Quillback

HAHA, when I read these words, I hear the voice of Al Lindner speaking them.

I hope I can remember to check back in on it in a few years to see if it makes a difference. Remembering to do that will be a challenge.

The really bad characters carry clickers.

Saw this on another site - looks like GA is giving it a try. Bass Stocking Experiment on Lake Allatoona CARTERSVILLE, Ga. (8/7/2013) Nearly a quarter-million largemouth bass now swim in Lake Allatoona as part of a newly begun three-year study by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. This study, which will help assess the effectiveness of stocking largemouth on this lake, involves stocking bass fingerlings (1-2 inches) each year through 2015. Largemouth bass are a common native bass species found throughout Georgia’s lakes, ponds and rivers and anglers in the state spend more days fishing for bass than any other freshwater species. Largemouth bass are found in Lake Allatoona, but are far less common than their cousin, the spotted bass. Both species are native to the water body, but the population balance has shifted towards spotted bass. “Largemouth bass currently make up only 10-20 percent of the black bass population on Lake Allatoona,” said Jim Hakala, fisheries biologist. “They were much more abundant decades ago than they are today.” Over the last decade there has been a growing call from bass anglers on this lake to enhance fishing quality by improving largemouth abundance. Largemouth bass typically attain larger adult size than spotted bass, a trait favored by many bass anglers. If this multi-year stocking experiment works, then largemouth bass may eventually comprise a larger proportion of the black bass population in the lake. In addition to the fingerling bass stockings, several thousand larger bass (5-8 inches) will be stocked each fall. This will allow biologists to evaluate the stocking success between two different size classes of largemouth as they grow into adults. Research indicates that fingerling largemouth do not travel far from their stocking location. Therefore, most fingerlings will be stocked from boats in shallow backwater habitats throughout the lake to give a better chance at survival. In recent years, largemouth fingerlings were stocked into Lake Nottely in north Georgia to reverse declining largemouth bass abundance. The early results of that study have shown promise for increasing largemouth numbers in a spotted bass-dominated lake. “These findings suggest there may be a chance to improve largemouth abundance in Allatoona through stocking,” said Hakala. While the stocking phase of the Allatoona study is set to last through 2015, fisheries staff will monitor largemouth bass abundance through 2018, as they grow to adult size. This will help biologists assess the contribution of stocked fish to the Allatoona largemouth bass population through time, and guide future management decisions.

Thanks for that Moguy. Amazing how they don't have the qualifying info on their website. I wonder who they determine who qualifies for the "Classic Bracket"? I'm thinking it is all the winners of the Elite events this year, excluding BassFest.

Has the ice melted off the lakes up there yet?

I missed the sheephead (is that a drum in Yankee speak?), but when I saw him, he was fishing a worm on a shaky head.

I released them, they would have made some good eats, but I have a hard time getting motivated to clean fish after fishing all day.

I've been using the Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw.

Got out at 6 AM, fish were biting really well early, and quite a bit of top water activity was going on. Then things really slowed down about 1030 AM. Coincidentally this is about the same time I saw Champ out on the water, dunno if his presence had anything to do with the bite drop-off, but I could not help but notice the complete shut down of fish activity. Caught 20 bass, 3 keepers. Most on the c-rig with a craw, I think about 5 or 6 on top water, on the Spro Rat and a Spook, but none of the top water fish were over 12". Did have a huge blow up on the spook, it knocked the spook about 4 feet in the air, but no hook-up. I would really have liked to have caught that fish. Caught a flathead on the c-rig,next cast caught a walleye on the c-rig. I bet I will never again catch a flat head and a walleye on back to back casts. Water temp 63-64. Didn't see too many beds, but spotted some 12" bass cruising the shallows.

Nice slabs!

Was up the White today, water is stained, 3 feet of visibility maybe? Didn't see too many beds when I did a little looking around, but saw some 12" bass swimming the shallows looking for real estate.

I've had some jerk baits do some damage to fish. You've got three sets of super sharp trebles on a 4.5" lure and they can get snagged up in all 3 sets.

Kudos to you folks for jumping in and releasing the fish in other locations and spreading them out a bit. I'd like to see AGFC do that on Beaver lake also for the FLW fish, according to the newspaper, FLW supplied a barge, but released all the fish just a few hundred yards from the Prairie Creek ramp. 2,400 of them so they say. I really wish they could have done a better job of relocating them throughout the lake, rather than dumping them right at PC. But, maybe the info I read was wrong, but that's what I read.

It is good to have friends in the right places.

Hard body.

Wind roared through here about 1 AM, power was knocked out for 4 hours. No damage that I can see, except for a lot of limbs and leaves lying around. Hopefully all are well.

I have one in that same color. Threw it for about 10 casts on Beaver yesterday, got two fish to swirl at it, neither touched it. It wakes well at slow speed, has a great looking swimming action, and has a deep kind of wood sounding knock. I'm sure it will catch fish, but is it better than old reliable, the Redfin?

No, I did not see any beds or fish on the shore, I didn't look in a lot of places, but did check out a couple of pockets that I thought should have had beds.

Fished from daylight until 1:30 PM, picked up 14 black bass, fish were scattered, one of those days where I'd get a bite every once in a while. Caught some decent fish, a couple of large mouth on a crank, a meanmouth and smalle on a c-rigged craw that were all 2.5-2.75 lb. fish. Some where out on the main channel, some half way back in coves, in 5-15 FOW. Water temps 63-64.

Some great fish for sure, and sounds like it was a good time!

Well today over at Beaver I caught one of those green meanies on a crank bait. It was a tussle I tell you, son of a gun made a drag pulling run at a pile of cedars, had to clamp my thumb on the spool and pull on that rod as hard as I could to turn him (thank goodness for 15 lb. line). Gave me a few anxious moments at the boat as he kept diving under the boat and making runs at the trolling motor. he went airborne a couple times also, probably cleared water by a good 4 feet - what a fight! Here's a pic I took, didn't weigh him, wanted to get him back in the water quickly.

Love those chunky spots!

Some very respectable fish - I like that meanie in the 2nd pic!

Very nice Robert, some great fish fry material there!