Fishing Report-april 11, 2009

[Zack Hoyt]

Fishing was slow on Beaver this morning. There was a HEAVY blanket of fog that hung around until 10am. Most fish were hanging low and at the mouths of inlets. The crappie were hitting well on shiners and shiney hineys. Wind was steady most of the day. Water was still a bit murky from the previous days rains. There were alot of guys coming back from the War Eagle leg of the lake with their livewells full of whites. The fog hung around that area quite a bit later, but once it cleared, the fish were hungry.

[nwaoutdoorsman]

Fishing was slow for me Staurday too. And that fog was really bad. Fished the DU tournament outta Prairie Creek and they let everyone go right at 7. Kinda expected a delay under those conditions. I had to use my gps to navigate at idle speed and prayed I wouldnt get run over by someone else. It was bad!! Anyways, only caught 2 keeper LM all day and a couple shorts. One about 2lbs and one about 3lbs both on a wiggle wart. Threw jerkbaits, jigs and spinnerbaits trying to put something together and they just didnt bite for me. The weather last week seemed to change the bite everyday and I never could put together solid pattern. Only thing thats been working for me with any consistency is swimming a grub in the rocky branch area for spots, but I knew a limit of 12-14 inch spots wasnt gonna cash a check so I never went there. Hopefully the weather will get better for a few days and I can get back out there. Gotta do some painting and drywalling this week, but hopefully I can sneak away a day.

[Zack Hoyt]

You really dont know a lake till you have to navigate it in the fog. I was guiding a family and didnt have my GPS. Ended up following the shore to my beginning spot and floated around there. I was scared to death to get ran over. I was keeping my eyes peeled for other boats out there.

I havent fished rocky branch in a while. I do need to run over to the Lost Bridge area and fish it again as well. So much lake, so little time.

[nwaoutdoorsman]

If I get to go this week I'm thinking about going towards the Lost Bridge area. The smallmouths should be starting to eat a grub up that way. Last year a buddy and me went up there almost everyday in April and whacked on 'em pretty hard. I went up there earlier in the year and we just didnt do any good. I been fishing between PC and RB targeting LM since then and we've had some really good days, but I'm ready for a change of scenery. May have to go to Table Rock after reading all the great reports from up there. Its amazing how much better the fishing is just on the other side of the dam.

Anyone been up towards Lost Bridge or the dam? Catching any SM's?

[bferg]

If I get to go this week I'm thinking about going towards the Lost Bridge area. The smallmouths should be starting to eat a grub up that way. Last year a buddy and me went up there almost everyday in April and whacked on 'em pretty hard. I went up there earlier in the year and we just didnt do any good. I been fishing between PC and RB targeting LM since then and we've had some really good days, but I'm ready for a change of scenery. May have to go to Table Rock after reading all the great reports from up there. Its amazing how much better the fishing is just on the other side of the dam.

Anyone been up towards Lost Bridge or the dam? Catching any SM's?

I have not been up there personally but I was talking to a friend who fished up near Lost Bridge on Saturday. He said the water temp was about 53 and they did not have much luck on the smallies. If we can get a few warm days and get that temp up to 58 it will be on!

[sfiser]

Fished from Clifty to the Dam on Saturday. bferg is spot on with the water temp. it was between 51 and 54 all day on the main lake. Caught smallies, spots, and largemouths off main lake pea gravel points. Most were fat and full of eggs. Ended the day w/ 23 fish and 8 keepers. Getting some really nice spots this year, I think that high water from last year really helped them. Most fish were on the smoke grub and 1/4 ounce jighead, rest came on a chartruese shad deep diving pointer jerkbait.