Spillway Action

[Billyneck]

Anybody hitting the spillway for fins? I have been checking thru out the winter with stringers of cats, a few crappie, all on jigs. There are always a few LM to pick -up but, since the snow-rain runoff in last couple weeks, has anybody done any good? You might see me in a old tan float tube floating around,throwing jigs. My convo's with fellows report walleye, a few whites and some smallies. I love to hear that, but can anybody else verify their catches of sorts. The quality of fish has definitely improved over the last 10 years down in there for sure, or I'm getting better at catching fish. I will say that I have caught more 2-3# channels lately than I ever have on artificial's. The spillway is to quell the urges of heading south to BS-Beaver-Swan before the water is ready,(and save gas money) and the spillway constantly produces. Today, one short-nose gar, 2- 11" crappie, 2-3# channels. Thought it was slow, and water is staying cooler than I expected. This must have something to do with water discharge on the top in the slough?

[Seth]

Have you seen any paddlefish rolling around there this winter? Just curious if any ran up there last year and got trapped until now.

[Billyneck]

Have you seen any paddlefish rolling around there this winter? Just curious if any ran up there last year and got trapped until now.

I seen some big rolls on the surface, but think they are big cats. The water has been high enough throughout last spring/summer for the spoons to return to TB. If they can't get past the low-water bridges just down river they will stay, but will go crazy in the shallows making lots of surface breaks, I have not seen those breaks. They will be in there in the next 3 weeks slowly but surely, because of the water levels so far. Need rain to load the Spillway hole with fresh fish. Good luck.

[Seth]

Thanks for the report. I do appreciate it it.