Out At Last

[Bill Babler]

Beck and I hit the water a runnin at 7:30 this AM in the Kimberling City area, to cloudy skies and a slight chop. Water temp at 63.9. We commenced to hurl a wart, jig and blade with fair to middlin too moderate success. It is for sure they are just not everywhere or lining up to jump and snap at a bait. Once you find some however, they seem to be in pretty good concentrations.

Short porches is what I call where the best fishing was. You could call them secondaries, but some were main lake and that is not a secondary. Cuts of a 100 yrds. or so deep, the fish seemed to be on the windy side about 1/4 to 1/2 way back.

Nothing on the blade, but 5 good keepers up to 4 pounds and about 15 shorts on the wart and jig. Wind switched to the North about 11 AM and that was it.

Chris Tetrick had 8 good keepers in the same area we were fishing on similar locations, and even some of the same locations that we fished. We caught 3 nice keepers out of one pocket and returned an hour later and caught another and had 3 more pull off. Not everywhere, but lots of fish when you find one.

Chris also had an early topwater bite, that we did not get. I believe he a a couple of good ole goodins on top early.

Stopped by Baxter marine this afternoon, and they told me some guest staying at the resort next door, were doing really well on a wart in that area along with a split-shot rig. Guy said he had is boat in 15 ft. on chunk and ledge rock, that was about a full cast from shore.

Said they saw them cleaning fish all weekend and went to take a look and they were knifing some really nice K's and Smallmouth. Visited a little and there were two boats of them catching limits everyday. Best bite was on the rig.

Lots of ways to catch fish on this pond.

[Whack'emGood]

Thanks for the report Bill. I am glad to hear you are well again and back at 'em. I am sad, however, to hear that a bunch of our local Smallies and Kentuckies will never be caught again. My dad and I are going on Sunday... can't wait to get out there and get after 'em.

Whack'em

[techo]

Where you putting in at Whackem? Planning on going Sunday too. The lake should be fairly open with all of the deer slayers gone for the weekend. Gosh please don't start that catch and release argument up again.

[Whack'emGood]

Techo,

We're putting in at Mill Creek. We'll most likely be fishing anywhere from K.C. to Baxter. I think we're gonna run up toward Baxter first though, and go from there. If you see us, say hello. We would like to meet you in person. We will be in a white (with silver and black trim) Nitro NX882 with a Mercury 150. You fish a Skeeter, right? What color is your boat?... We'll keep and eye out for you. Yeah, I bet there won't be too many boats out there-- they will all be hunting. More room for us, right!? Good luck on Sunday... maybe we'll see you out there!

Whack'em

P.S. You're right... no arguments on here! Fish talk only!

[techo]

Mostly white Skeeter with some red. We will probably put in at Aunt's Creek though and head ip the other arm. Drop you a PM Sat night if we are going for sure.

[Champ188]

Donna G and I will be out there today and Sunday as well. Going to launch at SK bridge today and fish down as far as Campbell Point and up into the Kings some, too. Staying at Schooner Creek tonight. Not sure where we'll fish Sunday. White/silver Champion with red/black trim and a Merc.

[Whack'emGood]

Champ,

Keep and eye out for us. Would like to meet you and Donna. If you see us, give us a holler. I'll keep my eye out for you.

Techo,

Yeah, drop me a line so I know whether you'll be out there or not. We might end up running up to the Aunts Creek area anyway... so I'll watch out for you.

At any rate... good luck out there guys (and gal )... I hope you load the boat with hawgs. We're gonna try to do just that, ourselves. Let us know how it goes... I'll post a report as well.

Whack'em

[techo]

The Mrs. is under the weather so it looks like I will be by myself tomorrow. I will look for you all (can't believe I said you all). Good luck! Will be putting in at Aunt's Creek.

[Whack'emGood]

Sorry to hear that Mrs. Techo isn't feeling well. We'll keep an eye out for you tomorrow. We're still putting in at Mill Creek and will probably run to the Baxter area first and then work back toward the launch. Good luck!

Whack'em

[Donna G]

Brrr. It was might airish today. We slept in until 5:30/6, then had to pack, load and drive to TR. Got on the water about 10:30 and fished until dark. Caught 'em good, most of them shallow between Baxter and Shell Knob in pockets, main lake points and bluff ends. That's a great pattern. lol "Where did you catch 'em? Everywhere." However, key seemed to be staying in the wind and boy was it windy. Weird thing - we couldn't get bit on big wood. We threw the blade on some great looking laydowns, but no takers. Ledge rock was working. Caught a couple on inside dock corners, but most of the bites came just moving down chunk rock banks.

Majority were caught on a War Eagle Spot Remover spinner bait and a gold Pointer 78. Was real surprised they didn't eat the Wart better. I threw it on some good looking warty stuff, but just caught a few little ones. Put down the Wart, picked up the blade and started catching quality fish again. Nothing huge, but a couple of 4-pounders and several in the 2-3 lb range. Best 5 probably weighed 18lbs. We had a good mixture of spots and blacks, plus a few smallmouth. Even had a meanmouth. I tried to catch a drum so Champ188 could trash me on the forums so more, but alas, no luck.

We're still trying to decide where to start tomorrow. Champ is fishing AIA next Saturday with a buddy (or me, if the buddy bails), so he's thinking about sticking around Schooner Sunday and looking for some fish closer to launch as a back-up. If we come your direction, we'll keep an eye out for you guys. I'll be the one dressed like an Eskimo. If I had fallen in today I would have drowned. Two sets of thermals, sweats, turtle neck, hoodie, Gore-Tex jacket and bibs. Oh, yeah, ear warmers, neck warmer and pocket warmers.

Donna G