Bassin4fun

We launched from Cape Fair and were on the water about 5am. We tried topwater but didn't have any takers using those for first hour or so. The water temp was 86-87°F to start the morning. Wind was blowing...probably 5-10mph. We focused on points and flats that were in proximity to channels. After trying several baits, we settled on crankbaits. Flat-sided, mid diving cranks and deeper cranks worked best. We also had some bites on swim jig and spinnerbait. I think we put 12 bass in the boat and lost at least 6 at or on the way to the boat. None were keepers but we did not measure any of them. We also caught some bluegills and Rock bass. We fished from near Cape Fair boat ramp to Flat Creek restaurant were we had lunch.. we had a couple of stretches that produced the most bites. A flat adjacent to river channel and then a bluff wall by which the river channel ran. That bluff wall was the only non-flat or non-point area we fished. It also had some shade from the bluff wall as it was about 11am when we started fishing it...that was a big partvof why we ran it. I managed to boat a double for my first time. I have only ever had two fish on one lure once before...this was the first time landing it. Nobody was injured on this outing 😁...although I had a bass throw a lure and the hook embedded in my shoe. Glad I don't fish barefoot or in flip flips! I think water temp was about 88°F or so when we came off. Water was muddyvin some areas and stained throughout....a lot less boat traffic in Flat Creek arm than on James River arm. We were off the water by 3pm.

I ended up stopping at Cricket Creek Marina to see if they had some wire cutters... it was tough to try and cut thru the hook with my pliers using one hand. I pushed the hook through and a guy from the marina cut the barb off so I could pull it out. They taped up the bandage and off I went. Definitely, a shout out to the staff there for helping me out!

I made it out on the water about 5:15am and probably started fishing shortly after 5:30am on main lake points in the Long Creek arm of the lake. I focused mainly on point and did fish some bluff wall bank lines that were still protected from the sun once it got higher and hot. I caught most of my fish on a Rock Crawler in shad colors parallel to the bank in 5-10ft of water. I kept my boat in 10-15 ft of water most of the time. I did manage to catch a few on a Lil John as well. I also caught one pitching cover with a Zoom UV Speed Craw. The water temp was 83-84°F. However, way back up in Long Creek I saw higher temps. I caught 8 or 9 bass. Only one was a keeper...the rest were short although several were getting close. I also caught a flathead catfish and a long-nosed gar. That gar was probably 3ft long. I tried to get a pic but couldn't find a good way to hold that slippery bastard still to take a pic. He was slippery...not as slimey as a carp but he stunk a heck of a lot more. First time I had ever caught one of those. It was a great day until this happened at 12:30pm....

I hit the lake about 5pm and fished until just about 830pm. It was very windy with strong gusts when I first got out there. The wind did calm down quite a bit about 730pm. When I first got out there there was only one other person fishing main lake and they had an Old Town with the spot lock trolling motor...I can usually set my heading and speed using my trolling motor to stand and fish...but not the way the wind was yesterday afternoon! I saw they were able to do so with the spot lock though. That is pretty sweet! I targeted weed beds and laydowns throwing a spinnerbait. It was so windy that it was tough to fish a creature bait...I threw it some and did miss a fish...but that was the only strike I had on it all evening. The spinnerbait was the deal. I ended up with 13 in the boat...11 bass and 2 crappie. I lost 2 fish...one where I didnt get the hook set with creature bait and the other was on a spinnerbait where he jumped and shook the bait...that one was at least 16"...a good fish. Pics are of the better fish I landed. It was a fun evening from about 7pm on...I caught 11 of the 13 from 7pm-830.

Are you fishing from the bank or in a boat? Usually, I find the fish in weed beds...literally casting right up against them or in them. On calm, sunny days, a creature bait or worm is the ticket. On windy days, a spinnerbait works very well running it parallel to weeds (right up against them or through sparse weed areas). I also target laydowns. For these I will use a crankbait...depends on depth...but will use squarebill for shallow, flat-side for medium (5-10ft), and a deeper diving crankbait for 10ft and deeper around the laydowns or wood structure. A spinnerbait may work around these areas too...as does a jig. I haven't had a topwater bite yet on Lake Springfield....but if it is calm or light breeze (early morning or just before dark)...a buzz bait or walking bait has worked in the past. I need to get out and try to see if I can catch any schooling fish in deeper water. I have found some on my graph....especially in North part of lake where it is more narrow and has deeper channels. I have only fished below the dam once. The weed beds produced fish for me down there though. I didn't have a trolling motor back then and the current was more than I wanted to deal with as you get further from the dam area.

Yeah, I fished Pomme earlier in the year or maybe it was late last year. At any rate, the weather was unseasonably warm for a bit and I recall seeing algae bloom in the water. I haven't been back since. If the water is cloudy with that green-blue tint floating around...it is a good idea to avoid it. It is very unfortunate. I suspect that as the temps go up, it will eventually burn out...seems that is what happened last summer. I haven't seen this at Table Rock, Bull Shoals, or even Stockton. I don't fish Stockton or Bull Shoals as much as I do Table Rock. The ramps I like to use at Stockton and Bull Shoals are about a half hour (or more) further away than several at Table Rock.

I was on the water at 530pm until about 830pm. I fished the weed beds out in front of park boathouse area and down towards dam. I caught fish in 2-4ft of water. All were caught on a spinnerbait except for one on a creature bait, Texas rigged. Not sure on water temp as I didn't take Garmin. I would guess in the upper 70's to low 80's though. It was windy for first couple of hours and died down quite a bit around 7-730. I ended up with 8 bass in the boat and 1 crappie. I lost 3-4 fish. A couple were good ones that would have been 15" or better. It was fun for sure. Can't wait to get out on a bigger lake this weekend to see what the bite is like. I will probably fish Stockton Lake to prep for monthly Lake Series Kayak tourney next month thru MoYak. May also hit Fellows Lake during the week.

