Jason Essary

Went for 3 hours this morning. Joe bald park to baxter and back. must have held my mouth wrong. No fish, partner caught two shorts. Did see a small school of largemouths come up on shad close to the boat. a 4lb amost chased shad into my troller, but none of them would have the fin. Oh well, see what happens tonight.

Where was I, oh ya, at work... Of course. but makes me feel alot better. Taking a working in the morning. Putting in at 5am and fishing till 9 maybe. The whites better not come up no where near us. We are prepared and looking for grease release. See a black and ranger with a 115 merc anyone stop and say hi.

Im begining to hate trying to predict that freakin school. I think its one huge school that runs from 5 to the dam. Somewhere they will come up. Last week was on and around Sportmans two mornings and never found them....

wake bait is one that stays right at the surface swimming side to side back to the boat leaving a v wake on the way. Not on top, but not under the water, just right under the water. Looks like a shad just under the surface trying to escape.

Went to Joe bald park last night to take a home owner fishing for a couple hours. Figured on catching a nice topwater bite before dark (easy fishing for him). Wow was I wrong. Water was way dirtier than I expected. At point 9 visiblility was at best 3'. Of course this killed the topwater bite. Ran up the white half mile to see if it was clear up that way. Visibility was around 4.5'. Had not heard from anyone that the "mud" had made it down here that fast. Did change gears, caught 2 quality greens on a texas rig and got my owner on one short. He was happy but I was disappointed. What clarity has everyone esle been seeing?

champ, what color of mick jr you like? Have one but havent done well on it. Its a clearer grey color.

+1 with champ. Wish we could "TAG" either of the them so that we would have a little lead time. Spray paint on the hulls comes to mind.

First, Boys if anyone is looking to fish a redfin then they need to make a copy of Bills post above and laminate it and keep it in the boat. It works amazing here (when that bite is on) and that is the best explaination I have ever heard. Phil should post that on a best of so people can find it easier. Always here every year a dozen people asking and that is the answer. Huntest, ya but a feather on it.

I love to stop by, just to play ball with the pups. Love a dog that throws the ball back to you. And to watch the guy drop the ball so that the female can pick it up and throw it is hilarious. He always has a look like I see in a lot of married gentlemen I know.

Just found out, tonights event is cancelled due to the severe weather.

yellow popper caught a lot of shorts, but all the keepers came from my dad and chris on s&p 4" grub. I tried the smoke with red flake and no love for the smoke.

Forgot to post pics.

Went this morning, on at 5am off at 8am. No whites, fished spillway to sportsmans. Did have a 13lb limit by the time we were done.

bring those florida strains up here and let them go.

+1, would love to know that they would help out.

Well we are glad to have you hunting on TR with us. Sounds like She gave you a wonderful weekend. Dont expect that every time. Just when you think you have the rock figured out, she can humble you real fast. In my opinion, those "rock bass" are some of best eating around. They are right with walleye and crappie. Im not like some of the opinions on here, dont mind keeping a couple "keeper" bass for releasing into the grease, but if your wanting good tasting fish, your holding the wrong fish hostage...

3 whites and 2 keeper smallies. Lot of shorts. Just could not find the big school of whites but fun nun the less. Off and home by 8.

Tfsh, you should come down and fish with us sometime this summer. It can be spooky out there.

I have 2 of those cara's. Absolutely love them. One is a new one as you state with the split grip and micro guides as I broke the old one late last year and had it replaced over the winter. It is slightly stiffer, slightly. If it worries you then I would try a lighter one, but I would move up to 15lb seaguar and turn the drag down if it worries you. Have broke a few off close to the boat, but I can stick the ones that hit on the end of the long cast much deeper than before.

Thanks Magic worm. Will report what we do. Be doing the same thing around point 4 and 5.

Sorry but Duhhh.

Kitchen sink works good..

fishingwrench, I believe it is common for the "lake" whites to fail in the spawn. I catch alot of them around easter up smaller creeks than the larger rivers and they are spawning then, but they are very tempermental with weather. One day they are up spawning and the next after a front they are gone for good. And im sure some of the lakers dont even make it up in those arms. Believe it to be kinda common for them. danop, 7" all the way. Looks big but works, love the jointed. Either in the smokey joe or the one with purple and green scales on the back (dont remember the name). Remember to change the split ring in the front with a stout snap (no swievle) and the hooks for a better action and better hook-up. Redfins are made to go to saltwater without changing anything but hate those hooks for here. Sam, not a bad idea. Would think you would miss some fish with a circle hook, could be wrong, but in the maylay of fish anouther one will probably hit it again. should work. Keep us posted. Still wondering if the bite is hot, hope to find them in the morning. Hate when I hear "should have been here yesterday".

Bill, taking a pair of army bound boys out in the morning (one being mine, he ships out in July) to bash the whites. Any update on places or if it still hot?

Looking, and if I knew who done it I would post it hear first before calling the cops!