Phil Lilley

I don't do this often enough - but we've had quite a few people sign up lately. So I thought I'd post a welcome note. @xmarksthespot @Larry Schmitt @Saugeye Guy @dLehmann @OzarkMartin @FrankC @Tim Stidham @MidwestMan @Peter S. in Indy @T-Bend @frymorefish @Boldfenian

It's a repeat for the Duff's.

42 teams. Less than half weighed in. They ran 4 units till 11 am then no water from noon till now. Same yesterday and same tomorrow. Scuds won the day, I understand. I caught them on jigs mid day but in the trophy area. Only one team played up.

Can you image picking up a gun, being told it was empty, pointing and shooting it at someone? Gives me chills thinking about it. But they (actors that shoot at people) do it all the time without thinking about it. Assume - it's gets all of in trouble alot!

Sea bass is pretty good. Blue gill might be my #1.

Canned tuna just above trout... LOL!!

You've set a high bar... we'll expect more reviews as your adventures continue. Splurge away!

Wasn't even close on the screen name... Have you ever posted a pic of your kayak setup? It's pretty impressive!!

We looked for areas that we're getting fished. The flats at 15 and up in Flat Creek are fished hard this winter. I think there's lots of opportunities in big, open water which aren't fished that much. Just takes time.

We’d use 2- 1/16th oz lead heads 18” apart to get down. Worked good. 4 lb line

Nice to meet @Bassin4fun yesterday

We fished the both structure and the flats yesterday. We found fish almost everywhere, I like mostly crappie but I am still trying to figure out what fish are what on the livescope. Structure - leaving the bridge ramp we headed south to the first bluff and found some neat trees in 20-25 ft of water and fish on them. Caught shorts mainly, and yes they were skiddish. Moved around the point and headed in the cove. Lots of standing trees towards the north bank and in the middle in 20-25 ft of water and fish on some. Really wasted time there because we couldn't get them to cooperate. Headed up to point 15 and the flats above the point. About 6 boats working the area with some success. We didn't do that well. Headed back down lake and fished the bluff from peach orchard cove south. Found a lot more fish in 20-30 feet of water and a ton of trees. Alot of trees laying on the bottom, not standing, and these were the most productive. Ended up with 12 keepers and probably 25 shorts. Caught the best on a minnow/jig head but caught some on the Garland crappie baits and swimming minnows. Saw schools on fish, I think whites, on the last spot. They wouldn't bite. Crappie were spooky- if they were on the tops of trees, had to stand off about 20 feet or they'd bust. If they were on the bottom in 20+ we could sit on top of them.

Just watch one cast. If I write one, I'll be writing basically what we say every day. That's why I don't write many reports... If you have questions, comment on the videos.

Thanks for the report!!!

After jig fishing the last couple of days, I can honestly say they've really turned on to jigs. At least the smaller rainbows. I've caught a few nice 19 inch rainbows but mostly 11-13 inch fish.

How many times have I heard about a great fishing report at the end of a day, then head to the lake and do the same thing that caught fish the day before and got skunked - a bunch! Yep- lots of wisdom in that post.

I'm going to try tying in a colored section of line, just to see if I can "see" the bite better. I would think adding floatant wouldn't be a bad idea in that case.

If I could ask a question on his video, which I can't because the comments are turned off, I'd ask if he's putting floatant on his butt section because he said he's letting the jig sink till the "sighter" section is vertical. But your butt section will sink to unless it floats, and 15 lb mono doesn't float. When is a jig a streamer? A "streamer" is a jig when it has a lead head. A jig is a streamer when the material is left long? Interesting.

I didn't follow them... one right decision at least. I have a lot to learn!

These were moving too fast to get anything to them. By the time my jig sung to the depth, they moved on.

Crappie?

Put in at River Run about noon. Headed down and hit Barker and the flats below there. Saw a few schools of what I think were crappie but no takers. Saw more fish on the bottom in 18 to 22 feet of water - again no takers. Jigs and soft plastics. About 12 boats out, mostly trolling real slow. I didn't see any action. Nice to to be out! Water temp 46.

That's Duane Doty's design.

I try to force feed fish when I go to other waters, including Florida's backwater. Most times they work but not all the time. ALOT of people are putting marabou jigs out there, even in this area. PJ's, Zig Jig, D2 Jigs to name a few. Our nitch was to guarantee the quality and try to keep them tied right by local tyers. We've honestly been too busy to expand the product but we should. We're making a micro jig which mimics the Turner but that hasn't really taken off although I think we got it real close to the original. I think we will make heavier jigs, as well as breaking into or colorful, brighter colors in the coming months. I think brighter colors will do better on crappies. We're open to ideas.....