kjackson

Fished yesterday out of Starkey and looked for stripers/whites that were willing to hit. Trolled various things, including some salmon stuff and had one maybe-hit and a sonar follow--where you see the fish come up and intercept the path of the downrigger ball. I marked lots of "stuff" really deep--are there mysis shrimp or equivalent here?-- like down to maybe 150-feet-plus. Balls of bait were scattered and could be found anywhere from 45 to 15 feet down. There certainly is an algae bloom going on--it was very visible on the line. The upshot is it was a nice, albeit windy, day on the water. I learned a little more of the lake as I made it almost to Rocky Branch. Ended up giving up on the pelagics, went into a creek and caught one nice spot. And I left when I realized that my fishing license was expired! Washington has a fixed date in April when everyone's license goes out.

It's interesting to see how threads develop away from the original intent. I was only interested to see if there would be a push to keep mitigation hatcheries open. Now, the question may be moot. This is from the Fishing Wire: It appears pressure brought to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) by some members of Congress as well as the media has halted another effort by the agency to shutter its National Fish Hatcheries. As both The Outdoor Wire and The Fishing Wire have been reporting in recent weeks, the FWS has kept its official plans safely under wraps, but when its apparent intentions were revealed by inside sources and news agencies, several members of Congress intervened in an attempt to block its efforts. To many, it appears the agency desperately wants to shed its responsibility to the mitigation stocking business, and it is hoped by most within the fishing industry a long-term solution can be found. Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander has a longstanding record as an advocate for hunting, fishing and practical conservation of natural resources. He's especially been there when it comes to protecting federal hatcheries (in his state) in the past three years, including brokering a three-year agreement in 2012 to get the Tennessee Valley Authority to help fund the two federal hatcheries in Tennessee. Besides those facilities threatened in Tennessee, targeted hatcheries in South Dakota, Georgia, Arkansas, and Kentucky, provide jobs and economic benefits, and further the objectives of providing outdoor recreational opportunities for all U.S. citizens. Alexander's office on Wednesday Sept. 18 announced it had reached an agreement with Interior Department Secretary Sally Jewell to halt any action on a "hatchery review" to be released next month, which was expected to recommend the closure of the mitigation hatcheries. Jewell also ordered the FWS to seek "longtime solutions." "I appreciate Interior Secretary Jewell heeding the concerns of Tennesseans and others around the country who depend upon these hatcheries to replace trout that are destroyed by federal locks and dams," Alexander said. "Members of Congress spoke out, and the Department of the Interior responded. Now, the nearly 900,000 Tennesseans and visitors who buy fishing licenses in our state can once again have faith that Tennessee's trout fishing will remain some of the best in the country." Sen. Alexander's release continued: "If federal locks and dams are going to destroy fish, then the federal government has a responsibility to replace them. "Hopefully in coming weeks we'll be able to report on true progress to keep these facilities open and continuing to provide recreational opportunities and the economic benefits that enjoyed by all citizens." - Etta Pettijohn © 2013 The Fishing Wire. - See more at: http://www.thefishingwire.com/story/299366#sthash.AvlNWLqh.dpuf

Doh! I should have pointed that out. Beaver is very close to me as is upper Table Rock at Holiday Island.

OK, I have a handle on what walleyes, bass and trout do in the fall, but the whole striper/hybrid/white family is a big unknown for me. What do they do in the fall? Run around aimlessly or head to their spawning areas to wait for the call? Head downstream to overwinter? What is their game plan?

I've heard rumors about it, and I got a bit of confirmation, but there is a move underway to cut back or close federal fish hatcheries. This is a budgetary thing, but from what I've heard from the American Sportfishing Association, the Feds are not very forthcoming with information. Being new to the area, I don't really know what impacts it might have here, but there are federal hatcheries in the area, and any cutbacks would impact fish stocks. This isn't a regional thing, but it would have impact from coast to coast--wherever federal hatcheries are in place. I don't know much more about it, unfortunately. Supposedly, we'll get the full story when the budget proposals come out.

