EzFishN

Over the flooded timber tree tops in Clifty and Rambo depending on lake levels in Beaver. When the lakes low you can jig for them like crappie. Chartreuse colors work well. I recently bought some bottom bouncers and rigged up some spinners to try.

Still running mine after 2 1/2 years. However my first set went bad quickly from sitting outside, and in winter (boat went back to manufacturer for new paint). Luckily the battery shop pro rated them. As long as you keep them charged they seem to do well.

This is great information. Thanks for sharing.

@TrophyFishR where they hitting it before it hit bottom? Or were you casting onto the bluff and bouncing it off? I haven't used much of my finesse gear this year, but I had my wife throwing a shaky head with similar results, where they didn't even let it hit bottom, but picking it up on the fall. Over the last month, mains schools of shad I have found have been in 15-25 feet of water. From my experience I'd say it's a little 'cold' still to see them in the flats. Maybe a week or two out. It looks like a big warm up this weekend and going into the 80s. I bet the flats will be good with some water temps mixing. Prairie Creek, west side of the marina. staged between the buoys and before it splits into in the Y. Indian Creek (N Lost bridge) all the way at the back of the creek where it splits into a "Y". Go the NW side where the water is still flowing and you can cast net giant shad. I had to pull my boat onto the gravel and get out. About 200 of them in 4-6" of water, 8-12" size. ( I was looking for white bass) Deer and Bear Island I haven't seen much of anything. Been around it a couple times in the last couple of weeks. Rocky Branch, North of marina against the JB Hunt home bluff, lots were stacked there when the wind was blowing from the south. west of point 7. Coose Hallow was a bunch of nothing last week 5/8, but that north 30mph wind was wicked. 412 Bridge and S. in channel swings I found tons of bait and crappie stacked on the side scan. Mont Ne was deader than a door nail a couple weeks back. War Eagle Creek (way up there, about 1-2 miles from the mill), had some giant bass spawning in 3-5 foot of water where it is all flooded timber. Big blow ups. I hooked up on one but failed to get in the boat before it ran me into the brush and got off. I was using a 6" glide bait and was able to watch the whole thing. It was probably 5lb or better. Wife and daughter were my witnesses Checked out the dam and rip raft and no sight of fish. South of the big island towards the dam (S. Lost Bridge) the SE corners of those coves, I checked all the timber and pockets and didn't see much of anything either. There was those stupid Kentucky bass staged in cedar trees. Easy to draw out with a swim bait for a look.

Another good option is Flicker Minnows. I like the Black Silver, Size 11. They run 20-25 ft deep without needing to let a lot of line out, and slow trolling at 1mph. I've had good luck trolling these when they are still the in the creek channels. https://www.berkley-fishing.com/berkley-bait-hard-bait-berkley-flicker/berkley-flicker-minnow/1347816.html I've caught everything from crappie, walleye, bass, and more.

Most guides use Brooder Minnows which is sold at hook line and sinker in Rogers, AR. They get up to 6" or bigger. Shad are extremely hard to keep. Your best bet is finding running creek water and a cast net to get any gizzards before it gets too hot. After summer hits they are too spread out and sit in depths of 25 feet or more. You'll seed a 14 foot net heavily weighted (ocean), good electronics, and good boat driver to have a chance at catching any of those. I've ran into a few locals that wake up real early 4am or earlier that catch shad in the creeks. Sometimes you can spot the schools of them if you drift your boat but they are easily spooked.

Hopefully they aren't any worse than trolling A-Rigs. I've got plenty experience doing that and a super duty lure retriever. Are you fishing in 15-30 feet of water, or is that the depth you are trying to present the lure at? I assume still the same points I've been trying to fish, staying 100 yards out or so from the bank in 40-80 feet of water? I just ordered a couple of the Okuma Umbrella Rig Rods support to the weight and two of the Capt. Mack pro rigs. Anything more than two is hard to manage in my opinion, especially if you caught up in brush and don't have any deck hands to help real in the others.

