11/22 Fall Creek To Branson

[MOBass]

I put in at Cooper Creek close to 8AM and was the only rig there. Ran up to just above Lilliey's and messed around throwing a Rouge to see if I could stir up a big fish. No love there and only a few follows by stockers on a rooster tail.

Ran up to Fall Creek and tossed the rooster tail for nothing. Two other boats in the area dunking bait and not doing anything. Should have packed the fly rod with me. Lots of midges.

Needed to catch a fish so it was off to the area from Turkey Creek to the Landing. Easy fishing for stocker rainbows on a rooster tail in front of the fish co. restraunt. Hit the front of the Landing for nothing. Trolled through the no wake area in front of Turkey Creek for a grade better than stockers. I hadn't tried trolling before, but will be back Saturday to do it again. Nice to relax and not cast. Just hold the rod and wait. Need to ease up the drag as I pulled hooks on a lot of fish.

Nice day to be on the water. Plenty of fish to be had. Going back with some rapala's to troll and see if that will kick the grade up further.

[bigdub]

Hey MO, what were you trolling in that area? I caught a few jigging just down from Scotty's, but couldn't get anything trolling through there in that deeper water. Just curious, have a good day!

[MOBass]

I don't do much trout fishing so I was dragging a small rooster tail in firetiger. Trolling motor set on three with the the rooster tail 20-30 feet behind the boat. I had a lot of fish follow the bait on the retrieve and turn off when they saw the boat. They were following the bait a long way in the clear water and just needed more time to commit.

I plan to be back there on Saturday and troll a bigger bait and see if I can get a brown to commit. Probably going to use a thunderstick based on a recommendation from one of the guys in the office. If that don't pay off I'll mix it up and try some small CD rapalas. I hope to have my daughter with me so we can mix it up on the baits. If not I may get crazy and strap a rod down to the deck and set the drag light and hold the other. That should gurantee I'll hook two fish at once.

[Gatorjet]

Hey, you the same MOBass I talked to on the Tracker forum when I was looking at Tracker Jets? Might have been cheapshooter back then. As you can tell, I went with the Gator instead.

Try some Little Jakes Spin-A-Lures down there. They have always worked well for me. Gold in dark light, silver if it is bright. If they are running water, just drift with them, reeling just fast enough to tick the bottom. That works with Rapalas and other minnow type lures as well. Let us know how you do. I'll be down there next week Thur-Sat.

[bigdub]

I did pretty well yesterday with a brown trout CD5 around the bridges. Caught quite a few (probably 15) in the 16-17" fish and one that broke off that $7 sucker, never saw it! Ouch! Oh well! Good luck out there!

[MOBass]

Hey, you the same MOBass I talked to on the Tracker forum when I was looking at Tracker Jets? Might have been cheapshooter back then. As you can tell, I went with the Gator instead.

Try some Little Jakes Spin-A-Lures down there. They have always worked well for me. Gold in dark light, silver if it is bright. If they are running water, just drift with them, reeling just fast enough to tick the bottom. That works with Rapalas and other minnow type lures as well. Let us know how you do. I'll be down there next week Thur-Sat.

Nope, not I. Must have been an imposter.

I'll check out the Little Jakes. If they are running enough water I'll probably do something similar to back trolling and just hold or creep ahead in the current. It's fun to mix things up now and again.

If I can remember to back the drags off I'll probably land a lot more fish. I pulled hooks on a bunch. Just too much pressure on the little trebel.

I'll post a report if I get out. Weather looks solid. Probably work a couple of hours on Saturday morning and then hit the water about 9.

[MOBass]

I did pretty well yesterday with a brown trout CD5 around the bridges. Caught quite a few (probably 15) in the 16-17" fish and one that broke off that $7 sucker, never saw it! Ouch! Oh well! Good luck out there!

I feel your pain on the lost lure. I had to re tie a few times because the 4# line getting roughed up. When I re spool I may go with 6# fluoro for trolling.

Glad you mentioned the bridges. I had a really nice brown come up and take a sniff. I was casting at that point and when the fish saw the boat it made a turn and flipped me the fin.