Saturday Cold And Windy

[Bill Babler]

Jim Thompson kicked off his first tournament as the new owener of CPA with a buddy event out of Ahoy's Saturday. The 7AM start was greeted with some pretty cold and extremely windy conditions. Water surface temps went from lows of 53 to highs of 58, depending on your location.

The bite the last week has really ben phenominal. It is taking 18 to 23 pounds to win anything and usually 17 pounds just to cash a check.

There is a very good crankbait pattern if you are in the right place. You really need chunkrock for this bite and you for sure don't want it to be very steep. These locations are not easy to find, but they are out there. Wind seals the deal and wiggle-warts are the fish catchers.

Football jigs in PBJ or any of the naturals such as green pumpkin or watermellon candy are also getting lots of attention from these fish, wanting to take on a load of daddy's before it turns super cold. Try looking about 1/2 way back in some of the major cove arms. Secondaries with docks that gently slope seem to be the best. Once you see these spots, and catch a fish on them you will just know. This last week, we have caught fish on every stop, using this pattern. Bill fished the lake all week, and I fished a couple of days. Since last Saturday, he has caught over 125 keepers. Most of these coming from 4 to 16 feet.

Believe it or not, there is also a stickbait bite starting. Some of these larger cove pockets are holding shad and you can almost pick your spots watching the gulls. Deep fish are also available under the gulls, but derby fishing, these K's will only get you a hardy thanks for the contribution.

Another good tip is to gear your jigs down, to about as small as you can throw. Use either the smallest football, or better yet 5/16th. round heads, with small crawtrailers. Fish these jigs on 10 or no larger than 12 pound test. You will get way more bites than on 15 or heaver. Keep your jig, moving, almost swimming it along the bottom. When you bump a rock, snap the rodtip up and let the jig fall back. Can't tell you how many we are catching like that.

Jim is going to do a great job with this CPA. The give-a-ways after the derby were fantastic. I believe about 500 cash and other fishing gear.

Get out there right now and catch some of these fish. Heard reports yesterday of them biting this same pattern from one end of the lake to the other, with some huge strngs of fish coming out of Baxter and Shell Knob.

Good Luck

[Don House]

Jim Thompson kicked off his first tournament as the new owener of CPA with a buddy event out of Ahoy's Saturday. The 7AM start was greeted with some pretty cold and extremely windy conditions. Water surface temps went from lows of 53 to highs of 58, depending on your location.

The bite the last week has really ben phenominal. It is taking 18 to 23 pounds to win anything and usually 17 pounds just to cash a check.

There is a very good crankbait pattern if you are in the right place. You really need chunkrock for this bite and you for sure don't want it to be very steep. These locations are not easy to find, but they are out there. Wind seals the deal and wiggle-warts are the fish catchers.

Football jigs in PBJ or any of the naturals such as green pumpkin or watermellon candy are also getting lots of attention from these fish, wanting to take on a load of daddy's before it turns super cold. Try looking about 1/2 way back in some of the major cove arms. Secondaries with docks that gently slope seem to be the best. Once you see these spots, and catch a fish on them you will just know. This last week, we have caught fish on every stop, using this pattern. Bill fished the lake all week, and I fished a couple of days. Since last Saturday, he has caught over 125 keepers. Most of these coming from 4 to 16 feet.

Believe it or not, there is also a stickbait bite starting. Some of these larger cove pockets are holding shad and you can almost pick your spots watching the gulls. Deep fish are also available under the gulls, but derby fishing, these K's will only get you a hardy thanks for the contribution.

Another good tip is to gear your jigs down, to about as small as you can throw. Use either the smallest football, or better yet 5/16th. round heads, with small crawtrailers. Fish these jigs on 10 or no larger than 12 pound test. You will get way more bites than on 15 or heaver. Keep your jig, moving, almost swimming it along the bottom. When you bump a rock, snap the rodtip up and let the jig fall back. Can't tell you how many we are catching like that.

Jim is going to do a great job with this CPA. The give-a-ways after the derby were fantastic. I believe about 500 cash and other fishing gear.

Get out there right now and catch some of these fish. Heard reports yesterday of them biting this same pattern from one end of the lake to the other, with some huge strngs of fish coming out of Baxter and Shell Knob.