The Living target crankbaits are pretty cool looking, too, especially the shad version.

In my experience--granted on Columbia River system fish and not White River walleyes-- walleyes simply do not cut line. Having an unexplained line cut was so rare in my experience that I have a difficult time accepting that it is/was walleye caused. I fished with four-pound a lot and would not hesitate to use it for walleyes in a lot of situations. Six-pound XL was my line of choice when jigging. The only time I had anything close to the "set--there he is--and he's gone" situation was when we first started using Fireline in desert lakes that had broken basalt banks and bottoms. Fireline simply does not like sharp rocks, shells or anything with an edge. Based on my limited experience on Beaver and Table Rock, I would suggest what you might be seeing/feeling is either a fish dragging your line (fluorocarbon, mono, hybrid, Fireline or whatever) over some sharp flint shards or abrasion due to same that results in the line popping when you're on a fish. My opinion is based on my fishing in the Northwest, the Dakotas, Minnesota and Canada. I just don't see a walleye cutting line. The only times I've had the nibble-bite-hookset that resulted in cut line is in pike country. But if you're not catching the occasional pike, pickerel or muskie, then what you're experiencing is probably related to the line and the stuff on the bottom, which is what F&F was pointing to. Or gar---I'll go with gar having lost an umbrella rig to one this spring.

I've caught a lot of walleyes using four and six-pound test. I've lost some on the hookset, and usually there was that little pigtail on the end of the line to show the reason. Unless Southern walleyes have been filing their teeth on the sides, I would not expect that the cause to be "bite offs" by walleye. Dragging a jig over shell beds or broken flint bottom might be a cause. It almost sounds like there might be some pike or pickerel or some other really toothy critter around . Doesn't the Tennessee have native musky in it? I remember reading something maybe 20 years ago about a guide fishing for muskies in the big Southern reservoirs in In-Fish. Don't remember much about where or what rivers, but I'd guess that's another possibility. I would expect some of whatever it is to be caught occasionally, though. This reminds me of the hoorah on Coeur d'Alene Lake in Idaho shortly after the first plants of chinook salmon were reaching maturity. There were a lot of reports of chinook being lost because they would "bite the leader". Salmon don't do that; it would be like the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl. What C d'A does have is really big pike...

I can. I like it and use it for a variety of different things.

I don't want to beat the Lund drum to death, but there are fish and skis and there are fish and skis. Lund has some that don't look like a used bar of soap and will fish well. One of the Lunds I had was a 1650 Tyee that would serve as a fish and ski (it wasn't rigged to be one, though) but it was a very good fishing boat. Skeeter also has a decent fish and ski--at least the older ones I've seen were. But again, you might as well get a decent deep vee and avoid all the padded stuff and cushy rear seats in what could be cockpit space.

I think it was Lefty Kreh who used a big piece of netting laid over whatever part of the boat he was fishing in. The fly line would lay on the net and not loop around cleats or whatever was on the deck. Back when I was chasing searun cutthroat with a fly rod, a lot of guys used those collapsible mesh baskets--they're advertised for use as leaf baskets or clothes baskets and such. I never used one, but they looked like they would work well.

I believe Genmar is gone; if I remember correctly, it was a bankruptcy. Here's a link that shows something interesting: http://www.brunswick.com/brands/marine-boats/ Also, Stratos, Ranger and Triton are owned by the same company, Fishing Holdings LLC

On mergers...I do know that G3 is a Yamaha company as is Skeeter. Lund, Ranger, Crestliner are all part of a conglomerate. I think that company also owns either Brunswick or Mercury or some combination. Sylvan, Smokercraft and Starcraft are part of the same company. Lowe owns or is Sea Nymph. I'm not sure about Alumacraft...

That's a slick mount.

I think you can buy extensions to cables, but Bird Watcher is right. Can't be done unless the factory can or will.

