White Bass

[Bill Babler]

Seem's the White's were asleep at the slot this morning. Spoke to Paige and Beck and had comments from Buster. Paige only had 3, Buster 4. It may be coming to an end after 5 weeks of getting the early morning nip at the moonshine beach. It was a good run and we will let you know if it continues.

Don't depend on it further.

Both caught Ky's as we told you in our Shell Knob report, so it is probably time to follow those fishing location, and forget about the whites.

At least we can get a little sleep and not have to get there by 5 am.

[Fishin' Freak]

Not what I was wanting to hear. We hit them last Sunday for the first time and two of us caught 5. We had a little trouble getting to the exact depth the fish were wanting but when we figured it out we finally caught some fish. I was planning on hitting the lake Sat. and Sun. in pursuit of them but I may have to just focus on the spots and smallies.

[Phil Lilley]

Not sure... Bill said there were a bunch of boats in the cove this am including several guides so not sure if it's over. Two of the guides are using live shad and minnows. Two mornings ago the guides said they weren't there at all.

Now that they are running water, you'd be surprised how that moves fish on TR. There's actually a current created by generation and fish on TR will react to it. This area is close enough to the dam these whites may move altogether because of the current. I've heard of bass moving from one side of a point to another because of current created by generation. Makes sense.

[Bill Babler]

Spoke to most of the guides that were up there this AM. Tony Wedele caught zero on live shad, Dave Welch caught 3 on live shad, Buster and Tim P. spooned with very slow results.

I asked Buster if he thought the Generation moved the fish and he said he thought there was just to much prussure on them. Some days up to 16 to 20 boats with 3 persons per boat dropping spoons.

In the next week, I'm sure if conditions remain the same the slot will become empty, it was a good 5 week run, for the pay for play boys. All good things have to end.

[Fishin' Freak]

Any reports on the white from Friday a.m. I heard there were 9 boats at the slot. Just wondering if it is worth a 9 mile boat ride up there in the morning. Thanks

[Bill Babler]

About like it has been. If you can catch a couple you are probably doing as well as the next guy. You have about a 20 minute bite and then its over. The bite I heard was from 6 to about 6:20 this AM. Heard Mike Webb got there abit late and didn't do any good.

I would probably not run 9 Miles to risk it now.

Most all the guides are saying the numbers just arn't there any longer as what they are seening is not schools, but singles.

[Fishin' Freak]

Thanks for the info Bill. I think I will stick around the Joe Bald to Campbell area tomorrow and give the spots a shot. Are they still holding around the gravel points on trees? What about bluff ends?? We will be doing a lot of drop shotting. From what you said earlier in the week the fish have been as shallow as 18 feet early down to 35--so we will give that a shot.

[Bill Babler]

Freak, A really good area, is from goat island about 1 mile above point 16 all the way up to Baxter on the flats across from Baxter Marina. The fish were going up there early on topwater.

You would see them break, and it was usually 2 or 3 Ky's. If you would hustle over there to the last place you saw them and throw topwater, you had a good chance to capture them.

To tell you the truth, I was just fishing the flats in that area in that 18 to 26 foot range, and when the fish would blow up I'd hustle to them. Did this till my guys got tired of getting up and down, and then went just to the dropshot.

I was up there for the whites that will from time to time blow up in that area. Lots of fish and lots of bait on those flats.

You have to move around and I cannot tell you this strongly enough. Catch a fish or two and move or you will waste your whole morning. Even if you see a ton of fish, after the first couple they will get lockjaw and you will try everything you have for nought.

By move around, I mean a move of only a couple 100 yrds. sometimes does the trick, or you may need a major move.

Have not fished the Bluff Ends, but if I did, I feel they would be suspended in the 26 ft. range over a greater depth on the outside edges.

I have only been fishing long points and channel roll/offs on flat gravel. Good Luck, let us know.

[Fishin' Freak]

Thanks Bill--I will for sure have my Wiggle Diggle on early in the morning!!!! As for the flats across from Baxter--are you talking about the ones on the complete other side of the lake back towards point 16?? If it is the flats I am thinking of you can see Baxter but they are about a mile back towards point 16 and on the west side of the lake. Are these the same flats you are talking about?

[Bill Babler]

The flats run on the oppsite side of the lake from Pt. 16 to Baxter. You can see the Marina from your fish catching spot. The entire flat is about 2 miles long, with underwater points and humps all along its length clear to the bouy point past baxter going up the white. good luck