m&m

Patlock and I launched from moonshine ramp at 5:30am Saturday. Fog was south so we headed to the rock lane marina cove. Boats on first 3 points into the cove from the main lake. We fished a small cove on the right and had a decent 4 hours. Patlock can confirm bill Babler’s post about the smallmouth being angry at the plopper. He was throwing it and a 3 lb SM blew up on it about ten feet from the boat. It was a savage hit and hookup. We saw other blowups as the shad were thick in there. I saw a blowup within casting distance so I tossed a Ned into the center of the water ring. A few seconds later I felt a tick, tick on my line, set the hook and the picture below is what I caught. Nice fight on the 6 lb line. In the 4 hours we caught 15 fish, 4 of them were keepers. Both LM and SM. Caught fish on plopper and Ned but really didn’t thrown anything else. Patlock caught a keeper KY on a Ned and as I was netting it there was another one the same size trying to get at the lure. I tried to dip them both but the one swam deep. At 7:30 am we saw the first wake boat. By 9:30 am we threw up the white flag and surrendered to the boaters. WT was 79.7 when we started and 80.6 when we took out. Water was clear and only one area had green slime. Mike This post has been promoted to an article

IL, good looking fish. Smart move on getting off the water. Mike

Randy, nice healthy looking fish and a great side note. Mike

bobby b, that is just too scary. I would liked to have the gas concession on the lake yesterday. We were out with another couple in their pontoon. We put in at moonshine ramp and went south to cricket creek. Nice leasurely boat ride never going more than 15 mph. I cannot tell you how many boats I saw pass us going south then come back going north. I did notice one blue runabout with a blue Bimini top pass us not once, not twice, not three times but 4 times. Twice in each direction. And he was pushing water creating a heck of a wake. They were not millennials either. They were in their 50’s and 60’s. Indianapolis speedway has nothing on what I saw on Table Rock yesterday. Glad you guessed correctly on the way you turned your boat to avoid the collision. Can’t hardly wait until Tuesday and the lake calms down. With the heat that is coming, I might head over to bull creek on taneycomo and fish for bass in the cooler water. Mike

Cheesemaster, nice pictures. Gotta love that topwater action. Mike

Bill, thanks for the information. Sounds like a great day. Their smiles says it all Mike

Vernon, only 5 rods on the deck? Mike

bobby b, that is the skinniest fish I’ve seen in a long time. Mike

Bill, thanks for the information. You are so right about the slime all over the water column. I hope the wind this weekend pushed it out of the way. Mike

rps, good stuff up there. Down by the dam it doesn’t matter what color Ned or other bottom bait I throw because they all come back green. But things are looking up as the slime is starting to break up. Mike

Rodmaker, congratulations on the retirement. We also had a home built and I was a pain in the rump for the builder because I stayed involved in every aspect from design to completion. If you’ve never had a house built, invest your time into the process. When it is over, you can spend time fishing instead of punch like st stuff. Mike

rps, nice day to be out. Except when the wind kicks up. Mike

Smallmouth up there? Bo’s work has paid off. Great looking healthy fish. Thanks for the information. Mike

Quill, great to hear the topwater bite was working for you. I was out the other day by the dam throwing a frog and had great blow ups on it but no hook ups. But it sure gets the adrenaline pumping. Thanks for the information. Mike

Bill, awesome report. Great picture. Mike

Owen’s face says it all!! Mike

Chris, great pictures. Thanks for the information. Mike

I had just a couple hours to fish on Tuesday morning so I put in at moonshine and the lot was full. Cops for kids was all over. I went to a nearby cove and fished a small cut. Saw plenty of males on beds but just let them be. Talked to two women who were fishing the derby. They had 4 keepers in the boat. They asked if they could fish the tree line behind me. They were very courteous and I was obliging. Enough water for everyone. Example of true manners on the water Mike

Shark bait, sounds like a nice few hours. Great picture. Mike

Biglerma, WOW! Mike

Quill, thanks for the information. Nice color on that bass. Wading! Ugh! Hate it. Mike

rps, Ned fish? Sounds like a fun time on light gear. Thanks for the report. Mike

Royal blue, nice picture. Thanks for the information. Mike

Quill, nice report. Sounds like big M was crowded. Great pictures. Mike