Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

We put in at Moonshine this morning at 5:30 am and went out just in front of the buoys that stretch across the lake blocking off the new spillway. Dropped 1/2 oz jerk spoons down 25-35 feet and went to work. Unfortunately the whites didn't go to work till 6:30 but for about 45 minutes it was fun. We caught 8 whites up to 3 pounds, broke off 2 whites, one spot and missed a bunch.

These whites have been doing this for 3 weeks now. The guides have been finding them with their fish finders in that area and out off the round point south of that cove in the main lake. Seems like they prefer deeper water- 40-70 feet but suspended. Tim Paige was out there- said his screen went black from 25 to 35 feet several times. We found a few shad and a couple of crawdads in a couple of the whites stomachs but most were empty.

No telling how long they'll be there.

Coleton & Tom

[Dutch]

Glad to hear they are still there. I heard about it a couple of weeks ago but thought it might be a water haul since whites move around so much.

[Bill Babler]

Fished Shell Knob today, and didn't go to the party on the proch,with Phil and Tim Paige. Tim reported he and his group corraled 17 whites and then caught a dozen Ky's suspended in the dam area in the 25 ft. mark over deeper water.

Most of the white were taken at 35 ft. over like Phil said about 80 ft. You really need a good graph to do well on this type of fishing.

I expected somewhat of an early topwater bite at the knob, but got nothing on the surface. WE were on the water by 5:45 and there was absolutely nothing coming up.

SKMO, reported that he has not had any topwater action, in over a week. Most of his fish are coming on the football in the 35 ft. range, with not many per spot and lots of moves. He mentioned if shad were not present it was really a crap shoot. Look for the bait.

With the overcast, most of the fish, we found were in the 24 to 30ft. range, and on the bottom. Had 3 really nice 17 inch Ky's on a football jig and another dozen on a drop shot. Total of 8 pretty quality keepers and really the shorts were nice fish in the 14inch range and extremely healthy. All are still swimming in the briney deep after getting a peek at the boat and the two ugly guys standing in it.

The sun got up and boats with skiers got bad so we were in by 10:30. Not a great day, but I'll take it for the 4th of July on Table Rock.

[Phil Lilley]

You really need a good graph to do well on this type of fishing.

I don't think so.... I don't have a df at all. It was nice having all the high priced hardware around us though. It's funny watching these guys staring at their little screens, shaking their heads saying, " they're there, why don't they bite?!?"

[Bill Babler]

Think about this a little bit. You had already been out there and we had extablished the depth of the fish for you. You were fishing suspended fish over a great depth, if you had no prior knowledge of the depth you would not have been so successful.

You would not have known to fish in front of the bouys or out in the deeper water without us finding the fish on the locator.

I sent one of my clients out there without a depth finder, and he caught nothing until he heard some of the guides say they were at 35 ft. suspended. He then guessed the depth with the judgement of the length of the rod and he started catching fish. Again he had help from someone else.

Tim watched you closely yesterday, and he thought you were fishing abit shallow at times. If you could have seen your spoon or the fish, you would have been right on them. Sure your going to catch some fish, but I think the eye in the water may be a pretty good help.

I think since I bought it, I'll go ahead and use it on the suspended fish.

[Fishin' Freak]

Any new reports on the whites?? I am thinking of making the 40 minute run up the lake early Sat. a.m. and was wondering if they are still learking around the area. Thanks

[Phil Lilley]

They've been there for 4 weeks now... it's hard to say how long they'll stay. But I'd go for it- but remember, the bite is only about 45 - 90 minutes long. Get there at 5:30 and expect to stay will 8 am.

[Bill Babler]

Phil, got a report from Tim Paige, that today was the best day thus far.

Also spoke to Casy at Big Cedar and he said Mike Webb, and Paige both came in with huge limits of 3 to 4 pounders. Paige said he had triples on several times.

It lasted about 50 minutes, but boy what a run. Went from 6:20 to about 7:10. No one was catching them early, and all of a sudden they turned on and everybody was filling the boats.

Ended as fast as it stated. Tim hung around for 45 minutes after the 7:10 mark, and never had another bite, although they could see fish on the graph. 35 to 45 ft. suspended over 90 ft.

These fish are extremely fickle. When they go they go and when its over, look elsewhere.

Tim said the graph was just blacked out with fish. Don't know how much longer, but for now it's business as usual.