rps

I am glad you released them, and I am glad you have a picture with the boy and the fish and the smiles.

Your reports consistently provide solid information, even if you are "just" bank fishing. Thank you.

Thank you sir.

On the 19th I fished up river from Beavertown to nearly the Houseman access. I fished with a skilled fisherman, Chuck Etheridge, who has taught me a great deal about walleye and catching them. We caught bream, we caught trout, we caught small bass. Unfortunately, the only walleye we caught was 17 inches. It came from 15 feet of water. Water temp 76 to 79. We fished rigs with and without blades and fished water from 8 foot deep (in the brush) to 30 feet. From the activity I saw I suspect the fish are in the brush and trees and a person would need to figure a way to swim a jig through the mess to have success.

Good job and thanks for the report. We are all glad the Rock was kind to you for your first trip. Sometimes she is hard on us.

Today I thought I would see "new" territory. I used the first 30 minutes of top water time to run downstream to Rock Creek. Just after I arrived, the strange wind Snakem referred to came through. Big M is as far as I went and as it turns out, the hope I had was not fulfilled. The flat run outs from Viney to Campbell Point are better than any thing up here. My best TR bass came from down in that area - the tree tops on the bluff end next to the flat point where Kings meets White. One day we will meet face to face and I look forward to it.

Today I didn't find walleyes but I did Thursday and they were shallow - 10 to 12 feet. What I found today were bass, bluegills and more bass. I couldn't keep them off my walleye crawler. Highlight of the morning was the smallmouth I caught right next to the flooded Big M swim area. Only about 18 inches, but it was in the air 5 or 6 times before I could bring it in. I tried on top early, but it was slow - only six bites and the only good fish jumped off. Unlike Thursday, they were slapping at the bait and not crushing it. Many of the bass I unhooked today had crawdad feelers sticking out into their mouths.

Well done. Gotta love it when you can mange work so it doesn't interfere with your fishing.

Today was my drive into Rogers and run errands for my wife day. I'm really glad you were able to find a few eyes, especially since it included a 22 inch fish. I may sneak out in the morning for a short day. If not I'll try Sunday.

Oh yes.

The small one at the back was 18, barely, without pinching the tail. The large one up front was 20 and 1/4.

I started a Table Rock thread on Tuesday titled "A Stockton day on TR." Included in the post were descriptions and pictures of the rig set up. Today I used a pink and white float.

Every once in a while, TR will grant you a good day. Often it will take it back very quickly. Today was one of the good days. I cleared the marina buoys at 5:25 this morning. By 7:30 I had caught in excess of 20 top water bass that included all three varieties and 3 keepers. The fish were in 12 to 20 feet of water on a flat point and wanted my bait fished like a chug bug. Many slashing attacks and several came out of the water to hit it on the way up or the way down. About 8:00 I put that rod down and rigged for walleye. I started with last Tuesday's pattern - slow dragged nightcrawler on a C rig with a float in 12 feet of water. I caught nearly as many bass that way as I did throwing the topwater. I caught a channel catfish of 4 to 5 pounds. I also caught these: I was back at the marina by 11:30.

You are absolutely correct. The only difference between what I did and the standard C Rig or standard Lindy rig was the type of sinker I used and the float.

Question 1 - No difference, other than color, price, and the fact I put it together instead of buying it, which goes back to price. Question 2 - Slow death spirals the worm through the water and works best at .8 to 1 MPH. I was fishing at .4 to .6 MPH. The fish wanted a more natural no spiral. That changes from day to day. Question 3 - I used what I had. Most of the normal walleye weights work well on out lake bottom. The key for me is the premium you seem to pay for technique specific pieces of gear. Question 4 - Walleye are a nocturnal fish. Most people do better in low light situations -> early, late, night, and heavy chop on the water. However, Many times my best period has been middle of the day. I think it depends on when the schools of walleye move into the area you fish. Question 5 - I use 7 foot medium power rods with 10# braid (Power Pro Depth Hunter Metered line) and I set them up with baitcaster reels with a good drag. I use the same rods and line when I troll lures. good luck

As I remember, in 2008, the top water bite was iffy and really not that good. I also remember some awesome jig fish pictures. So now we know. In the event of a 100 year flood event, ditch the top water and go with the jig.

Alan, who operates Holiday Island Marina, is a notorious story teller. He says the corps told him an inch a day aiming at 924 by the 4th,

The only part of the lower end of the lake I envy is the Smallmouth numbers. Up here - Holiday Island - we rarely see them.

The floats I use are in Cabelas and Bass Pro online. They slide on. The colors in which I have confidence are chartreuse, chartreuse and green, pink, and pink and white. If I ran across a blue and white I would try it.

Yes. It is, after all, a C Rig with a float. I have used it with a fish doctor, often. However, for walleye, I haven't done as well as with crawlers.

Time for class: + (3/8 ounce) + + (3 feet of 12# test, clear) + (one pink and white) + (size 2 or 4) + drag across flat points at 1/2 MPH = (and bass and bluegill)

OTL

Yes. Didn't expect fish that shallow, but that is where they were.

For the last month I've been reading reports of walleye and crappie standing in line at Stockton to be caught. Meanwhile I've been laboring to catch one puny walleye here and there. I had not cleaned one this year. Today that changed. I caught 16 walleye today. They were on the side of a flat point and the bank from which it jutted in 11 to 13 feet of water. They were willing to take night crawlers fished on a modified Lindy rig. (Swivel, 3 feet of line, one float, #2 hook through the nose of the crawler. 3/8 ounce slip sinker above the swivel.) I also caught over 10 bass(2 keeper size) and maybe 15 hand size and larger blue gill. Unfortunately, TR is not Stockton, and instead of a double limit from the 16, I cleaned exactly one fish. (EDIT: The difference was the 15 versus 18 inch legal minimum.)I count this as a good day anyway. BTW I was out very early and the top water bite stank.

The fishery is so good, you need to come when you can during the high water. PM Hotdawg fore info re high water, your boat, and put in places he would recommend.