packersooner

Lonkm, Looks like we may be heading north to Stockton. I have your cell phone number. I'll call you when we get down that way. Jason

Lonkm, There is a slim chance we may head down next Saturday. I'll let you know. Jason

Lonkm, I have a 997 but live in Republic. Not sure when I will be back down that way. Would be happy to help you out next time I head south. Not sure what your problem is, but have you tried posting to the yahoo sideimaging forum? I haven't been over there in a few days, but their techs are outstanding. Jason

Wow...great thread everyone! Have to admit, I have very little experience trolling. Obviously, I have a lot to learn. Most of my rods have mono on them, but a few do have fluorocarbon. I have never tried braid. Depending on the conditions, I will either troll with the outboard, or the trolling motor. I had talked to some locals awhile back that have done really well in the summer trolling the DD22s. Looks like I may have to invest in some different cranks and a certain book. As for another rod and reel, not sure the boss will go for that one You all take care and thanks again for the great advice! Jason

Ar.walleyes, Your info/advice is much appreciated. I have never pulled Reef Runners or Hot n Tots. How deep do those usually run? You mentioned fishing them 20 to 40 foot deep. Are you doing something special to get them down that deep? Jason

Lonkm, We went out yesterday (Wednesday) and couldn't buy a walleye. Fished from 2 PM until dark mainly around Bee Creek island. Fished anywhere from 15 to 35 fow. Spent half the time trolling crankbaits and half trolling Lindy rigs with a half crawler. That was just our second time to Bull Shoals and we just haven't figured out the walleye. We did check a few of the marked brush piles and didn't catch any crappie. I have heard a few stories of them being on the bluff sides in timber or on brush piles. Any advice on what we may be doing wrong for the walleye? We are trolling DD22s at about 2 mph. They seem to be getting down into 18-19 fow. I used a root beer color and my buddy used some shad type color. Are you using different cranks or a different system all together to get them down that deep? Also, where is Tucker flats? Is that just to the north of the launch? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Jason

Kwall, What kind of sinkers are you using? I have used walking sinkers in the past and they get caught up in the rocks pretty easy. I would think those banana looking sinkers by Lindy might work better around rocks. Jason

Interesting stuff Straw Hat. I'll ask him if they were white crappie. The lake he fishes has both. Interestingly, this lake is notorious for huge shad populations...and monster crappie. This may support the fall class having slightly better success than normal. Thanks for the response. Jason

Nice catch there Zarraspook! Hey Straw Hat, do you think it is possible for crappie to double spawn? One of my in-laws from Louisiana is a strong believer that there is a fall spawn. He has caught them full of eggs late in the year. In addition, he has caught some smaller crappie where their size just did not match up with a spring spawning class. Jason

Fished from 630am til about 130pm with mom. Mainly targeted crappie but did also briefly fish for walleye. Water was generally in the 75 to 78 degree range. Started off in the Googer area checking some of the summer brush piles. Still nothing, but did have a few ticks on a jig. Could have been bluegill. Then fished some main lake points on the Big Sac side. Caught an 18" walleye on a crappie jig. Also caught one short crappie near a brush pile. It then started raining with some occasional lightning in the distance, so we bailed for awhile. Then got back on the lake and fished Sons for crappie. Caught a handful of shorts in the creek channel. Also caught one that went just over 13". Caught some on jigs and some on minnows. The rain then picked up, along with a northwest wind, so we called it a day. Marked tons of shad in the creek channels and coves in 10 to 15 fow. One would think the crappie should show up on the brush any time now. Jason

Fished from noon to 7 PM. Was mainly targeting bass, but also spent a little time trying to pattern crappie. Launched at Ruark and fished north to the point across from old State Park. Water temp was in the upper 70s with temps touching 80 in a few coves. Water remains high but falling. My plan going in was fishing the old shore line on main lake and secondary points. All in all, fishing was tough. Caught a handful of shorts on an electric blue plastic worm in 5 to 8 feet of water. Tried flipping up into the shallow bushes and didn't get any action. Also threw/trolled a sinking crankbait on main lake points/bluffs to see if I could pick up a crappie or walleye but nothing. Even threw a Road Runner and worked it from shore back to 10 foot and nothing. Finally, jigged some of the main lake brush piles that I've done well on in the summer and nothing. Tried piles from 15 to 30 feet. Did get a small walleye to the boat off of one of the deeper piles. I don't know where those crappie are. Wasn't marking much at all on the depth finders. It seems like water temperatures sat in the 60s for what seemed like forever, and now they are spiking. With water levels rising later than normal, I wonder how that has affected these fish? Hopefully, water levels will steady off and these fish will get into their summer pattern soon. Mom is coming down from Wisconsin in a couple weekends and I would like to get her on the brush pile bite. Jason