Thanks BigFishes. I assume you're talking about captain Macs umbrella rig. Hair jigs or swim baits? Any recommendations for target weights and depths?

Slayed them in the back the back of Indian Creek a few weeks ago (19 total with the family). It was better fishing than at the Mill or 412 bridge, I fished all three locations during April.

Looking for some tips for stripers. I've been out few dozen times with no luck. What am I doing wrong? I'm starting to think these fish are unicorns! I few of my minnows come back looking like they have been chewed on. I'm guessing smaller fish. I've also paid several guides with zeroing out, and only 1 15lber (I didn't even get to land it). I won't burn any of the names here. I'm tired of burning cash with no fish. I think I had one on, I was out near rocky branch on a main lake point with an island in 40ft of water, as soon as i dropped it in, about 5 seconds letter my reel was dragging like crazy but apparently I missed hooking up (too excited and jerked vs just reeling in). One day I was out bass fishing (wrong equipment that day) and had my side finder light up like no other. There was several hundred giant fish staged throughout Indian Creek N. of lost bridge. I've also had this happen near the S side of Bear Claw Island, visually even seen them in the water rolling shad. I've also tried fishing down the (South) the river, from 412 bridge, to War Eagle, to Mont Ne, Hickory Creek, Rambo, Big & Small Clifty, hell I've fished nearly the whole lake after 5 years and still can't figure it out. I've also tried the wee hours of the morning and staying out at night. How long do you sit or troll an area before moving on? Am I using too small of hooks? Are these fish getting line shy, or my weight, swivels? I'd even entertain taking someone out or paying someone if they can guarantee me a fish. So far I've only managed to catch a 25lb Gar on these setups. Setups I've tried. 6 Rod setup, Using Okuma Cold Water Reels and Okuma GLT Lake Trolling Rods 7'6, I ran planer boards to stager my presentation and keep fish from getting boat shy. Targetting Main Lake Points, mouth of main coves. I bought a fishing map at walmart, have AGFC website, and analyzed Navionics maps. Depths - 40 - 80 feet. I've even tried getting closer to bank with my planner boards in 20ft or less. Using Owner or Gamakasu 1/0 Circle Octopus Hooks, or size 1, Octopus Hooks. Stayed away from bigger hooks unless I catch some gizzards. I've seen fish stair at my bait with a hook in it for crappie fishing. If anything I've learned to keep things downsized on beaver. Brooder Minnows, the big fat ones from HL&S in Rogers. I give them extra G Juice and ensure I use lively baits. 20 Gallon Aerated live well. Nose Hook bait through upper jaw through nostril. Focused Channel Swings, gravel points, flooded timber, Main Lake points, under water humps & points, islands, bluff walls, middle of the channel, creek arms, secondary points, I've even chased shad into less than a foot of water and no striper Time to try my new cast net and land some bigger baits. Focused on finding the 'green water' (stained) with some tint to it vs clear or muddy, seems to hold more fish that I can find on the graph. Method one. 20lb coply with 3 way swivel using 1 oz sinker and 10ft, 10lb fluorocarbon leader. I use this fishing deeper water. 3 foot leader for weight to swivel. Trolling speed. 1.0 - 1.8mph (I speed it up if going over shallower areas or pick it up off bottom) Line out 40-80 ft. 25-35 ft of line behind planer board. Method two 20lb copy with inline swivel and using 5/16 or 1/4 split shot and and 10ft, 10lb fluorocarbon leader. Split shot is put on main line above swivel. Trolling speed. 1.0 - 1.5mph Line out, 100-150 ft or more. I've tried using 35-70 ft, but doesn't seem to get down enough. No Planers used.

Lance here are the shorts you were asking about https://www.amazon.com/Banana-Bucket-Patchwork-Shorts-Loose/dp/B0743B4FVM/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=thai+fishing+pants&qid=1587666894&sr=8-10