Quillback

Figured I'd better get out again one more time before the skies open up. Launched at first light once again, and left about 11 AM. Fishing was good from a multi-species perspective. Lot of shad around and the 2.8 Keitech is about the right size to imitate the majority of the shad. Stripers - Saw quite a bit more surface activity early from the stripers, they are moving around a lot chasing shad. Hard to stay on them. I caught one that was in the 8-10 lb. range on a popper and had a few half-hearted swirls. Saw another one caught by another boat right in front of the Indian creek ramp. There's enough of them around to be worth spending some time on with a top water. White bass - Ran into a bunch of them in the back of a cove chasing shad. Fast and furious action on a 2.8 Keitech. Caught a dozen of them, kept a few for the frying pan. Black bass - They are still biting, mostly smallmouth. Caught a couple of decent spotted bass, one on a top water and one on the 2.8. Smallmouth are near the bank, usually around rocks or off the end of submerged logs. Walleye - Caught one keeper sized wallie on the 2.8. He was near where all the whites were, I'm sure he was after shad too. WT 64.

Nice thing about Beaver is that the ramps are built to be useable at the top of pool. As long as it is not super muddy or a lot of debris floating around, I don't mind the lake level being up.

You need some northern pike for the true Minnesota fishing experience.

A guy on another forum pre-ordered a Rivian pickup. He claims he paid $70,000 for it.

I fish them pretty slow, I'll pause them on the retrieve to let them drop, a lot of bites will come on the drop.

Launched at 0545, just getting light at that time now, and fished until about 1130. Smallmouth - Plenty of smaller smallmouth are roaming the banks, caught around 15 that were in the 10-15" range and had 3 solid keepers also. Had many, many bites from little dinky 6 inchers, too small to get hooked (thankfully) but they loved to hit that 2.8 Keitech. Had to put up with them as there would be a better fish around them every once in a while. Sure looks good for the future, I have never seen so many little smallmouth in this lake. Stripers - Caught two stripers, one about 6 lbs. and another around 2 lbs. Wasn't much top water activity, but did catch the bigger one on a popper. At the end of the day I decided to fish a point near the ramp, thinking I might have a shot at a walleye. Caught the 2 lb. striper fishing the Keitech right off the bottom in 20 FOW, next cast, hooked a good one, had it on for a couple of minutes, really couldn't do much with it, just hang on until it tired and I could net it. Got a glimpse of a big silver flash down in the water, but hard to say how big it was, at least 10 lbs. I'd guess, but never found out as the hook popped out and that was that. WT 63.

Well I hope it works out for you and I also hope the forecast is off. Still several days out, so who knows? Are you bringing the tin boat? If so, I am sure you can get in somewhere even if it goes up a few feet from here.

NWS long term. Might want to stock up on sandbags and get the ark project going again. Dry weather is expected through the remainder of the work week as high pressure prevails. The chances of shower and thunderstorms return late Friday night and continue into next week as a more unsettled weather pattern returns. Heavy rainfall will be a concern during this period of unsettled weather. 2 to 4 inches of rain will be common with locally higher amounts possible. Strong to severe storms will also be possible during this time.

looks like they have really reduced the flow out of Beaver. I hope the extended forecast is wrong, if not, ugh...

That bluegill is a good one! Congrats on a good trip!

Yeah I'd say a worm under a small bobber is best for a 3 yo. Don't know if you are interested but there is a kids fishing deal here in Bella Vista on Saturday May 15. You don't have to be a resident and it is free. Registration starts at 0730 with fishing to begin at 0800. Small pond behind the Metfield clubhouse that is stocked with catfish for the event.

I saw that they posted signs that there was hunting that day. Appear to be some kind of draw hunt? Is it a Conservation Area?

Got woke up at 0230 by hail hitting the roof, not a lot of it, but it was loud. Not as much rain over here, couldn't tell you how much, but not much.

Has to be more to the story. Missouri hiker shot in the chest after being mistaken for a turkey, police say (msn.com)

And in other news, a house blew up in the Ventris area. Hopefully no one was killed. Fire crews responding to explosion near Beaver Lake (nwahomepage.com)

That's a great trip!

No drum for me either at TR, have caught a couple in Beaver and bunches over in OK, but no drum in TR.

If you like lobster, there's lots of lobster shacks on the coast and in the fall you get the best deals on them once the summer tourist rush has ended. Get some real maple syrup too to bring home. They charge an arm and a leg for it, but it sure is good. Only state I have not been to is North Dakota, a few years ago I thought about going up there for some pheasant hunting as it is a bit off the beaten path and supposedly has some good hunting, but it was the height of the oil boom up there and it was just about impossible to find a place to stay.

Those fish must be gorging themselves on the shad. Going to be some fat trout.

Sometimes a nut finds a blind squirrel. 3 more days to go, I could see a lot of movement in the standings as they are catching them.

Done! A little bland, next time I might add some chopped jalapenos.

I don't often cook, but when I do it is either grilled, fried, or in the slow cooker. Today I am making "Kielbasa Surprise". Kielbasa sliced Chopped up a couple of cheese/jalapeno sausages too Cabbage Little red potatoes chopped onion Put it all in the slow cooker, cover with chicken broth and cook on low until done. I am hoping for the best.

My condolences.

I'm sure the warranty will cover it.