Quillback

With the forecast calling for another day in the 70's, I just had to get out there again today. There was a decent early bite, then just a fish here and there. I caught around 15 again today, but average size was down, only 3or 4 keepers. Biggest was an egg filled 3 lb. LM. Tubes again were my best bait, but I did get a couple of spots on the Ned rig (thanks DTRS for the advice and the jig heads and Zinkerz). Hooked up on something large on the Ned, never saw it, but it was swimming strongly and had it's way with me, couldn't do much with 6 lb. test and light spinning gear. Hook just came out, never saw what it was, but I'm thinking maybe a good walleye. Wind really started going, bite was getting tough, so I left at 1 PM. Caught a couple of fish shallow in cove pockets, that 3 lb. LM was in about 6 feet of water. Others were in the 10-20 foot range. Definitely some fish moving into those pre-spawn staging areas. Water temps 42-45. 1st Ned fish.

I just haven't been fishing jigs much, but yours are in the front of my jig box.

Thanks!

Excellent!

I would've fished the Ned more, just got pretty windy and I couldn't feel bottom with it.

Welcome!

I saw the reports from yesterday, and the fishing was completely different today. The fish bit good from when I started at 7 AM until I left at 2 PM. There were some dry spells of course, but I caught 15 or so with a good percentage of keepers, no bigguns, but some solid 2.5 lb. fish. Also caught a 18" smallie, first one I've caught since December. Fish were a bit shallower today, 10-15 feet, some were back in coves around timber, others on rocky secondary points. Did get a few out of 20 FOW, but most were in that 10 foot range. Green pumpkin tube, t-rigged with 3/8 oz weight. Tried a Wart, jerk bait, and a Ned rig for a bit, but no luck on that stuff. Water temp wasn't any warmer than Friday, 42-44, but the fish were acting like it was spring. Sunny, breezy weather was the key I guess.

And they locked up Carpenter for 6 years. Cards are looking like a juggernaut!

Welcome!

it's been a crazy winter.

Welcome back!

Saw that the Cards signed Cuban SS Aledmys Diaz. The guy was coveted by several teams including the Yanks, and I'm surprised the Yanks let him get away considering Jeter is done after this year. Of course Diaz still has to prove himself in the bigs, but he sounds like he has great potential.

Grand must be fishing really tough right now. Guys weighing in 2 lbs. were cashing checks. http://www.flwoutdoors.com/bassfishing/bfl/tournament/2014/7219/grand-lake-boater-results/

Sorry to hear of the loss of your father.

I'm wondering why they would clip the one of the pectorals? It's not a useless fin. Why not clip the adipose?

This fish was caught at Roaring River. Biologists are blaming runoff from hog farms.

I did not see the AR game, only the score. If they don't make the NCAA, I have zero sympathy.

WA state clips adipose fins on hatchery steelhead smolts. The adipose does not grow back, at least on steelhead.

I've heard of triploid rainbows, but never triploid browns. In the Skykomish river in Washington I once caught a net pen escapee Atlantic salmon while I was fishing for summer steelhead. That fish had hardly a fin on it, I'm assuming they rubbed off in the net pen. It surprised me that it had made up 20 river miles to where I caught it.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Looking through my notes, I see it hit 50 on 3/19, but dropped to 48 on 3/27, then into low to mid 50's on 4/5 and 4/12. 4/16 temps upper 50's and I noted male bass were starting to bed. Saw 62 on 5/7.

I was looking through my log from last year, I went fishing around the Big M area last March 7(2013). I noted a water temp that day of 44. Saw 44 for a high yesterday. We did have a cold spring last year, but a milder winter. Funny how the temps are about the same as last year on this day.

Good point OTF.

Launched at Eagle Rock today with my buddy Jeb in the boat and we did some running and gunning. Fishing spots where I've picked up some fish the last few weeks and tried a few pre-spawn spots that we hoped might start to hold some fish. We did find fish on secondary points with timber, a rocky bank or two and inside a cove a bit. Most fish were still in that 15-25 foot zone, though we did find a few on a rocky point with some wind on it in 10 FOW. We caught 25 between the 2 of us, but probably only a 1/2 dozen keepers and none over 2.5 lbs. Green Pumpkin tubes for me, and Jeb got fish on a variety of stuff, A-rig, finesse jig, jigging spoon, and a Keitech paddle tail. A mixture of spots and LM's, probably a ratio 2/1 in favor of LM's. Water temp was 41 when we started and by the time we left, we saw 44 in a few spots. Lots of boats for a Friday.