Quillback

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!

With my neighbor today. We launched at about 0515 out of Lost Bridge North, motored over to the point 1 marker and threw some stuff around. My neighbor got one about 15 lbs. on a Storm wild eye shad and that was our only bite. Not much activity, some scattered top water stuff going on for about an hour then it died. I threw top waters, but no bites for me. We left about 0830. Water is real clear in that area, temp was 65 degrees.

Well if I had to get just one, I would get the 130 size. I have been catching them on "I know it" which is a white underside, gray top with a chartreuse stripe. Some guys like "Loon" which is basically black.

Excellent, and that is one nice spot!

Does look some rain on the way, hopefully not too much. Had to break out the rain gear yesterday, couple of pretty good showers came through.

I should add that I did not have any split ring or hook breakage issues today. Did have a line failure, but fortunately Whopper Ploppers float.

Very nice - I have some Deep Little N's. Good to hear they are biting them. Saw the same thing, late morning, early afternoon, it got tough in spite of the cloud cover.

Fish are still biting, it was better early today, then later, after 10 AM it was a fish here and there deal. Caught a bunch on top waters, Plopper, Havana, and the Rapala Wake Minnow. Caught a few on the Keitechs and a couple of c-rig fish. No monsters, but probably got 12-15 keepers, in the 2 -2.5 lb. range. Largemouth and spots. Several boats came back to the ramp about the same time I did, talked to a couple of them, and they had good days also. Didn't think to look at the water temp, I'm guessing 66 or 67. I hope to hear some good reports from you guys this weekend.

Nice trout. That Ned is a Table Rock trout magnet. I think I have caught 3 on it in the last 2 years. Of course, there are likely to be a few trout in the White river arm with them being stocked up river by Arkansas and Roaring river eventually draining into the White channel also.

Yep, there was a gravel point that was loaded up with shad and bass last Friday. Yesterday the shad were gone, still some bass on that spot, but not like Friday. And the spot they were massed on yesterday, is a good place to pick a few up some days, but have never seen them there like that before and probably won't again. Time on the water is helpful, I know places where bass can be found when the top water bite starts, just have to check them out, chances are one of them will have fish. Best fishfinder for these top water fish are your eyes, take some time, look around, they aren't that hard to spot.