Quillback

I have some, somewhere - thanks for the reminder.

Don't know what is going on with Luck-E, but it has suddenly gotten tough to get some of the Norman crank bait colors, lots of the retailers are out of stock. I will not be happy with Pradco if they quit producing some of the colors I like for Deep Little N's and DD22's.

That's what I was thinking, smaller flutter spoon, but fish it horizontally, cast out, let it sink a bit, work it back to the boat. Or I would try swimming a Keitech. But, getting 10 nice keeper sized smallies, well that is not a bad day.

The "Dave full body hook set" is becoming legendary. We need a video.

I blame it on the high water we had this winter. Lots of "nutrients" were washed into the lake. How is that knee replacement doing? Looking at one for myself.

Got out today with board member Huntest, we fished from 0530 until 1230. Top water bite just wasn't as good today. We caught fish, had somewhere in the area of 45-50 by the time we left, with 10 or so keepers, and normally I would say that's a good number of fish, but it just wasn't as good as it was last week. Maybe it's just a one day slow down, but I know that the great top water bite won't last forever. We got most of our fish on Whopper Ploppers off points and cove mouths. We did spend a bit of time throwing Ned's and picked up several fish on the Ned. Had one or two fish on jigs, spoons and the c-rig with a Speed Craw. Mix of spots and largemouth, with a couple of smallies. Water temp at the surface really jumped, it was at 74 when we left. Water is still that stained green color that it has been for the last couple of months.

I've seen them in the White channel, usually they are up briefly and then disappear. I would not bother targeting them myself, at least in that area. I'm picking up one or two around the black bass, but the lures I'm using are a bit oversized for the whites.

I sure won't be out there. But if I was going to go, I would launch no later than 5 AM, and force myself to get off the water by 10 AM. Being that you're coming from Fayetteville that would be a long drive for a little bit of fishing.

Teenagers are so hard to please. But seriously, that is a great day!

Say it ain't so...

That is an impressive fish!

Good deal Hammer - I'm making sure I put some jigs in the boat.

Cabelas has the "Verano" on sale in the Bargain Cave for $99. It's a Daiwa, but I have no idea which Daiwa it is. Maybe one of you folks that know Daiwa can take a look at it (link provided) and see if you can tell which Daiwa it matches or comes close to. I have no skin in this, I'm just curious. if you think it is a lousy reel, please say so. http://www.cabelas.com/product/bargain-cave/fishing/reels%7C/pc/105591780/c/105740280/sc/105742980/cabela-s-verano-spinning-reel/1749496.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Freels%2F_%2FN-1102770%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_105742980

For sure, I've had to dredge one up myself once with a spoon.

Cool, I bet ya'll will like it here.

BTW guys, I don't want to be misleading in that I'm fishing right near Big M, there are sometimes I do fish close, but it could by anywhere from the mouth of the Kings to Eagle Rock. And of course, I won't name exact locations. I'm launching out of Big M, and just trying to figure out where they are on a particular day. One of the spots that was red hot a week ago, held just a few fish yesterday.

I have not, sounds like it is something I should check out.

10 1/4 is one big gill!

Launched the boat at 0530 and fished until about noon. Good topwater bite that lasted until about 0930 or so. Not as crazy as a few days ago, but still pretty darned good. Caught most of my topwater fish walking the Yellow Magic Havana, one Whopper Plopper fish, but I did not throw the Plopper much, water was flat early, good for walking. Caught several Keitech fish, a couple of Ned eaters and one c-rig fish. Caught quite a few spawned out largemouth today, only caught a couple that might still have eggs. Still some fat spots around. I am still fishing deep water near points, I haven't been back in any coves. Saw some shad spawning. Water temp 69.

I'm picking up a few Keitech fish every time out. Some will get off, especially jumpers. But, the bite is a "load up" bite. They aren't nipping it or playing around. When they load up, I set that hook. I almost always touch up the hook points with a file. Get them just a bit sharper, seems to help.

My 2 cents on the Plopper is that it will certainly work at times. I like it when there is some chop on the water, flat glass, I like the walking baits and the wake baits. With this top water bite going strong, I like to have 3 rods on the deck, one with a walker, one with a waker, and one with a plopper. I also like to follow up with a different bait, if I'm fishing a stretch of bank where there is TW activity and I pick some up on a bait, they'll seem to get tired of seeing it after a while. When that happens I'll switch to another TW bait, Usually they'll let you know what bait they want, could be the plopper, might be something else. It's good to have choices.

Congrats on some nice fish. That night fishing pays off.

They are the deal for sure.

I haven't used a Redfin, but have caught fish on a Rapala Wake Minnow. I have been using the waker as a follow up deal if they get tired of the Plopper and Spook.

Great advice!