kjackson
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Everything posted by kjackson
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You can also use a trolling plate, like the Happy Troller, to reduce speed. I've used one in the past, and they do work well. On my current boat, I trim the engine all the way down and it helps. Trolling plates attach to the cavitation plate on the outboard and are easy to install.
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Superb!
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OK-- the hybrid tipped a Rapala scale at 11-4, which seemed light, especially after we hooked it in 6-7 feet of water (it wanted out of there in the worst way). Didn't weigh the white as it was fairly typical of the larger ones we caught that day--so I never thought to weigh it. It just happened to be on the top of the livewell when I wanted one to shoot. I'd say we caught perhaps a dozen that size with only a few smaller females and a few males. This was close to the size that I caught in the upper end last year. I was surprised to see that the big hybrid was a male.
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Left Holiday Island late because of the storm cells, and headed upstream. Trolled the usual and accustomed places with zero success. Tried casting jigs and crank baits until I couldn't stand it any more. Had to drag out the A-rig and get serious as this was my first trip out this year--not by choice. I wanted to go and bled with all the reports of fish caught but couldn't. It wasn't long before we hit fish (that is one reason I like the A-rig). Second fish in was a hybrid--my first "big" one--28.5 inches. I absolutely cannot believe how strong the fish was for its size. I think I'm in love. We continued to hit whites--nice big females and males that hadn't spawned yet. And my buddy tagged another hybrid--not so large, though. Water temps varied between 53 to 50.5. Color was good, but there is still a lot of debris in the water, both floating and on the bank. There are also new additions in places that were open before (some big stuff just under the surface), so be careful.
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Left Holiday Island late because of the storm cells, and headed upstream. Trolled the usual and accustomed places with zero success. Tried casting jigs and crank baits until I couldn't stand it any more. Had to drag out the A-rig and get serious as this was my first trip out this year--not by choice. I wanted to go and bled with all the reports of fish caught but couldn't. It wasn't long before we hit fish (that is one reason I like the A-rig). Second fish in was a hybrid--my first "big" one--28.5 inches. I absolutely cannot believe how strong the fish was for its size. I think I'm in love.View attachment: hybrid.jpg We continued to hit whites--nice big females and males that hadn't spawned yet. And my buddy tagged another hybrid--not so large, though. View attachment: white.jpg Water temps varied between 53 to 50.5. Color was good, but there is still a lot of debris in the water, both floating and on the bank. There are also new additions in places that were open before (some big stuff just under the surface), so be careful. -
I use rods that have a fast action with a lot of tip flex so that I can tell if the plug/crankbait is working properly. For that reason (and the fact that they moved with the rest of my stuff), I use steelhead plug or Hotshot rods. They've enough backbone to handle a striper, yet the tip is soft enough to show the bait's vibration. I also like the fact these rods (generally) are 8 ½-feet long as it spreads the lines, which reduces tangles. Having said that, I also use fairly soft, seven-foot rods off the stern of the boat as length isn't an issue there. For line counters, I am using Abu Garcia 5500 line counters, but this spring will be running the new Okuma Goldwater line counter. It's low profile and smaller than the 5500.
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That's a great resource! I was expecting something simplistic, but several of those knots I've not heard of...
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Even a few stores on upper Spring were flooded...
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Most of that debris came from Eureka Springs (a slight exaggeration, but not much of one)...there are some videos around showing the main streets flooded and blocked off. Also, Highway 23 was shut down for a while. The bridge on Highway 187--the back way to Holiday Island is pretty much gone.
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Guessing from the floodwaters still running down the streets of Eureka, and the flooded state of Leatherwood Creek, it's going to be a while before the upper end is fishable.
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Still coming down hard in Eureka. The culvert from the spring to our pond can't handle the flow from the gully; it now has something over a foot of water (or more) over it. There is at least six inches of water flowing over the dam, and the road below the dam has whitecaps... We missed the really big hail--the largest I saw was quarter sized. Can't help but think that Beaver will be pretty brown for a few days.
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And what rod holder might that be?
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Nice! Glad to hear that there are fish in this end of the lake...
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3-17-15 Few hours in Morning, Few in the afternoon
kjackson replied to fishman783's topic in Beaver Lake
Hey--that's a good day. Nice. -
If you'd share, I wouldn't have to. However, next time, I will remember the secret weapons instead of leaving them at home.
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There have been enough days for me where I would have been happy with one. That looks like a fat female. Eggs? Do we have lake spawners in Beaver? That would be a good thing.
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Interesting; thanks for the report.
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I would say, "Know a good guide?", but I don't want to offend anyone. I'm available, and I can drive now, so no need for the limo service.
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FWIW-- stopped by Cabela's today while waiting for my computer to get set up. There is a sale on a specific Cabela's rod series that is 40% (could have been 50%, Old Timer's strikes again) off. There were a couple of rods I would pick for running bouncers...nice, soft tip and enough backbone. As I remember, I was thinking the rods were running about $40... if I'd been in the market, I would have dropped a dime or two.
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I use an older Pflueger crankbait rod that is seven feet long and has a parabolic action--that is it bends through the blank. When a fish hits, the softer tip gives. I like this as I use 50-pound braid; it's what I had on hand, and I'm cheap; also, I tend to fish around wood. That way I don't lose many bouncers. I run a tiller boat, and because of that, I have a lefthand bait caster for ease of use. The speeds I run generally are faster than F&F's, so I go with heavier bouncers as a rule--up to three ounces depending upon water depth. I tie my own leaders and use fluorocarbon usually around four feet or so in length.
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Can't leave home without it.
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That's a great reminder; I need to check mine out to see what is in there. I would also add some strong line or cord for hook removal. Ten-pound test fluorocarbon isn't going to cut it.
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You are so cruel! Last Beaver guide I had caught all the fish and wouldn't let me up on the front deck...
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Sounds like you have a fun week ahead of you!
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Thanks for the report. It's nice to see someone fishing the right end of the lake...I keep thinking about the creek arms close to the dam and wonder about the various critters that might swim up them in the early spring. Wish I had some input to add, but I won't be able to get on the water until next week, maybe, if the crossed fingers work.
