April 17-May 1 Trip

[dtrs5kprs]

Won't go too much into details from before the water, except to say I caught quite a few using Ned Kehde's "Midwest Finesse" rigs and techniques. Sort of "super" finesses...2"-3" worms or pieces of larger worms on tiny heads fished in skinny water. Will get something more up about that later. It flat works, it is easy, and it works on keepers as well as numbers.

Got the chance to meet one OAF member while there. Doug, aka Motoman, was staying at Schooner when I arrived and we were able to swap a few stories. Sounded like he also caught some on the tiny stuff. I was not able to get any serious topwater bite going at all. Could not have caught one on a fin if you'd hooked it on for me. Know some folks were, I just couldn't make it go.

After the deluge best things I had going were 1/4oz shakeys and 3/4oz football jigs either on the old bankline in 18'-22' or so, or flipping with the same baits in a little closer, around 12'. Day they called the BASS I had a 6# and 4# black, and a brownie about 17" flipping that jig, but not many more bites than those. Had one 5&1/2# on Friday dragging the same jig on the outside stuff. Seemed like they were more outside with the water running or were slow to go in, at least in Schooner. Fish were a mix as far as the spawn, some done, some with eggs (but way out deep), some still up under things actively spawning (will be high and dry by now).

Couple of pics below. Will add some in on the finesse post. Do have some pics of the worms that were all over the place. Sort of explains the effectiveness of the little green worms of all varieties.

[motoman]

Dave,

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Glad you made it back safe and sound. It was great chatting with you, too bad I didn't have a bit more time. :-( I meant to grab a cell # from you, but was in a bit of a hurry when we caught up with each other; and it slipped me. :-( I was wanting to find out how things were going while you were down there, especially with the high water. Those pix are impressive. Sorry to hear about your water issues in the hatches, that stinks!

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I've been working a bunch of overtime lately, so I'm slow getting online/back to e-mails. But, you're exactly right, we did best when we were down throwing the smaller stuff. That little finesse rig is a blast. It definitely takes some patience, especially in the wind.

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We were down a few weekends ago when we had 70 degree temps Thur/Fri, then 30 degree temps, snow flurries and 35+ mph winds saturday morning. (This will be a bit of a history lesson as it's so outdated, but still may be helpful for future reference.) We were throwing the usual finesse stuff down at The Rock, and were getting bit well enough, holding the boat in about 25-30 foot of water, and paralleling the shoreline. (Water level was normal then) My partner was able to throw finesse stuff on 1/4 ounce jigheads with decent results Thur/Fri, but I was catching them a bit better on 1/8 ounce and lighter jigheads on Thur/Fri. The game changer really seemed to be on Saturday, when the nasty weather pushed in. The fish really seemed to lock up and not touch my buddies presentation, but throwing those smaller/lighter finesse setups made difference for me. I actually lightened my weight to 1/16 ounce and started doing better with a Zoom Finesse worm, where I bit off just behind the eggsack. I was getting good hooksets in, and not missing a fish. (rare for me) A few of the fish were gut-hooked, but my D-barb came in handy letting the fish loose in good shape. My buddy throwing the heavier jighead and full sized finesse worm had some trouble feeling/hooking fish. I can't help but wonder if the lighter/smaller presentation was needed, so the fish wouldn't feel any weight; and small enough to be bite sized for those lock-jawed fish? But again, with the wind we had, it was VERY tough to fish this way. GGgggrrr.....:-P

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Those pix of those big nightcrawlers you posted really does explain why the ole 'turd' worms work. (as referred to by some )

[dtrs5kprs]

This is the ultra-finesse deal we referenced, as being taught by Ned Kehde and others:

Still trying to put things together for a coherent post on it. Tried some 1/32oz heads with it, which is what the KS folks seem to prefer, but had to go up to the 1/16oz to make it work due to wind.

Not monster fish, but it worked all day every day, including under bright afternoon sun in clear shallow water. Best 5 on it for me in a single day would have been about 11 or 12 pounds, but think it could be a real answer for picking up that last fish or two during a given day. And I have had lots of days on Table Rock where I'd have been all smiles over 10 pounds. Picked up quite a few keepers on it that were decent enough you would not have had to mess with the board for them...18" blacks, 17" brownies and the like. Mostly solid males from what I could tell by looking.