Quillback

Got to the launch at the crack of dawn, couple of other guys came in after me and as I cruised past Emerald Beach, couple of boats were launching there - lots of guys getting out there early. Early is was flat calm, quite a bit of scattered top water activity on shad schools. Seemed to be more shad schools than bass feeding on them and the bass were scattered, some on the bank and some mid channel with some in between those 2 places. I couldn't get much of a top water bite going, got a few, and a few on c-rigged UV Speed Craws. Later in the morning I caught a few on a 3.8 Keitech, a couple came off a dock end that was over 60 FOW and a couple off steep rocky points, never could find any schools of bass for the Keitech, just some scattered fish. Caught a smalls on a crank bait and had a few bites on jigs but never boated any. Wind really got going so I called it a day around 1130. 15 bass total and a few other species. This post has been promoted to an article

It's been a different year this year, thought they were getting going pretty good a couple of weeks ago, but it seems to have fizzled out. Not quite ready to give up on them yet, but it has been discouraging the last couple of times out.

Fished in my buddy Ken's boat today, we launched at Indian at about 0515 looking for striper action. We sure did not find much at all, caught a hybrid that was in the 3-4 lb. range right off the bat and that was the last strike I had. Ken caught a nice spotted bass on a swim bait and I believe that was the only bite he had. We checked a lot of lake from Indian Creek down to point 5 and never saw any top water activity except for a bunch of carp that were in one spot cutting it up. Kind of puzzling, sure looked like a good morning for some top water fish but it did not happen. Surface temp 72.

I don't fish it as much as I used to, but always found it to be effective around docks. In the late summer and fall when top water fish get finnicky it can work for them.

Saw this at Walmart yesterday, thought of a couple of guys on here. @Johnsfolly, @Daryk Campbell Sr

Good point, didn't think of that.

Got to the lake at dawn, looking for top water striper action. Long story short, never really found any. Covered quite a bit of lake looking for them, saw a few coming up by Clifty, stopped and fished there a while, caught one 18" striper and had one that was the size I was looking for, take a whack at my top water when it was about 20 feet away from the boat - I felt him grab the bait and reacted a little too quickly and I think I probably pulled it away from him. That was about it for striper action. Spent a couple of hours fishing around docks for bass with a 3.3 Keitech, caught 5 bass, 2 of them were keeper sized smallmouth. Also caught 4 short walleye, they were all 16-17" fish. Pulled the boat out at 10 AM before the weekend rush got going.

Those do look nice!

Well he can unleash a weather system but hasn't yet gotten the turning off part down yet. So they start over Table Rock and drift all the way out into the Atlantic - passing over St. Louis on the way east.

Adam Sandler should not be allowed to wear any Bruins logo clothing. Has that guy ever been in a good movie?

Just a warning - Ya'll should be nice to Vernon, make him mad and look what happens.

Water has some power. I read somewhere that the Arkansas river has reached record levels as far as water flow.

Dang, sorry to see you go. Hopefully you can get back and see us for the OA One Bass tourney.

Makes sense I guess. Yeah too bad they could not do Bull or LOZ, but I like the idea of changing the hours around.

From the AGFC Rules: Drive, harass or pursue trout with noise, objects, boats or by wading to concentrate them. And I'm not directing this at anyone here BTW.

I remember when there was a time that guides would run their boats in circles on a 'hole' where the browns were and they'd also throw rocks into the water. Theory was that it got them to move and if they get moved they are more likely to bite. They'd stir up that hole then fish live sculpins. That practice has been made illegal, the stirring thing, not the sculpins.

Looks like there are 2 of you. 😃 I can understand not fishing Grand, and I was expecting them to cancel it with all the water they are getting. Don't want to see a TR redo, I'd be happy to see them fish Beaver, I know Beaver is tougher, but I'd like to see one where they have to work for their fish.

Those guys are accurate with their casting, Jacob Wheeler is another guy that can put a top water exactly where he wants to, every cast. It takes practice.

Yep good win for Martens. Nice to see him win it, but would've been happy if Andy Montgomery has pulled it off.

That would be pretty neat to see.

For sure, some great fish!

OK, this one was free, just to show you guys my powers of prognostication, next tourney, I'll PM anyone my best guess if you send me $5 (PayPal preferred). 😜

This is the first year in a long time where followed hockey to some degree. Maybe saw 10 regular season Bruins games, and have watched all the Bruins playoff games. When we lived in Boston, way back a long time ago, the Bruins had the Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito team that won a Stanley Cup, and that's the last time I watched a lot of hockey. Bruins were on channel 38, one of those UHF channels that we didn't get the greatest of reception as we had an antenna in those days. Could hardly see the puck. Only good thing about those days was it was the start of the helmet era, but they phased the wearing of helmets in, the guys that were in the league at the time the rule was passed didn't have to wear a helmet, and they didn't. It was good for the fans because it was easy to recognize players, nowadays you've got to know the players numbers. But the game is so much more watchable with HD and a big screen LCD then it was back then.

Well I expect to be outnumbered by you Blues fans on this forum, but I can handle it. First game isn't until Monday, really would like to have them start this thing Saturday.