Trock Report

[Don House]

Been out everyday again this week, trying to get through this Holiday and make alittle money.. Friday was a wild day we were fishing the Long Creek area and I guess just missed the Helio crash we got off at 3:00 and I guess the crash happened about 3:15 right past Long Creek Marina in the woods.. I just turned on Hwy86 off of Long creek Marina road and was passed by a ton of fire trucks. Very Sad..

Anyway starting to see the FB jig bite really drop off in this area, still catching a few but the fish are really getting out on the flats and the mouths of the creek arms chasing groups of shad right at the 20 foot range.. Starting to see more and more fish suspending in 20 - 25 feet over much deeper water with structure. Night Crawlers is really going strong as all of the Islands are packed with boats just about everyday fishing those flats right next to the Islands.

Most of the fish we are catching are really spitting up shad of all sizes, Yesterday after catching 5 or 6 fish on crawlers we noticed we had floating shad everywhere around us from the fish spitting them up.. Matched the size to a smaller 1/2 spoon and really started to have some fun out deep around the DAM to K/C by flipping docks in deeper water in the shaded areas. Also had a few fish by flipping small jigs in Brown and green pumpkin in the same areas, but really needed the sun as it left in the afternoon. Once it really got cloudy the bite died and my day was done..

So start looking deep for your fish, you pretty much have them to yourself once you find them, with everyone still fishing shallow..

Good Fishing, Got to go fishing now.. Be safe

Capt. Don

[denjac]

Don, seen any whites? Looks like the bass are finally going back to there old haunts as the water gets back to normal. Gustav might filler back up though.

[techo]

Don,

I vertically fish spoons, but haven't used them around the docks much. We have mostly used hammered and white 1/2 ouncers for vertical on the trees and bridge piers. Would you be willing to comment on size of spoon, retrieve speed and give a rookie some ideas?

We used to fish for northerns on Rainy Lake with spoons. We used 3/4 to 1 ounce and just cast them in and did a fairly fast retrieve. The spoons there were cupped kind of like the Doctor Spoons so the wobbled back and forth. The spoons here seem to be more flat with a treble hook and get caught up more. We also used a steel leader up there. Do you use leaders?

I almost cried when you said the football jig bite is slowing.

If that is too much info to give away, I totally understand too.

[Don House]

Don,

I vertically fish spoons, but haven't used them around the docks much. We have mostly used hammered and white 1/2 ouncers for vertical on the trees and bridge piers. Would you be willing to comment on size of spoon, retrieve speed and give a rookie some ideas?

Techo, no it is really no big deal, I flip the fronts and the first and second dock stalls on the deepest end side of each dock. This time of year with a high sun these fish love to move in and under these big docks, waiting for shad to swim by and usally suspened right on the dock cables. I target deep water docks or docks with deep water on the front end. This is really a good late morning or mid day pattern that should get fired up here really quick. I start out by using my graph and taking a look at what is suspended on the cables on the front, if fish then I use a all white 1/2 ounce spoon, nothing fancy made by Hawg Jaw Lures and I buy them at Ozark Bait and Tackle in K/C. Use my electonics to find the right depth and then drop down to them.. Small jerks from your wrist is all you need to get attention from these guys when they are on..

Now Flipping the spoon in the dock stall would be just like flipping a jig in the same stall, start at the back Left End allow to sink 15 - 20 sec then small jerks as you reel back to the boat. Repet as needed with the center, then Right End, then move up to the mid dock repet the same left middle right all the way back out the boat and then repet one last time for the front of the dock stall. Really good way to find a strong pattern by taking docks apart like this, you can really find where the fish are hanging and you can now go out and repet at just about every dock just like it, fish will be there. Also pay attention to long docks with mid winch cable systems, fish love those..

Now Just like a Jig these fish will hit the spoon on the fall about 90% of the time, so a good baitcasting rod and some good flourocarbon really helps alot. Just feel for the bite.. Keep movingfrom stall to stall and dock to dock, you will find one that will be a favorite for you for time to come..

Good Fishing

Don

[Don House]

Don, seen any whites? Looks like the bass are finally going back to there old haunts as the water gets back to normal. Gustav might filler back up though.

Denjac, no whites at all, zero, none.. They Never showed up by the New Dam, really strange thing, bait fish there but no whites.. I think it may be toast for the year around the dam area atleast..

Don

[techo]

Thanks for sharing. I can't go until Wednesday and Thursday. We are supposed to get soaked then! Hopefully no lightening.

[Don House]

Was back out again in the DAM to K/C area yesterday. Noticed that my fish have really moved down the water line from 15 - 20 to 20 - 30 with the better fish coming from 30 foot range. Started noticing all of the nicer keeper fish were moving up from 40 feet to 30 to take drop shot and spoon. Also Working alot of large shad schools and even starting to find some really nice large schools of Bass. Drop shot and spoons are producing some nice fish, but can be hard at times on Artifical bait. Noticed alot of the other guides on the lake moving to the Crawlers as well to get the clients bit at atleast around Long Creek, Dam, Indian Point, K/C areas.

Starting to really use that spoon or at least try it a few times in each spot, fish should really get on them good.. (NOTE) I have also noticed that the fish are spitting up very small shad in the one to two inch range on these spots, make sure you match the hatch with your spoons, I went down to a 1/2 ounce all white with some small tricks to the spoon and the extra hook on the line. Have two or three rods rigged with spoons so so when you get in a school you can have fast responce to the school. Once they start it will be a feeding blitz and alot of fun!!

Looks like the rain will slow down business here for a few days but will be back on Friday and the rest of the weekend.. Will keep posting new stuff when I can..

Good Fishing Everyone

Capt. Don

[Guest kevinkirk]

What helicopter crashed. One of the tourist onees? Saw the trucks too

[techo]

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...D=2008808300365

[focused fishing]

Don,

Great report, I've been on the upper end most of the past two weeks and should have a report in a day or two, with all of the rain I might finally get caught up.... A note on spooning docks: USE HEAVY LINE, the fish don't seem to care and there is so much debris under the docks that you can go through spoons in a hurry if you are using light line. Personally I use #20 Seaguar on a heavy action rod. I noticed a few fish holding close to the bottom under docks in 25' - 30' of water, the fish would hit the spoon when it was hopped off the bottom.

See ya,

EP