Good luck! I often see schools in the channels on the fishfinder but have never targeted them with any success. Could be bait or could be that I am not casting into right spot...I am guessing where they were as I didn't use a marker and don't have FFS. The crappie I have caught have been in 3-5ft of water around wood or the grass/weeds. I want to get out one morning and work a frog through the lillies...may have some luck with that. I keep trying topwater as that bite should be on any day now on Springfield Lake....I think the water has been a bit too muddy from the rain.

The bass are biting! So ate the crappie. The crappie are nice and healthy in this lake. I have caught several recently while fishing for bass. The crappie have been caught on flat sided crankbait, spinnerbait, and Zoom Craw. I have been catching bass along the weed beds and laydowns with primarily spinnerbaits and a Zoom Craw. Both days, I fished from about 4 or 5 until 8:30pm. Water Temps have been 71-73F. Pics are of some of the better fish. I caught several each day.

I took the yak out this morning. It was gorgeous out. There was little to no wind and water temp was about 70-71F. I did manage one on the topwater (walking bait). Nothing hit the buzzbait. I did have one slap at my frog in the flooded bushes. I focused on points today. I threw a barrage of baits...junk fishing is all I do 😁. I caught 4 bass and 2 walleye. All but one fish was caught on a Rock Crawler. I threw a spinnerbait, buzzbait, flat sided crankbait, Rock Crawler, soft bodied frog, and walking pencil bait. Most, if not all, of my bites were in 6-12 ft of water. The topwater bite was out over 20+ foot of water though. I did find schools of shad off a point in probably 30-40ft of water. I also passed over a school of shad out deep when I crossed the main channel. I lost 3 or 4 fish...one on the topwater and 2 or 3 on the Rock Crawler. I had one bass hop out of my net as I was in the process of removing it to take a picture. Rookie mistake. The trolling motor/foot steering pedals on my yak are such a game changer. As the wind picked up today, I was able to set speed to hold position against the wind or to simply slowly work along the shoreline. Boat traffic was nuts after 10am. There were folks skiing at 830 this morning. I fished from 5:45am until about 12pm.

I will be launching out of State Park tomorrow morning. I am planning on launching at 530am though. So hopefully, won't be busy. Plan to fish until about 1pm or so...if that late.

I am guessing with all my gear...probably 170. Kayak all by itself is 78lbs..

Thank you! The pwm has a fan on it. The board it is mounted to is off the bottom of the box so air can flow all the way around it in the box..but no vent. If it iverheats...I will do another one with vents. I have a 50a breaker between it and battery. I bought a Chin's brand smart 100ah lithium battery on Amazon.

With the fishfinder...probably about $2500.

I finished it on Friday morning. I put rod holders on the extra large crate that my battery box is in. I can take 8 rigs in my rod holders...I have 10 but one holds my net and the other holds my 360 light pole/orange flag. I took it out on Lake Springfield Friday afternoon. Total game changer. I have foot pedal steering using Sea Lect rudder control foot pedals and steel cables. I can get up to 4.2mph full speed. I am using a 100ah lithium battery for motor. 10ah battery for front Navi lights and Garmin Echomap UHD 93sv. I am going to install a heavier tie-down system for that batterybox/crate. Will do that this week. Plus need to get inspection and titled this week.

I was out last Sunday morning. Shad were off a main lake point in the trees and bushes. Bass were having a field day in them. I caught a few on topwater fishing the edges and out in open water where the original bank line would have been.

We used it last weekend. I am sure that the water level has dropped some since then. The courtesy dock was under water and the water was up unto the parking lot some...but you could still use the ramp.

I am still waiting on some parts to arrive. I will post some once I get it finished. I am hoping to get started on it tomorrow and have it done by Sunday. We have a MoYak kayaky tourney at LOZ on the 21st.

I broke down and bought a Minn Kota Endura 45# thrust transom mount trolling motor for my Perceptiin Outlaw 11.5. I am also going to run steering cables through the hull to foot steering pedals. I will be running. 100ah lithium battery dedicated to the motor and a 10ah for my Garmin UHD 93SV and Navi lights. I just could not be competitive in the big lake events with any sort of wind. It was killing me. So I am doing the upgrade. Hope tobhave it completed by the end of this weekend.

I was out yesterday (Saturday). Launched from Big Indian. I really wanted to work that topwater walking bait but there was just too much debris. It was tough working running baits too. I did manage two fish on a jerkbait. Nice stain to the water and WT was 62 when we started and 64 when we came off the lake. Visibility was still 3ft or better even with the water color. I did get a hit on my spinnerbait but I missed the fish. we were throwing spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and jerkbaits.

It was 56-57 down by the boathouse yesterday evening. I suspect it will be back into the 60's by end of the weekend again. Fishing was good on Saturday...not so much last night.

Yeah, the bite is tough due to the cold snaps we had. I think it is about to get really good though.

I think you get quite a few folks fishing out of yaks that never bass fished out of a boat. You would think that it is common knowledge and common courtesy to go around anyone whether they be in a boat or on shore, but that is assuming a lot.

I prefish in my boat. LoL...I will save that paddling for tourney day. I hit a few spots yesterday off the main lake on the lower end that should be protected from the south wind tomorrow. I hope to get a limit very early and maybe not have to fish all day in that mess.

I doubt anyone will be crossing main channels in kayaks this Saturday with that wind. There will be huge rollers and white caps. It is going to be a challenge for sure...especially after 10am. They are calling for 10-20mph wind from the south with gusts in the 25-40mph range.