Upper White - Thurs

[SKMO]

Pour Dennis and I hit it for about 5 hrs this morning and all I can say is same ol' same ol', caught some nice fish on.... a spinnerbait of all things!

Pic attached of a couple nice keepers either side of 5# One thing noteworthy is the larger fish was expelling eggs with a loose belly so at least some of the fish have spawned.

We caught 9, maybe 10, all legal fish I believe but a couple K's were squeekers. Water temps 54-58 degrees, main lake channel bad muddy but larger side coves a bit clearer.

Also caught a 14+ crappie on the blade, and had a 40" gar pull off after about 10 seconds of mutual excitement.

Bite seemed to peter out later in the morning and I was getting goosey as my cranker was getting weak so we split early. Happy ending to the battery story as Battery Warehouse authorized a local switch out under full replacement.

So bagged some nice basses and a new cranker and I must say I have had worse days... Days when no fish seemed to be in my zip code. Days when real expensive stuff got broke. Days when someone in the boat was bleeding enough to drip on the carpet.

So as far as fishing days go it was a keeper.

[CMAC]

Nice fish SKMO. Sometimes because of the girth, those KYs don't quite look so long!!!

[Bill Babler]

I also thrashed the upper white. My results were a little different than Sk's. Started about 7 and my first hr. was ok with a 4 pounder and a nice keeper K on the Charturse Blade. Nothing for about 2 more hours, and then flipped the SB over a dock cable and the water boiled.

Had my drag cranked all the way down and the fish ripped 3 short bursts of about 5 ft. of line, on each run, off the spool. She then came up and went straight away like a freight train with her entire back out of the water. I had her on the trailer hook, and it tore out, leaving a huge hunk of lip.

I have a 9 pounder on the wall , and I believe she was all of that, and more. I had been using the rod to pitch jigs with and it all happened too fast for my old reflexes to loosen the drag a mite or I might have been able to touch her. Still yet, it was just not ment to be.

Man I've lost a bunch of Pig's this year.

Fished from then until 2 pm with nothing else.

Lake reports were mixed with the Kimberling to Long Creek area being the best and the Baxter to Big M, being a little slower with the exception of Sk and Dennis.

There are some different patterns developing, other than the SB, and when they take hold a little better, we will try and bring you up to speed. That same old factor of Location, still seems to be the key.

[Jason Essary]

SKMO, BILL, thanks for the info. we appriciate all that u do.

[conman]

Coming down to the Shell Knob area tomorrow, planning originally to fish the Kings. Any word on the conditions there? Would you make a different choice in that area?

Also, what kind of line are you throwing spinnerbaits on in these conditions?

Thanks

Chris

[SKMO]

Coming down to the Shell Knob area tomorrow, planning originally to fish the Kings. Any word on the conditions there? Would you make a different choice in that area?

Also, what kind of line are you throwing spinnerbaits on in these conditions?

Thanks

Chris

Kings is really muddy, actualy probably the source of most muddy water going down the main stem of the upper White. There have been some nice fish taken in the Kings the last couple days, I believe it is sun dependant. When the sun beats down the shallow mud spots can turn on.

Depending on how agressively you want to hit the bushes I would say 15# is a minimum. Thats what I am throwing anyway. You could throw heavier mono or braid, but end up taking it off later as the water clears. I have not broke off a fish or a bait with 15, just watch for abrasion and retie as needed... my opinion.

[dtrs5kprs]

Great info from all hands as usual. Have not seen any mention of a jig/flip bite. Is the blade just that good right now, or is there something not right with the jig bite? Seems like it should be going with the water staying high.

[KansasBoy13]

I know its still early but has anyone even tried the topwater bait? Nothing better in my opinion than watchin a huge swirl around my spook bait! Thought maybe with them so shallow right now you could throw one between the trees and bushes and one come up and blast it.

[CMAC]

Bill/SKMO:

Yeah, how bout it; Pop R's, RedFins or spooks, will they eventually replace the blade bite in those bushes. HOLY COW, can you imagine all those treble hooks and brush!!!!

[Bill Babler]

Gent's as far as the top-water thing, I don't think its quite time to pull the trigger on it. 3 Hooked Baits, as CMAC eluded too may be somewhat of a problem with all the over hangs and just debris and junk floating in the drink.

I'm grabbing stuff with a jig when ever it hits the bottom and a wart almost has to be cleaned every throw. My blade is even picking up leaf material. Not easy. Trying to throw a baitcaster with a top-water back in this stuff is a great reciept for world class backlashes. Believe me, I have seen about a dozen this week. What a mess.

I believe a great method that is just about to come in to play, with be the senko, and the floating worm, all with the hook-point buried and fished on a spinning rod, with 8 to 10 pound test. These baits can be sidearmed, skipped underhand and backhanded into and under the over hangs. I believe it will really work. Next trick, get that fish out of the mess. I lost a huge one yesterday in just such a place. Probably was not good enough to catch her anyway.

There is also going to be drag fish on the original spots for the Dr. and the Shakey Head. I believe this is starting to come in to play, now. Way out in front of the bushes. I'm going to try it on my trip this afternoon.