nhornback

Wanted to try my hand at night fishing and conditions set up perfect to use the full moon and clear skies to become accustom to operating on the deck at night. Sooooo glad i finally did it! Launched from mutton and started in googer at 730ish on a few secondary points with little success, couple dinks in the bushes. Worked the back end of channel swing in the back of the creek and found a school of whites, but no green ones. Decided to skip the creeks and check channel swings on main river. Good choice. Found a good collection of 14-17 inch LM, plus walleye and cats on both the north and south facing swings on river channel up river from birch branch. Those channel swings seem to always produce bites for me, regardless of time or conditions. Boated about 25, most on 4th oz shaky head with zinkerZ glued on in GP and PBJ, couple on a jig and chatterbait. Most bites were between 6-12ft This beast walleye hit the PBJ. Biggest walleye ive ever caught! And i assume a trophy for all you walleye lovers (Ignore what looks like urine on my leg... i was pretty pumped, but not THAT excited ) I'm hooked, I'll be back next time overnight conditons allow! NH

If you don't mind me asking, What kind of cranks do you throw out there? That's something that I rarely throw on the river but should add to my arsenal for high/swift water situations. Thanks, Nick

OK cool thanks hammer

Channels i.e. where the creek/river bed runs closely along a given bank? Swings i.e. where that creek/river bed turns away from the bank? Everyone's lingo seems different, I'm just hoping to digest it all as much as I can... Always something to be learned!

Can I ask what you mean by, "channel and swings?" Thanks!

Anyone know if Stockton got any significant rains today?

Launched about 8 fished til 4. Boated 34 bass, maybe 8 or 9 keeps but nothing too big. Best 5 probably not much over 10lbs if that... Fished channel banks and just inside a few main lake points where we could get out of the wind (blew like crazy out there all day.) Most came on ned, a few on warts and one on a jerkbait. Bass we caught were mostly hanging somewhat tight to steep banks or bluffs in 5-20ft. Water temp 48.5-49.9

Cool figured somewhere around 4 thanks. Any whites made it that far yet or still way too early?

Cn anyone tell me how long of a float it is from galena access to blunks? Thanks!

Got any details on those reports? Cause we were stumped out there.

Floated HL Kerr to Galena yesterday. Water was super clear and super cold! Signs of life were few and far between and only managed 1 13 inch smallie and a couple goggle eye. All came on a shaky head with a baby rage craw and all were caught right below the island on the bluff wall in the deepest part of the pocket. Other than that pocket nobody in our group got bit anywhere... Was a fun day to be out just to break away from cabin fever, but it was tough for fishing... see you again in April, James River...

Thanks for the detailed advice. Figured when I find one in a hole there have to be several near by. That stretch has several deeper almost slack water pockets, so I am planning to fish those very thoroughly with everything I have tied on. Regardless of the amount of success we have I still can't wait to float it. Get little-kid-like excitement over the river every time we go! Thanks again for all the tips guys, I'll report back with how things went either this evening or tomorrow when I get a chance... Nick

HL Kerr to galena

Thanks for the tips guys. Had planned to throw Ned and a zlcritter craw Texas rigged. Might throw a jerk bait or spinner bait around too.

Going to float Saturday and take advantage of the record highs, but I've never floated the river any earlier than mid/late April. Unsure of where to start when it comes to lure selection. Can anyone offer any thoughts on productive presentations this time of year? Thanks, Nick

Thanks for the solid advice, fishinwrench, it will go a long way in solving the issue! Nick

98 tracker 90hp

Had issues recently with power trim sticking when cold. It's gotten worse so I know I need to do something before my next trip and it ruins a day on the water. I can hear power going to it, but initially it will not engage and move (up or down.) Once it engaged I had no further issues all day. I have somewhat limited abilities mechanically but also want to save money on shop fees if it's a simple diagnosis and fix or replacement. Any advice would be greatly apprrciated, Thanks guys Nick

Curious to know the winning weights and BB once you all get off the water...? I would imagine the conditions this morning are favorable for some big sacks!

This is the best info I've seen on this site since I've been coming here! I have very basic electronics and only on the bow, so map study is becoming a very important part of my quest to become a better angler. Fishing Hot Spots maps have been my best bet but are 10ft contour intervals so 1ft is going to be very useful... Thanks for the great info!

Nothing huge, a couple had bellies but didn't put them to scales. assumed the biggest was close to 3.5. had to really slow down and crawl the cranks to get bites. I'm trying to upload pics but phone isn't cooperating

Put in around 830 to drizzle and ran into back 3rd of Google creek. caught one keep on a square bill but slow action in general; water temp 50.5. ran to the back of another creek to no avail so decided to run toward the dam in search of warmer water. Found 53.2 water in hawker branch and caught 4 with 3 keeps on wind blown side on chunky rock on a 3xd. Ran into cove by old state park and caught 3 more keeps on a wart before wrapping up the day about 2. Didn't catch a ton but caught mostly keepers from 15-18 inches. all but one came on the inside and outside edges of cuts in the back half of creeks on chunck rock

Going this weekend as well. have been told a lipless crank has been working too for what it's worth

Haven't been on stockton in awhile. anyone get out there today and have temp updates? thanks!

Thanks quillback, I'll admit I'm a sucker for the shallow bite, which is why I spend summers yakking the James river for smallies. I'll let ya know if I find any! Nick