nathanhooper

What is the site to go and see these monitors at?

Good stuff there. General area? FOW?

How deep are you seeing/getting those stripers up that way? I marked some good arches in Indian creek around the 20'-30' range.

Good catch. I have heard, from one guy last year(not verified info), that at some point in the early spring you can hang a left there at the LBN boat ramp and catch whites up and down that creek arm.

The one I caught last weekend was plum full of eggs. I would imagine if they have eggs they spawn right? Last year I was catching males with sperm sacks. Guess they could be like stripers huh? I'm not up to speed on these things. Lol

One is better than none.

How deep do you find them in that area this time of year?

I do remember seeing this around the first of May last year. Water was high and I was trolling the shore. I had forgot about the long underwater point until I came up on it. I got my lines in before they hung up, but as soon as I got across the point there was a large school of fish on the other side which looked to be chasing bait. I never could get back on them. I really think they were whites from the size of the arches.

Since my weekly Wednesday trip looked like it was not going to be a pleasant one, I decided to go out yesterday after work. Took my youngest along for the ride - at least he had fun driving the boat. Headed back up Indian creek and was seeing temps right around 50 on the main lake. Water was for sure up, and like always, the park ranger had not gotten around to bringing up the courtesy dock - not very courteous of them....lol. I found my way to the very back of Indian creek where I ran into some others fishing. I imagine looking for whites. But they did not seem to be catching anything. I didn't either, but I played more than fished. The one thing I did notice is that when I got into 16' FOW back in the back, the temps came up to 52. Other than them, I did not see anyone out. One truck at Indian creek, and two at LBN. I fished deeper than I should have in hind sight. I get stuck on one thing, like always, and it takes a lot to break free from it. I did it for the majority of the time last year, hopefully I will figure it out this year. In my mind, I know where I have caught the whites before, so I spend the majority of my time in those spots and at those depths. Meanwhile, its quite possible that I could have been pulling fish in the boat if I had just gone shallower. A friend was fishing closer to the dam and was trolling in 12 FOW. He brought in a small mouth and a walleye. He uses crankbaits. Both were brought in just around dusk I believe. So there it is. Lessons learned. Always nice to be on the water regardless.

Oh, there were a few floaters, but nothing too bad. And if I was calling a color, I'd say murky green. Doesn't really seem 'muddy' to me. I'll pay more attention next time.

I only fished up the back half of Indian creek, but it was a lot more stained than last week. Warmer too, 50 on the main lake and 52 back in the shallows(~12') Buddy of mine fished "closer" to the dam than me. Pulled up a smallie, and a Walter in 12' FOW. We both only fished a few hours. Good luck, hope it produces for you.

Yea, I was there yesterday morning. It's what really got me thinking about what I should get. Their prices are listed with the 40% off online, so it's made shopping a tad easier. But now I think I can judge the actual feel to the one I tried today and see what they have. Available at their store.

I tried my hand at BBs today. A report to follow later on the trip. I found a rod and reel setup a friend let me borrow last year for live baiting strikers. An Abu 550 and a medium action 7'6" bass pro rod. The rod had been broken and repaired, so I think it was down to 7'. It wasn't too bad. I was fishing a soft bottom with a lot of snags. Not sure why I decided to try it there, but the moment hit me when I wasn't doing any good with cranks. Wind was killing me. Got hung up quite a bit, but never lost anything. It did tell me a little more about what to look for. I am thinking I for sure want a medium heavy. But can see where the fast tip is a good thing. The reel is very nice, but not sure if I personally need the flipping switch. I kept the reel in free spool, and just used my thumb. I'm not a reel aficionado, but it would work for the application. I think I have an OLD low profile bait caster around somewhere to see if I like that feel better in my hand. I did see that I do want a solid reel. I was only using a 1 1/2 oz bb, but you could feel the strain on the reel when reeling while going forward. Very informative trip. I can see where a long rod would be handy.

I know its taken some getting used to from when I left off last year. But it would not matter to me, where I fish, if it stayed low or rose up. I believe its been proven that high water years are very beneficial to the lake and all as far as helping out the fish. But I do not know what they consider high, normal, low. I am going to guess its going to be an even year myself, not too high, but not too low....just right

Do you get the dynamite online or a local shop.........

