Dutch

My neighbor and I launched at 08:30 and tried around some points. We had fish swirl at, splash behind and follow baits right to the boat. There was a stiff East wind and a blue bird sky. I moved to the West side and fished windy banks. We caught 23 bass and 1 crappie. They were all on plastic (Elaztech baits and Keitech baits. We had 9 keeper bass and 1 keeper crappie. The fish liked rocks today. ZinkerZ was best.

Good for you Jeff. I figured you were out there somewhere. I’m wishin I were fishin instead of working in the yard and garden.

I bet everyone who had a boat and the day off was on the lake today. Me I planted garden. Good goin there Cheese.

We found prespawn smallmouth on Beaver yesterday with low 60s water temps. I had one spot that was egg laden. I’m not sure what is going on.

It’s been a while since I’ve run it but I’m guessing 10-12 miles. Personally I would haul it around to Campbell Point so I wouldn’t have to worry about beaching it.

It was for sure cool this morning but still a great time. I got to meet another forum member today. Thanks for the trip Jeff.

With today’s good equipment I think we feel stuff that used to go unnoticed.

We filled 3 freezers with our beef. Maybe she has a roadside meat market.

Can you see that from your house?

Wow that’s a bucket full.

Jeff fished with me today. We went to lots of places (Woolly, Carney, Buzzard, Piney, School House) just to name a few. We even hit some main lake banks and points. There really was no rhyme or reason as to where the fish were located. Most of the fish came pretty shallow and in the morning. Early on I had a 4# green fish on a homemade chartreuse swim bait. We threw top waters, wake baits, and shaky. The bait of the day was the little guy Mr. Ned. We wound up with 30 bass with only 4 keepers.

Nope 1/4 the price of a tank of fuel but still a lot of green backs.

Wow at $60 a pop I would be too nervous to throw one.

On my Champion they were glassed in. When replaced it was done at a glass shop because they had to be ground out and replacements glassed back in and recarpeted.

I will keep my eyes open for that boat. If you see mine swing by.

We may have passed each other. I don’t pay attention to other boats much. Here is what my boat looks like. If you notice me drop by and we can share information.

My neighbor and I started at 09:00 and worked our way up to Carrs. Most of the places I wanted to fish had a boat on them. The water was down right muddy. There were several snagging rigs out. We scrounged up 9 with 4 keepers in 3 hours. Most on a bleeding shad spinner bait. I ran below Cape and we fished to Piney. In 3 more hours we caught 22 bass with 4 more keepers. Most of our fish were largemouth. We maybe caught 10 spots one of which was a good egg laden 16” female. Several of the largemouth were females with bellies that showed eggs. We never saw a fish with worn tail fins. Three of our largemouths were between 3 1/2 to 4# and showed bellies. Shaky was the best bait and several colors worked. None of the fish were deeper than four feet. The surface temp was 62 to 63°.

Bobby it seems that is the way of boats today. My Nitro is soon to be 7. In a few months the brake axle failed and ruined the brakes and bearings and had to be replaced . The on board charger had a bank go out and had to be replaced. In just over a year the carpet got a bunch of big black spots from a dye problem. That was past warranty and I had Tom at Championship replace it. Then it settled down. When I bought my Champion in 02, I changed out the trolling motor (42” 67# for a 45” 82#), moved up to top of the line Lowrance, and pulled the EFI and put on an Optimax. I had my lot guy go over the boat with a fine tooth comb before I took it home. It never had to have anything done to it until a YeHaw side swiped it in Everton.

Thanks for the compliment Marty. Jeff is by far the better of the two. I’m just a blind sow getting an corn every now and then. It was a good time for me as I had never been on that part of Beaver and had never been party to a day of total smallmouth. What Jeff didn’t report was that was 30 by his definition. He has a minimum length for a fish to be able to be counted and there were several of them not to mention a proliferation of swim bait eating green sunfish. That area of Beaver is very scenic this time of year. It is far enough south so that all of the trees are leafed out. With those big old Ozark hills covered in foliage as a background for the clear lake it is picturesque.

Good trip. Some pretty fish. It sounds like nothing has changed since I was there last. I plan to be there Monday morning but not early.

I totally agree with you. I for one think tournaments should not be allowed in April or May.

Got any bear pics?

If you want to be on the safe side, find out your last frost date and plant after it passes.

I found the temp at Cape to be the same on Monday. I’ll bet it drops again after this weekend. Thanks for the trip Jeff. I had a great time even though you waxed my butt again.

I’ve never weighed wild turkeys but I imagine that it is a big one. When I raised them 25# was the target weight for the toms. And they got all they wanted to eat and drink without climbing around in the hills.