April 18

[skeeterp]

Techo, we stunk it up too. We had several fish also, just nothing over 15, we couldn't get bit on the jerk bait...funny we finished 2nd in a tournament on Beaver yesterday, all on jerkbait. I did a cat a huge walleye on spro jerkbait in the cover across from the mouth of the Kings River. The walleye was 24 inches. Nick and i did find several fish on beds, we worked some of them but didn't waste too much time, the ones we found were still real spooky. I was really surpised to find them in 55-57 degree water. Anyways, we'll be back at the Rock on Wednesday for 5 days of fishing.

[motoman]

I never mind telling anyone how we did or didn't do or where we did it. Fishing is just a passion for me,not a living. I like fishing the AIA, because it is good folk and they are fun to hang with. Still just fun though.

We didn't weigh a fish today! We were in Schooners for a bit too. Windy windy. We threw a lot of spinner bait there, but didn't land a fish there. I had both feet on the trolling motor. We did catch a ton of shorties. We caught most of our fish on the stick bait after the wind picked up. We also caught some small mouth on the c-rig with a fish doctor. I think we caught two on the spinner bait near the cows. We spent most of the last two days in around and near the two cows. There wasn't even a breeze when we started the day.

Babbler had given me some direction and we tried it yesterday. It was the best day I ever had (did I say thanks yet). Today was still a good day, we just couldn't get the ones over fifteen inches to bite. I saw some fish (looked big) hanging on trees, but they just swam away.

Saw some of the OAF brotherhood today. Champ was fishing with Donna. Her picture does not do her justice. I think I saw J.E.and Don, SkeeterP and Nitronick, E.P. (tried to buy a bass off him), Mike and probably more people I am forgetting.

Sorry about bugging you when you are working Bill. I was pretty excited about the size of our success and just wanted to pass on the gratitude. I think we might have to schedule a summer lesson soon. I did a bit of guiding on Rainy Lake and know it can be a challenge at times.

Hey Vacation.....I always have to change the size of my pics. The picture manager lets me edit them to small or large web posting size and then I upload it.

Did I miss anything?

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Sorry to hear you didn't weigh anything, that's a bummer. We only weighed 2 at our tourney saturday, and we didn't catch those until 3:30. We went to weigh in early to try and beat the monsoon, no luck!

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What time were you in Schooner today? I was in and out of there a few times myself. (we ended up staying an extra day, long story )

[techo]

RPS, I am not sure who won it. It was at Mill Creek and we didn't stay for the weigh in, because I don't like beaching the boat. I heard it the winner had 21 pounds or more, but the weights dropped off after that.

Motoman, I think we were in Schooners around 1:30-2. I saw a Ranger with two guys wearing the Ranger suits on one point and I think a cream colored boat on another. They were getting tossed around by the wind some too.

Skeeterp, sorry to hear my poor luck was contagious. My schedule changes so I am going to have to be a weekend fisherman for a while. I like fishing during the week a great deal better. See you May 31st for sure?

[focused fishing]

Hey All,

Dustin Lee & Ryan Copeland won the AiA. Spinnerbaits and jigs in run off in the back of a creek. Great guys and glad to see them get the win.

Kory and I started strong, pulled up on our second spot caught a fat 15.5" spot, then a 6.20 LM and another 16" lm. Lost two more before the sun got up over the hill and killed the bite. Decided to run to some dirty water to finish the limit and spun the hub on my prop (second time in less than 2 months ). Threw an ear off my spare a few months ago and haven't had it replaced......... stupid!

Charlie from AiA came and picked up Kory and he went and got the truck. They check our live wells, we relaunched and we limped around Mill creek for the rest of the day, caught one more keeper, had a ton of shorts and broke off a couple that may have kept.

Struggled to get the boat on the trailer with no forward bite from the prop. Got a little check for second big bass and went home with our tails between our legs. We were on some really good fish and would of had a shot but oh well wasn't meant to be.

FYI, the fish are moving to the beds, mostly males, not locked on. The better fish are staged 3' - 10' just inside the spawning pockets. I've been doing well with a jig, spinnerbait and split shot rig (when it's dead calm).

Good luck!!

EP

[J.E.]

Eric,

Congrats! It was not a total wash then. Tell Capt. Don how to find those biguns!!!

J.E.

[focused fishing]

Thanks J.E.,

And thanks again for letting me borrow your spare - spare prop, I'll get it back to you at the Purple Heart event this w/e.

Gotta give a shout out to John over at John's Hot Props in Ozark, stopped by to drop off the prop and he stopped everything and re-hubbed it while I waited. Said it was an issue with the epoxy from the hub maunufacturer, about 1 - 20 let go within the first month or so.

Got me back on the water in short order.

Capt. Don knows where the big'un are, he catches 'em on guide trips instead of derby day.

EP

[techo]

He isn't going to tell J.E.!

[focused fishing]

He isn't going to tell J.E.!

darn, stop twisting my arm......

O.K. the big fish came in Baxter on a Jewel 1/2 oz. football jig brown / green pumpkin (Color I tie myself) with a 5" Chompers green pumpkin twin tail jig trailer. She was in about 3' of water on the inside of a point of a spawning pocket. Had another one on in the same pocket about 4.5 but "it don't count if you don't weigh it...."

IF you would like exact detailed GPS coordinates break out the water board

EP

[techo]

Oops! Sorry E.P. I meant Capt Don won't show J.E. his secret big fish spots. Glad it sucked that info out of you though.