I'll throw a further two cents in on the Sea Ark...that hull looks a lot like the hull I have. Mine is an 18-foot Starcraft/Smokercraft/Sylvan (same company but different brands and not made by Sea Ark) Sportsman series that was designed to be an entry-level sled for NW rivers. It is stable as all get out and provides a comfortable ride, if you're running a tiller. My wife won't ride up front in a chop because it is rough. This boat is heavier and with the operator up front will be a smoother ride. But with that bow, it will likely slam into waves a bit more than comfortable. It looks like it is decently laid out and would be easy to rig. As for a disclaimer, I've owned three Lunds (and am still kicking myself over letting one of them go), and I am prejudiced. I'm currently looking for a Lund but will buy the right Crestliner or Alumacraft should I find one. I fished my Lunds in Washington saltwater, the mouth of the Columbia and over interior Washington in some pretty serious water at times and never had an issue. My current boat, though, can't take big waves as I found out when I poked a freighter wake in a tide rip and took green water over the bow. JD-- I know you're looking for new but Smithville Marine north of Kansas City has an 18' Ranger Cherokee walk-through deep vee with a 150 Suzuki.

Three words: Lund, Crestliner and Alumacraft. I've had experience with all three and found each to be a good, good boat. I have only ridden in one Lowe, so I don't know anything about them, but the brand does have a good reputation. I'm looking for a used one of the big three, but what I'm looking for specifically is a bit harder to find in bass country than it is up north. You're starting at a good time as "year-end-clearance" sales are underway. If you want me to throw in a wrench, Ranger aluminum is expanding its line this fall/winter, and word is there will be at least one deep vee in the offering. Good luck in your search.

And at Eagle Rock as well; it was thick enough that I didn't get on plane. Of course, the abundance of trash in the water was another factor. You'd think it was high slack after a storm. This morning I stayed in but there was enough mist/humidity in Eureka Springs to be noticeable. I kinda wondered what it was like at Dam Site.

I'm not a big fan of sauces as a rule, but I'm thinking this approach would be a good alternative to the fry/oven-fry routine I seem to be stuck in.

Launched at Eagle Rock at 7:30 and headed down river slowly because of the fog and the heavy concentration of trash in the water. Pulled into Roaring River to check it out and did the Beaver Lake two-step trolling crankbaits. I fished about halfway back in and ran into enough crappie to serve for dinner. Caught one short bass and had a couple of mystery fish pull off. There was a lot of surface activity, but since I want to nail the trolling thing down, I left bass gear (including my topwater box) at home with the exception of the box of spoons and the dropshot gear. The water was stained; I could only see two feet down in most places and a bit further in others. The crappie were nice sized, but they seemed to be more scattered or moving more than I expect. I'd hit a fish, and then go back to work the area with no other bites. There were schools of shad fry everywhere. Pulled the pin at 11 as I had to work this afternoon.

Make a small pan of aluminum foil on the grill and throw in a few pats of butter and some lime juice. Wait until the butter starts to brown before you put on the fish. Flip once. Hit the fillets with a little seasoning salt, and in four or five minutes, you're done.

Very nice. I'm doing a test run tomorrow, so I do hope you left a few in the lake.

According to 5newsonline, a body has been recovered in the cove where the diver disappeared. The suit, weight belt and camera found with the body are the same as the one the missing diver had with him. An autopsy will determine the identity. The news item said that the body was recovered in 54 feet of water and was not entangled in anything. In other Beaver Lake news, another person drowned in the "party cove" wherever that is...

Hmmm...there are kokanee releases for riggers, but running a Flicker Shad would probably pop them. I may have to rig up some kokanee gear to play with. I'm thinking Tuesday may be a good day to play if I get some work done.

Do these suspended fish key on bait size-- a match-the-hatch mentality? i've got lures that will run to 20 feet deep, but I'm afraid they are larger than what the fish are chasing. The alternative might be leadcore and a small bait or spoon. I was heading out to see about stripers, but messed up a knee shoveling rock and gravel to fill a washout on the driveway...decided I'd let it heal before fishing, and now you have me thinking crappies and whites. Sigh.