Upper White

[SKMO]

I was sure the stars had lined up for a good topwater bite this AM, clouds with an approaching rain. Launched at SK bridge @ 0515 and commenced to do my usual June milk run for topwater fish toward Campbell Point. Stayed on a tried and true location until 0600 and I was already getting aprehensive. A couple short fish. Too many carp and gar, no shad.

Started point hopping looking for surface fish and got to my (and everybody elses) favorite topwater spot. Had 7 shorts in the bag by then, but here they were finally busting top here. Proceeded to catch a eleven in short order but I doubt I had one over 13", most closer to 10.

Was losing confidence in the spot so headed back upriver to SK bridge, stopping at maybe 4 good spots for a couple minutes to see if anyone was awake on top of some gravel flats I know fish are on. Picked up 3 more shorts, real short, and they were not busting. Thry would come up for a randomly thrown Sammy but they were small.

Headed up toward Big M and parked on another gravel flat and caught 5 shorts. Saw Babler here and we cussed and discussed the fishing. I am sure neither one of us added to the others wealth of information as both boats were hauling dinks, Weather was getting dark so I headed back toward the bridge and truck just in case. Caught a couple shorts on each of the 3 bridge pilings at SK, then finally caught a barely legal, and exited stage left to the ramp as it looked like it might set in for a while. As I was idling to the ramp I saw a big fish hitting and shad flying just upstream of the ramp about 100 yards. Goosed the motor and flung a spoon a ridiculous distance and hooked up with a 18" LM.

Good to end on a high note but I had enough and was off the water at 1030. Final tally 34 fish, 32 very small, one squeaker and one good one.

Pretty OK numbers for 5 hours but the fish have shrunk bad on me the last few days. I probably sound like a whiner, 32 topwater fish, even though they are 8-11", are better than a day of work. Just seems to me there should be a better topwater bite.

Tomorrow. Always tomorrow and it will be more and bigger and better.

[rps]

I put in at Holiday Island and you described my morning, although you had more shorts than I. I took two legal, one barely and one 18" but thin. The largest fish came on a spook just before I left the water at 8:30 because of the front. Of course, it came off the submerged road bed there at the Holiday Island marina.

So much for thinking the morning was ripe for a good topwater bite.

[Bill Babler]

Snuck out of the Big M area this AM at a few minutes after 5 with a couple of Monett boys, Howard and Todd. Great Guys and I can't tell you when I have had a more enjoyable day.

Headed for the topwater aquarium, hoping to feed the fish. Just when you think you know something, it totally backfires. Told the boys they wanted spooks instead of the fin. Neither had ever fished a fin anyway. I think I may have cost them some money, as I'm sure both will be in the fishin toy-store looking to by a dozen or so apiece.

Of course they wouldn't eat the spook, just slaping at it time after time. The answer was of course the fin. They preceded to eat it like it was food.

Kind of like SK said, lots and lots of gar and carp. First spot a long gravel flat point was fished very carefully several times, and only ended up with 8 on top. Two small keepers that were squeekers. Next spot the same only 6 fish and no keepers. Both Howard and Todd had a big fish blow-up, but didn't hook up.

Next spot two more and then then we drop shotted 5 off the next point, with two decent keepers and the other 3 right up against it.

Rounded the bend and ran into SK, hauling in a 14 incher on his topwater magic. Caught 1 short behind him.

Just like fishing behind a vacume cleaner. Cut out for open water and caught 1 topwater fish off our cabin at shell knob point and 6 bottom fish, staying close to the dock as it was starting to get a bit dicy with the weather.

After the weather hopped to the SK bridge and Howard nabbed 3 Todd nabbed 4 and I coralled 1. I believe one of Todd's would have squeeked.

Beat feet back toward Big M after eating one of Howards great Brats and picked up a half dozen bottom and suspended fish on both drop-shot and rig, off several gravel rolloffs.

Stopped at one last point and the fin bite was on again. Howard with 5, Todd with 2 and I squeeked a couple on a jig.

Wanted to show them one last drop shot spot and I caught 4 suspenders and Howard nabbed 1. I cheated by watching the graph closer than Howard. He is a quick study and will learn to keep an eye on the TV.

I'm guessing about 40 fish for the morning, with maybe 9 squeeker keepers. Just about the same as mid-week on the same fish.

I told the boys it may be tough with the clouds, for the DS fish, and I was right. Lots of singles suspending and no groups.

All in all, considering the company, I'll take today everyday.