Early AM Action

[SKMO]

Put on the upper White about 5AM and fished about 2.5 hours. Before it got light big fish bit well, had 7 keepers and one short, all LMB. Attached are pics of 3 largest 18.5', 20" and 21.75", 3 other legals were 16-17". Had a really big one jump me over a log in the semi-dark and pulled loose. Got a decent look at it and am pretty certain it was the largest LMB I have ever had a hook in on TR. Best action was on spinnerbait in the dark, although the 21+ was caught about 0730 right before I came in, on a crankbait.

Might have to set the alarm tomorrow and get out earlier for some more of these pre-sunrise toads.

[Fishin' Freak]

Nice fish SKMO--I am heading out the door right now to go try my luck today.

[Bill Babler]

Those spots always hold big fish this time of the year from January till the middle of this month. I just have a hard time catching them on anything other than a stick bait thru those docks. I have pulled some goodies on a red floating worm. No 8 pounders though. Great fish and great pics. Try the deep trees in the middle of that one cove for some crappie. We caught a couple of really nice ones in there the other day.

Keep moving toward Table Rock dam on the same side of the lake with the big log resort in the back, I'm sure you will like what you find.

I haven't been out that early with a spinner bug, but the old boy that used to own the viola boat dock caught the tails off them at night on a twin spin, this time of year. Great fish, I'm envious. You Big fishing fiend.

[SKMO]

After a great day yesterday AM my son and I went out for about 3 hours from about 5-8PM. Eleven fish zero keepers.

Told him wait till the AM (It would be Great)but that did not work too well either. Launched in a diferent spot I thought we could catch some SM. Final tally 5AM-9AM was another 11, with 2 barely keeper SM and a real nice LM about 17.

Could not come up with the topwater/redfin bite Bill mentioned but we tried. Pretty breezy and we caught the few we caught on a spinnerbait. Plastics would have probaby been better but it was pretty breezy and we were trying to cover some water.

[SKMO]

A couple people PM'd me wanting info and wondering about the "spinnerbait" bite in the dark. Guess I should have been more explicit. Baits I thow are "short arm" spinnerbaits.

The brand I throw is either Strike King "Midnight Special" or HogJaw shortarms. They are completly different than "after sunrise" spinnerbaits. They have one big thumper colorado blade, black or hammered copper, skirt is mostly black, also put on a twin tail plastic trailer to slow it down and give a bigger profile. Key is that the wire arm for the blade is very short, in case they hit the blade they also get the jig/hook.

I never use a trailer hook. First off it's a hassle in the dark with something else to tangle up. More importantly there is no reason to use one because they do not nibble the spinnerbait. They engulf it and whenever you feel you have hooked a tree just set the hook and be prepared to do business up close and personal and quick, in the dark.

Run boat parallel to bank on some chunky banks and just cast it out as shallow as you can stand and hold on, you can meet up with some great fish in 1-6' of water this time of year.

If I were to analyze my results of the BIG fish I have caught per hour of fishing nothing would hold a candle to the last couple hours of dark before sunrise this time of year. Hands down it can be (but not always) awesome and will make you wonder where the big LMB go rest of year. Same goes for Fall and late Fall, an awesome time to be throwing the black spinerbait pre-dawn.

I have fished a lot from sunset to midnight and sure had my lucky streaks but pre-dawn is hands down my favorite.