.

I will be joining in on the madness this weekend!! I have fished the Bash for the past 4 years and I like the controlled chaos!! lol We stay around the 7 mm and fish either direction usually within 10 miles.It can get a bit crazy on the main lake so we usually don't run too far. We just have fun and go fishin', sometimes good things happen! The only info I have to share is from our trip last weekend. We fished all day Sat and Sunday till about 1:00pm. Saturday the fishing was much better than Sunday, even though conditions were better on Sunday.Water temp was 77 almost everywhere we went. There are tons of shad already in the backs of the coves and suspended.. We had moderate success on topwater using spook type lures around docks early and when the clouds rolled in. A white double willow spinner bait produced a few, as well as a 3/4 ounce red eye shad. In areas that the bass were schooling my buddy even caught a few on a jerkbait. I threw a buzz bait a TON with zero success. Sunday was terrible!! We only caught a few dinks. Couldn't buy a bite on a jig either. We never did get into any size, the biggest was maybe #2 1/2 pounds. It didn't seem like the fish have made it all the way to the backs of the coves yet. That may change with the cold snap this week. I agree with Mosmallies on the bait seletions for the bash!! That's most likely what we will be throwing all weekend, with the addition of a Spook type bait and a big spinner bait!! Best of luck to you guys and be safe!! It's nutty out there!! LOL Ken