Thanks again. I am for sure not going to spend money on something just because it has a name. I did spend more than I usually do last year when I bought a nice pflueger setup. It was well worth it, and really only, at most, $40 more than I 'usually' spend. It does not have magical powers that catch more fish over the other setups I have, but it is a whole lot nicer to fish with. When I first started trolling I bought some very cheap rods and reels. They worked......but only for that season and as soon as I could afford it, I bought new setups and gave the old ones away. Again, spending right around $40 or so more for the new setups which are going on their 3rd year now without any hickups. So, I do know from experience how spending just a little more in the beginning is worth it, and in some cases a better investment. I am not so much just a fair weather fisher, but at the same time, as you know, I don't do that much fishing during the winter. So far I am seeing that one main thing is a rod 7'-8'. Much difference between Medium and Medium/Heavy? And a faster tip is more desirable than a slower one because of sensitivity correct? I see not a whole lot of attention is put on the flipping switch, looks like just Tanderson. When I have read around the internet people tout this as one of those 'must haves'. I have to admit, I like the idea, but I will be a one rod guy for a while and run my trolling motor with a foot pedal, so I do have use of both my hands. The one thing I could see is if I really like it and decide to go into a two handed approach and having a rod already setup for it. I would honestly rather buy something in a store, of this nature, rather than offline. I buy a lot of stuff online, but when it comes to things like this I would rather have the option of walking into a place and explaining why I need to return it than shipping it off. I have yet to return anything fishing related to a store, but you never know when you might have to.

Thanks for the info guys. I was surfing tonight and these caught my eye. Any thoughts? Well, can't get the link to work right tonight. Stinking phone.... They are the Abu Silver Max with Cabelas rod combo. On sale for $80 They have several different rod lengths and actions. I just want to get a good setup that lets me concentrate on the BB instead of fighting the equipment. I have burned a spinning reel in the past with heavy equipment. Of course, that's all I have used really. I do have bait casters for my trolling setup, but they would not be what I would want to hold in hand for slow trolling BBs.

I want to try bottom bouncers this year. I know that you don't have to have a super special setup to catch a fish, but there has to be some kind of reasoning behind what you use right? My biggest concern is burning up a reel with the weight of the bb and lure. Do you match a reel and rod based on total weight? Most rods I see are not rated that high. Give me some insight please. Cabelas has their rods 30% off right now.

My theories and lines of BS can sometimes intertwine almost seamlessly when I'm trying to make myself feel better.....lol Yea, about like that guy J What area on the lake do you speak of savant?

Right end indeed...fish here are high class individuals, they turn their nose up at only but the best. The way I figure it is if I can learn to catch fish at this end, the other will be a cake walk if I ever get down there. I've been known to venture down to rocky branch, but that's about as far as I go. I'll for sure be posting when things start kicking up this end. I don't know about any other creek arms here besides Indian creek. It keeps me plenty busy figuring it out. I figure this is all for the better anyways. I've got some projects around here I need to finish up and once things kick in it will be hard to stay home. For now it will be just weekly trips I imagine. The walleye gave me my fix for some fresh fish.

I actually feel useful being at this end of the lake, and reporting, because it seems like everyone and their dog is at the other end. Lol I am inclined to your train of thought pierce, makes sense at least. Boys have been wanting to fish using the "cast and retrieve" method, so maybe I'll spend some time this weekend trying that out with them. I have to say, it's hard to put down trolling rods. Lol.

Love being on the water. Glad to have a nice day to get out there. Water temp has come up from Saturday. 45.5 in Indian Creek. I went up the creek in search of whites, just in case they were making a run for it, but no such luck in locating any. I did see a lot more marks than on Saturday, but I was also probably looking in more of the right places. about 90% of them were right at 30' give or take a few feet. Some were around 20' or so. One lonely fish caught. Very nice walleye. I was just looking around when I saw a big group of arches right on the bottom. So I turned around and set out a few lines. Caught it on a #7 flicker shad that should have been running around 16'. Had another crank out that I know runs 28' and never caught one on it. There were a few other boats that came out. One guy was on the opposite bank as me, looked to be trolling for walleye maybe. I only witnessed him catch two, and the first one he said "finally" and was very ecstatic, so I assume he was having the same amount of luck I was. I am guessing they are lethargic still because of the cold water? One thing is my fish was stocked full of eggs. I am torn when it comes to that kind of stuff. I know the arguments are that if I had caught her 5 months ago then the outcome would be the same. I am now writing all my trips down though. I did remember last night about when the whites started running up the creek last year, and its still a few weeks out I think. I sure would like to find where they hold out before running up the creek. Would it be "main" main part of the lake? I know a few miles, or even more, is not much for them to run in a day or so, but could anyone clue me in as to what kind of structure and depths they hang out on till they get that urge? I guess I will get this early(for me) fishing thing figured out in a few years.

Area 44. I've tried to go several years now. Finally got things set though. I'm going to denver for some work training this June, so I'll slip on west of there for a few scouting days. Should work out fine. On a side note. Looked in a few areas today that I was catching walleye last year, not an arch one to be seen. Must be a timing thing, being early and all.

They just must not be in the creek arm yet. I'll take it slower this week and look harder.

Thanks. I know I shouldn't just leave for so long without any talk, but fishing just does not cross my mind after deer season begins. This is the first year I've dove back into it so early. I hope to provide much info as the year goes on. But I may bow out early this fall because I'm going on my first elk hunt in Colorado. Planning on leaving Sept 10th. If I remeber right, I was into some good walleye and striper that time last year.