10/3

[BolivarBasser]

Launched at Cedar Ridge and stayed in the area north of 245 bridge, water was 70º. Caught a couple small bass and one keeper eye on a jig/crawler on the bottom in 11 FOW. Was hoping for a few more bites, but it was the first time getting out in a few weeks so I can't complain.

I was heading to a new spot and glanced at my graph and noticed TONS of long arches around big masses on the screen (which I guessed to be some sort of fish going after schools of shad?) so I tied on a white fluke and tossed it around for a while with no luck. I was in 35-40 FOW and the arches where everywhere, from about 20' all the way to the bottom. I was wondering if anyone knows what those were and how to catch them...I'd never seen anything like that before.

[straw hat]

That happened to the wife and I once. It was in August about 3 years ago. When we saw the graph we got so exited. We drifted minnows through the school and after we caught our 15th drum (+/-) we moved on. I can't say for sure that is what happened to you but it is food for thought.

[Hunter91]

You know we were marking fish like that last week also while trolling and caught several drum also. Didn't think much of it then but that may be it.

[BolivarBasser]

Could be...I know it sure looked impressive on the screen.

[MstStudent10]

Not sure if they were Bass or Drum... maybe they were Guitar?

[BolivarBasser]

MSTstudent, I had never heard of a guitar fish until I just looked it up, and if I saw one of those on the end of my line, I would probably soil.

[MstStudent10]

Ha! I was just making a dumb joke with reference to a band. There really are guitar fish! That's funny.

[Stockton Lake Guide Service]

the most likely reason is that the thermocline is about that depth. the fish are suspended there feeding, as the water cools the thermocline will go shallow or go away. if you notice no fish are under about the 32-37 foot mark. not enough 02 to sustain fish. they will go deeper to feed then come back up.

if you have ever set a deep trotline and went back to check and all the fish were dead, then perfect example. the fish were held below the thermocline and died from lack of oxygen.

ok, i'm going back out on lake. crappie and walleye biting pretty decent, but going bass fishing (really watching someone else today because i got a cortisone shot in elbow)

good luck!!

ps. msstudent trying to be funny??? Thats good but come up with some good jayhawk jokes. we can all understand them better!!

[Gilly]

My sons hit the water yesterday, north end, launched @ Orleans. Two keeper walleye, three large mouth, bunches of shorts, all released. Today we all hit the water out of Ruark. Bunches of shorts, crappie, walleye, bluegill. A lot were sooooo close. Most importantly my grandson caught his first fish. A bluegill that wiggled the heck out of his pole!

"I caught one, I caught one!"

Reeled it in like a pro and darn near cast it right back out.

"Wait, wait, wait" grandma said, " we need a picture!"

Too funny and much fun had by all.

[SmallyWally]

Stayed at the lake from 9-24 to 10-3 @ Crabtree. Had some great weather and caught a lot of bass 3/4 lb. to a pound class. Caught 26 walleye a little more than 1/3 were keepers with big one @ 5.2 lbs. and 26 inches and first fish of the trip. A few smallmouth and those pesky bluegill with some token crappie. Did most of our damage throwing cranks around rocky areas.