Good Luck

Bill what did it take to win yesterday? How you you and Bill Do? I was too busy sleeping in to fish... Hope you did well.

Don

[Bill Babler]

Donnie, it took 18.67 to win. There were 10 teams within 3 pounds. Bill and I were very fortunate to have the 18.67.

Spoke again to some guys fishing today, and the crankbait bite was just as good. Lots of fish.

[Don House]

Donnie, it took 18.67 to win. There were 10 teams within 3 pounds. Bill and I were very fortunate to have the 18.67.

Spoke again to some guys fishing today, and the crankbait bite was just as good. Lots of fish.

Good Job to you and Bill, that was a very good group of sticks..

Best Wishes

Don

[focused fishing]

Great Derby this w/e. Can't remeber the last time I've seen weights stacked up so close together. We had 17.15 and got the last check but had the fish on to win it a couple of times. They were flat eating a wart and a jerkbait. Most fun I've had on the water in a long time. My partner, Jim Bruffy, had a 3 + KY on a wart at the boat and a 4+ was trying to knock the bait out it's mouth. Had to decide whether to net the fish or try to catch the other, netted the fish and regretted it the rest of the day. Bird in the hand....

If you can get on the water this week, the bite is outstanding!

See ya out there,

EP

[Bill Babler]

Great one Eric, but listen to this. In last weeks derby, Beck set the hook on a fish and it was coming pretty good and all of a sudden he couldn't pull it. thought my gosh, this fished either is foul hooked or has wrapped around something. He kept prussure on the fish and when it was just about to the net, looked down and saw what the heck was going on.

He had a very nice 17 inch keeper SJ, and clamped around its middle was about a 8 to 9 pound LM, tugging back as hard as it could on the mid-section of the Jaw. The jaws of the LM completely went around the SJ. right in the middle. It's head and tail were hanging out each side on it's mouth.

I know the first liar dosen't have a chance, but this deal happened. Of course the LM let go before the net got there. Don't think you could count it anyway.

We also had a least 3 fish over 5 pounds follow others we had on to the boat. And also had a time or two, 5 or 6 came to the boat following the hooked fish. They were just buzzing her head, trying to get the wart from the side of her jaw.

It is really just crazy right now. Temp tomorrow, is going to be 47 to 52 and cloudy. You will absolutely get your arm broke and your equipment wrecked out there. These fish are still right on the bank to 15 ft. Go get em. Today would have been the complete BOMB, perfect conditions.

[focused fishing]

Great story Bill, reminds me of being in Canada and having a 20+ pike grab ahold of a smallmouth on on the way to the boat. The shear number of aggressive fish on the bank right now is amazing.

Has this been a great year or what? Big fish on Blades in the spring, Smallmouth all year and shallow, now an incredible bite on the bank through the first week of December. I can't remember it ever being this good all year long. This is awsome, hope to get out later in the week just for fun.

[techo]

I love fish stories. I hope the fun holds until Saturday! Rogue bite on yet?

[motoman]

I love fish stories. I hope the fun holds until Saturday! Rogue bite on yet?

-

I'm with yah techo. Great reports from Bill, but those detailed stories are a hoot! I live so far from The Rock, this kinda stuff keeps me smiling. Fights off the winter blues up here 'til spring.

[Bill Babler]

T. there is a stickbait bite right now, and from what I hear a good one. Have not thrown it as the wart bite is so good. Eric I believe tossed it Saturday and I know for sure Mike W. and Steve B. threw it on Saturday, as Steve said the majority of their limit came on it. Don't know how fast they are working it, but the fish seem to want the wart pretty fast and they like the jig swimming along the bottom. Eric I'm sure can tell you how they were working it.

Beck went again yesterday, he is absolutely eaten up with catchin them. He said it was beyond belief with fish up to 7.5 and several over 5 pounds. Asked him if he caught any big SJ's and he said No nothing over 4.5.

I said "DUDE"!!!!!!!!!!, Since when is a 4 and a half pound Jaw not a big fish. He said,"Since two weeks ago".

Lilleys' annual Christmas Party is today at the Lodge, or I would be out flogging the bushes. If I would leave Becky to handle this I would be in deep Kim'shee. Hope this still holds up after the cold snap.

Eric, you are right Buddy, I have not seen the Rock like this since the 70's.

Happy Holidays All