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Well- I thought it would be mainly post spawn and mid to lower end deal. Shows what I know. I’ve seen a lot of tournaments here where the river bite is good then fades by the end of the week- always good fish there, just not always enough of them. But this week the rain and rising water played out perfectly for the river guys. Heard an interesting comment from one of the guys this week- he said we talk about longer days and water temps a lot when it comes to the spawn, but not water levels. He said in some parts of the lake the fish really want a certain water level to spawn. Had never heard that before but thought it was interesting.

If you were to dial up a nightmare day to fish Beaver this would be it: high sun, no clouds, no wind. Absolutely brutal.

Stud! Nice job.

It fishes really small. One issue is: if you want to catch Small Mouth and Spots you really have to be from Prairie Creek (launch point at mid-lake) to the dam. So, that's only half the lake. The upper end river arms can hold some quality fish but they never hold up (Hughes is slaying them up the river this AM). Then you get the topography. There are a TON of really really steep banks- not nearly as many spawning areas and post spawning areas. There are not as many of the long tapering points as you might think there would be looking at the map. Every flat spot on that lake you have seen in the last 2 days:) There are mile and miles of shoreline at beaver that just feel dead, really steep but not necessarily bluff walls. Hard to explain unless you see it. Beaver is NOT Table Rock junior. Especially for dudes who by nature want to fish FAST. Oh, and you have a north east wind and its the recipe to make it small and challenging.

Bill- would love to hear what gliders you are throwing these days?

Bill, question for you: I mainly fish up the white around Big M and Eagle Rock. It does feel like that part of the lake is absolutely overrun with short spots. In your experience: is that new or are there more than there used to be? I do think the comparison to beaver is a little apple to oranges. Beaver has just never held a candle to TR. At least not in the last 20 years. Totally unscientific and just an observation: I have caught more quality LM and SM on Beaver this year than I have in a long time. And fewer spotted bass…. Again, that is nothing more than an observation from a casual angler - but it has been noticeable.

Welcome to Beaver lake! Once these guys turn off the scope they are STRUGGLIN. Beaver is a finicky finicky place. Obviously I am no pro but it seems like you just have to stay on the bait to stay on the fish.

I hit beaver pretty hard the last couple of weeks. Last weekend there were WAY more post spawn fish than spawn. I don't think bedding fish on that lake at this point is gonna get it done. Too many already did the thing. Gotta thing the winner does well on the FF periods and probably stays mainly on the lower end. Doubt anyone could fish in the rivers all weekend But.... if someone make it to Sunday and goes up the river then, it could make a difference on one day.

Was watching Alton Jone Jr throw a new line through deal and thinking: if he just would downsize to a 2.8 he would be getting so many more bites. But- these guys just chuck and wind so fast- I’m sure they feel like the little swimmer deal is just too slow, especially without the FSS. Was pulling for MDJ but when I saw the weather today I knew he was cooked. I wish somone had a cast counter on him because he must have made 10,000 casts with that crank bait this week.

They were in the same area again this AM. Swimbait and topwater- again the quality was really good. Multiple 3’s and a spawned out 4z

I have been impressed with how Beaver is fishing this spring. Went out this AM and once I found them I had the best day I have ever had at beaver in terms of quality- all in about 40 minutes. multiple LM pushing 4… huge white, nice smallie, small striper. Couldn’t get pics of them all because it was fast and furious but there are a few. Shad spawn starting and I found a bunch of them in a small space and just had a ball. Quality was impressive.

It’s cool watching these guys fish a pond I also fish. (Will be fun to watch them at Beaver next week). BUT Watching these guys catch 50 2 lb fish just doesn’t feel like a premier fishing event. Makes me feel better about my table rock average though! As for Beaver- I have spent the last 15 years driving past the Beav to fish at Table Rock. But man, Beaver is fishing as good as it has in the 17 years I have lived here. Very impressed with the quality of fish right now. Not sure how well it will hold up to this many pros but I’m betting the average size will be higher next week than it is this week.

Caught one on Topwater at Big M Friday am. Found a couple of groups of fish bunched up. They were smashing the jerk bait so I didn’t try to force feed them the topwater for long. It’s close.

I don’t know any details but last year his wife got very sick and passed away. He stopped doing videos then and I’m assuming sold TablerockFishingIntel. Whoever runs it now has let it really languish. Always liked Eric’s reports and sad for his loss.

I put it on my trolling motor- which also has a transducer for my Humminbird on it, made sure it was facing the right way and level.