Trav's Fishing Report

[Trav]

I was in the Pomme area looking at a house and we all know Trav can't get too close to this lake without dragging his boat along.

I just looked back. Can't believe I haven't posted a fishing report since June. This heat really has my interests into indoor activities! What is wrong with me? Is this a sign of old age? Haha...OK! Insert your wise cracks here---->>>

We didn't get on the water until around five in the evening and found the surface temps ranging between 87 and 89 degrees. Managed to cover about four miles of the Lindley Arm in three and a half hours. You all know me. I fish fast and cover a lot of water quickly. Only caught nine Largemouth with just two of them under fifteen inches. The largest was probably just shy of three pounds. (Lost three at the boat..need to change the hooks on some of my cranks!)

Was on a nice pattern for the chunks. I am so used to going to Pomme and catching mostly sports, it was quite refreshing to think I would have been culling if I was looking at a weigh-in. I would have been very pleased with a day like this back in my tourney days. Even without a kicker big bass I could have walked in with a twelve pound sack easily. This is saying a bunch considering how many ten to twelve inch sports this lake has. Not sure where all those juveniles were. I covered depths from 10 to 30 feet and not a single one was under twelve inches.

Spent most of the time deep diving the edge of ledges with warts and redeyes but did catch almost half of them on purple twin-tail grubs off the deep side of long shallow points where the humps drop fast. The key depth was fifteen feet.

I am curious. Normally this time of year I have to beat the white bass off with a stick on those points and I didn't even see any breaking the surface. I am not a big white bass guy but was hoping to report something to my Dad. He loves them. Anyone else having any sightings this year?

[Dutch]

I was over in the other arm one morning this week. I could not find any fish deep on structure or cover. All my fish came on swimming jigs in less than 3 fow. Had 16 with 10 keepers. You would have beaten me as my best was 2# so I'd prolly been down around 7 or 8.

I'm planning to try the Lin next week myself. I never saw any whites either and didn't see any last fall.

[Trav]

I was over in the other arm one morning this week. I could not find any fish deep on structure or cover. All my fish came on swimming jigs in less than 3 fow. Had 16 with 10 keepers. You would have beaten me as my best was 2# so I'd prolly been down around 7 or 8.

I'm planning to try the Lin next week myself. I never saw any whites either and didn't see any last fall.

It sounds like your morning shallow pattern would be perfect for top water. Did you try?

Most of our hits were in the six to eight foot depth. They were suspended in the deeper water or coming off the bottom to get the bait. I was casting with the shore or away from it. When I got over fifteen feet they would nail it. This is a typical evening pattern in Ozark lakes when the surface is at "bathtub" temps.

[Dutch]

No didn't try any tops. Threw a buzz for a while and nothing. I'd rather fish a jig than eat.

[Trav]

No didn't try any tops. Threw a buzz for a while and nothing. I'd rather fish a jig than eat.

Haha,

I really should learn some patience. Wiggling a worm, dragging a lizard or hopping a jig just isn't my style. Don't get me wrong, I will do it when working older lakes like when in Texas, Mexico or Florida but not deep Ozark lakes. I envy you guys who can relax and disect a hole instead of canvassing the entire lake.

I work water fast. If I pick up a couple bass in a certain area I might slow down a bit and toss a grub but even then I can't bring myself to work too slow. I do have some spots where I know fish stack so to find a pattern I will work it to see how the fish are reacting. Once I figure what is going to work I tend to focus on it and bounce to areas which match my tactics.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I will be moving a bit further north soon and plan on expanding my "bass on the brain" attitude to include some serious walleye fishing. And with Pomme to be my home lake in the near future I plan on working the muskie as well.

[Dutch]

Trav I used to only tie on spinnerbaits and cranks but I have some problems with my hands that won't allow me to fish that way any longer without surgery which I am putting off so I'll keep throwing the jig, worm and tube.

[Trav]

Trav I used to only tie on spinnerbaits and cranks but I have some problems with my hands that won't allow me to fish that way any longer without surgery which I am putting off so I'll keep throwing the jig, worm and tube.

Sorry to hear about this. I am glad you don't let your ailment stop you from wetting a hook. Which is the most important thing. Maybe I will see you out there one day!