Dutch

Jeff met me at 05:30 today. We were hoping for a top water bite which didn’t happen. However the jig bite was good. We used two or three different sizes and colors. I think we caught fish on all of them. We wound up with 61 bass most of which were spots. Jeff had 5 keepers while I had 0. The debris was heavy around the marina area but not bad down lake. The air started out at 71° and ended up at 86° when we quit at noon. The water temp ranged from 84-86°. It is still very dingy. Most of the fish were less than 10’ deep.

The last 2 trips to Table Rock I have used Mitch’s craws as jig trailers. I used the green pumpkin Thursday and maple syrup today. They worked exceptionally well on my 5/16 homemade jig.

Sounds like a good morning how far up the James did you go above Cape Fair? 🤑

I know a guy who does that a lot when he sees surface action. I remember hearing about that happening to Lefty Evans one time on Bull Shoals.

I’m sure we have all caught a fish during the day and thought it was one the we had already caught. I saw it happen yesterday for sure. My neighbor and I were on a good jig bite and his line broke right at the boat and a nice spot swam away. Within a few minutes he caught a spot and started laughing when he went to remove the hook. He brought it up to me and showed me inside its mouth. There was his jig and craw. There was still a lot of debris mostly on corners. Some of the floaters are large enough to get your attention if you hit them. The water is still muddy looking but the fish don’t care. The water temp registered between 78° and 80°.

My last hired hand used a lot of Skoal. He died from mouth cancer.

I’ve eaten lots of whites. For me it is take a strip steak from the lateral line up and remove all of the dark meat refrigerate in water overnight and fry. They aren’t bad cut up in chunks lightly boiled and served with cocktail sauce.

That is usually a late season technique. I’ve never done it. Find your local MU extension or master gardener place and ask them.

It would sound a lot better if I had been able to hold up my end. I know that I have had a worse day of catching but I can’t remember when. That is a beautiful part of the lake and I really like it. As always thanks for the invite.

There is always a way to launch there even if it’s on one of the camp ground roads. If you are in doubt there is always River Run or K Dock.

Jeff and I met at 05:30. We were the first to arrive which is unusual. We went to a favorite top water spot and caught a few spots and a couple of keeper lmb. When the top water ended we switched to jigs and caught several more. We motored above #15 and hit some usually good places but they were empty. We moved around trying to find fish but they were elusive. After the fog lifted it got sunny and hot. The surface temp was 78°. When we returned to the ramp there were only a few trucks on the lot. I think we ended up with about 23 bass mostly spots.

Lefty was an old and dear friend of mine dating back to when I raised turkeys and he kept my pump running. It is a long story but he would often be at my house at 3 am because the pump quit and I would call him. We also did a lot of fishing together back in the Midwest Anglers days.

I am only doing asparagus and tomatoes and the asparagus is done.

It was a really good trip until the weather got dicey. It’s been a long time since I have had that good of a top water/swim bait bite. Most of the fish were good solid ones close to keepers. Thanks for the invite Jeff.

There are some things that we shouldn’t know about each other.

I have a call into MDC about it. I expect a response after the holiday weekend.

It is covering about 1/2 of the little timbered cove on the right as you go into Orleans Trail Marina cove. I also saw some in Crabtree Cove.

Thanks Marty. Is it likely to become a problem?

I saw this plant at Stockton yesterday. I’ve never seen any aquatic plants there before. One cove was jammed with it reaching the surface in 10’ of water.

Sounds great. Good for you Jeff.

Nice fish. Were you in the trophy area? What was the good bait?

I think we already are.

Big M was very busy today, lots of bow riders and toons along with more glitter sleds than I have ever seen in that area.

I’m glad you got to get out. How’s the curtesy and launch ramp with this high water. It’s good to know that the jig is finally working again. I like Ned but am ready for something else. Was there a swim bait bite? My wife is wanting to get out. The trip to Cape Fair wasn’t very enjoyable for her. With all of the derbies on the Rock and Stockton I think I will go up to your end of the lake in the morning hoping for fewer boats that way and some clear water.