Quillback

Launched at dawn, cloudy yet calm morning. The plan was to try for crappie. We motored back into Indian Creek, went into a cove that a buddy of mine had caught some crappie in a week ago, and we diligently fished with various crappie lures and caught zero crappie. Meanwhile top water striper activity was getting going, it was easy to ditch the crappie stuff and start chasing stripers. We started chasing down the blow ups, easing in on a low trolling motor setting once we got close to casting range. Sometimes we'd get close enough, sometimes they'd move before we got there, but the fish that wanted that top water really got after it, they'd keep hitting it until they were hooked. We were using walk the dog type baits, I had a Yellow Magic Havana and my buddy was throwing a Spook. We caught 8 stripers that ranged between 5 - 10 lbs., we released them all. Once the sun burned through the clouds, the stripers stopped. We wasted some more time in pursuit of crappie, and tiring of that, we spent the last hour fishing for smallies, we caught a half dozen of those on 3.3 Keitechs. Surface water temp was 77 when we left at noon. This post has been promoted to an article

We have a link for that. 1127.7 which is high for Beaver. http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/pages/data/tabular/htm/beaver.htm

Good deal, glad you got into them!

Yeah, now I am not so enthusiastic about them. Clown shoes worn by Jimmy and Hank...

Way to go!

I bet you got some green fish Thumbs. I haven't been catching too many of those. Talked to a buddy that found a crappie bite back in Indian, going to try for those tomorrow if the weather cooperates.

I lived in North Bend for about 20 years, but where that attack occurred really isn't that close to where I lived, probably 15 miles as the crow flies, but longer to drive there. Lot of logging roads and tree farms where that is. Very difficult to move cross country in that area, if they try and track that cat using dogs it is going to be a tough one. Used to be legal to hunt cougars using dogs in WA state, PETA types got it banned in the 90's. Cougar numbers have gone up, so have attacks on people since then.

I have jealousy. Congrats on some great fish!

No doubt they'll do a blood alcohol test on the guy. In my younger and dumber days I have done some swimming after a few beers, it's certainly possible.

Thanks for the report, I haven't been over there to Big M in a couple of weeks, the fishing in Beaver has been good enough that I haven't been motivated to put in the extra wind shield time it takes to get to TR. But, if the top water bite has started I'll have to get over there.

I see your strategy, act like you really want a Jeep bad, when the wife shoots it down, say you'll settle for a boat instead. Very smart.

Now you Bozos (see earlier clown shoe reference), have me looking at those shoes.

Leave a couple of ribeyes on the driveway for them.

4-5 pounds maybe. But of course there is the in water magnification effect. 😄

After two days I have the leader! (Wheeler). But next is Aaron Martens at 55. Then I have the 66, 79, and 92 spots. Ugh.

Spent three mornings fishing around Indian Creek and the dam basin this week. 2 of those days I had someone with me, and one day I was solo. I have been targeting smallmouth, the fishing has been good for them, usually we're putting between 25-35 smallies in the boat every morning. Mostly 12-16 inch fish with a couple of 17 and 18 inch fish thrown in. Swimming Keitechs and dragging a Ned have been working, seems the Keitechs work better when there is some wind, Ned when it is calm. Still getting fish shallow, but some are moving out into 10-15 FOW. Not seeing much striper activity, I did get lucky and was able to get a top water on one that came up near the boat chasing shad. I'm guessing it weighed about 12 pounds. It popped that bait 4 times before finally getting it. It pays to have a top water tied on and ready to cast for when those striper opportunities appear. I was working the keitech today, got a hook up, heavy fish. I worked it towards the boat and felt it let go, saw that I had about a 5 inch spotted bass on the hook, which surprised me, no way that fish was pulling that hard, all of a sudden a big walleye appeared and grabbed that little bass, then let go of it. What I think happened is that I hooked that little bass, and right away that walleye grabbed it and held on as I got it to the boat, then it let go and came back after it. It left some gouges in that poor little bass. Water temp was 74 today, water is stained green, but clear. In some places I could see bottom in 15 FOW. This post has been promoted to an article

Well I got 94th and 104th place for 2 of my guys.

My druthers would be to pass on prison AND the old folks home.

I can believe it, after all he is not in my fantasy lineup.

Nice one Duane!

Couple of days ago I went out on the back deck, was leaning against the rail looking out into the woods, when a hummer flew up to about 2 feet in front of my face and hung there staring at me for about 3 seconds, then he turned around and left. I think he wanted to fight.

I bought some Hot Spot maps when I first moved here 10 years ago. They'll tell you bank structure like rocks, gravel etc., and the contour lines will help when you are looking for drop offs or underwater bluff ends. They'll show you old foundations, bridges, road beds and so on. I've found some pretty good fishing spots by looking at those maps. There's quite a bit of structure that those maps will show you that are not on my maps on the fish finder. That being said, I haven't looked at my paper maps in a few years.