Beaver 4-15-10

[nwaoutdoorsman]

Put in at lost bridge south this morning. Beautiful morning, water temp was 63 when I launched. I went and throw a grub for a hour or so trying to catch some smallmouth and they just weren't cooperating, so I pulled up in a pocket and there were beds everywhere. I saw 3 brownies that were about 3-4 lbs a piece, but that they scattered like a covey of quail as soon as they saw the boat. I tried throwing a senko for awhile and that didn't work out for me either. Then a buddy called and ended up meeting me at the ramp. We went to a spawning cove and found spots and largemouth all over on beds. And then he proceeded to put on a sight fishing clinic while I watched and took my whooping. He caught a 4 plus LM and a 3 plus spot and alot of a 14-16 inchers of all three species. I'm not sure how many he caught, but it was alot more than my dozen or so dinkers. I did catch one off a bed with him coaching me and he finally says "jerk" cause the fish had it and I just couldn't see it. His eyes are just better than mine. We tried the grub off and on all day with near zero results until the last hour of daylight. He also put on a shakey head worm clinic while again I watched. I caught a few but I just don't have the touch when it comes to finesse techniques. Give me a blade, crankbait or buzzbait and I'm happy. But it was a great learning experience. I learned a few things about sight fishing and shakey head fishing so it was a successful day. We did go back to where I saw the 3 big brownies on beds, but they were nowhere to be found. Had he not showed up I would have went searching for a bite more towards my strengths and not taken the time to learn something new. Now I just need to get back out there and practice on my own. May try to go this weekend. Had a camping trip planned to go to buffalo river but with the increasing chance of rain I think we've ditched that plan. So, I might as well go fishing. Hope everyone gets to go this weekend and catches 'em good. Good luck!

[jeb]

Thanks for the report. Headed back out in a few minutes myself. I'm more of finesse guy than a power guy, by far actually, so the light bed fishing feel is kind of a natural for me. I also think the flourocarbon line and Loomis GLX rods I use help quite a bit in picking up the light taps.

Good luck this weekend!

[Quillback]

You guys are killing me! I gotta drag myself into work..I'd rather be fishing..

[jeb]

I bet, Jeff!

Have to show them something different everyday, it seems like. Today, they liked the heck out of a split shot rig up in the shallows. Not as many big fish today. 9 legal spots and LM, several dinks. Lots of tapping and carrying off the nests. So a fun day again.

[nwaoutdoorsman]

My buddy went out again today and caught some more spawners. Said he caught several on a shakey head again and had a couple 3 lbers and several 2's. We also saw several crappie on beds yesterday if anyones interested. They were in about a foot of water. We kept saying we were gonna go back and try to catch 'em but never did. Not sure when I'll get back out. I dont care to fish on the weekends much and Monday I start a remodel on a house, so I'll be busy for awhile. Spent today building flower beds and setting out bushes and tomatoe plants. Sure made the place look nice. Kinda proud of myself. Good luck if you go this weekend!