Upper End Report - July 30 And 31

[rps]

These reports are older than normal for me. We've had carpet men installing and that nixed both our main machine and my laptop wireless for two days. I've been suffering major withdrawal symptoms for both days.

Fished mid day July 30. Only took my troll rod out with me. I concentrated on the areas above Eagle Rock bridge. Net result for 3 hours were three small spotted bass and two walleyes - one a 22" keeper.

Yesterday, I was on the water before I could see. In the dark I jig fished near HI marina. Caught one solid largemouth of 18" and one munchkin.

When it began to lighten I couldn't resist throwing a small spook. Caught another dink and then got hammered by a white bass. That's the first white bass I remember on my topwater this year, which is more proof this year has been very different for me. While I was unhooking the fish, she demonstrated the impale past the barb and yank out immediately method on my thumb. I think the people in the houses up on the bluff must have heard me - lights came on and everything. By the time I got the bleeding stopped, there was blood all over my clothes and the floor of the boat. I'm thankful I wasn't fishing a full size spook. Are those kevlar gloves they use at canneries any good for puncture protection?

Most of the top water activity that were clearly not gar or carp jumps were out in the lake over or near the channel. Large schools of shad have formed up here and are spending their time between 10 and 20 feet on the channel edges. I kept waiting for schooling activity, but none happened in my sight. I suspect someone who knows how to drop shot could take advantage of the channel edge/shad school pattern forming up here.

When the sun hit the water, I fished a jig and dragged a lizard from tree line down to 25 feet. I guess I should have stayed with the jig during the low light time. When I got bored I started trolling for walleye. Got one 24". It plus the Wednesday fish fed guests last night.

The walleye struck bone and firetiger baits running at 23 feet in 30+ feet of water. One was tree top fish from the flat with timber above HI. The other came from a point edge near the channel just barely in Mo. Both fish either were suspended or came up. I have not marked a fish and then caught it this year. Nor have I caught a second fish in the same location on the same day. Other oddities that show how things are different. I guess I should make a list of "differences."

Hope the information helps those of planning to fish this weekend. Fair warning: The last weekends before school starts are traditionally chock full of tube dragging and skidoos. I suggest you get out early and nap during mid day.

[rps]

The stripers in TR are there because they came through the dam or over the spillway from Beaver. Jeff Fletcher holds the Arkansas state record (60+ pounds) for striper for a fish he caught near Spider Creek which is at the upper end for boats in TR. The stripers love the stocker rainbow up there. BTW, do not assume stockers are the only trout up there. There are relatively large rainbows of 3 or 4 pounds and some Browns in the 6-10 range. Arkansas Fish and Game does not stock stripers in TR and neither does MDC. In 6 years here I haven't caught one or seen one.

I have vertically fished spoons for white bass in Oklahoma lakes, but since moving here I haven't. I am sure it would work if you got on a school. I have read reports of vertical spoon fishing walleye on both Bull Shoals and TR. I haven't done it, but I will begin to try as soon as the free style spoons I ordered from BPS arrive. Don House recently posted an answer with information about vertical spoon jigging. That's what got me thinking about spoons and led to my order. If it works, I will post.

[Hunter91]

I know several guys who have caught some very nice walleyes on TR vertical spooning. Not all were targeting walleyes though. Up on Stockton it is a regular thing in the winter to spoon for walleye and whites. Also to vertical jig to.