Catchin's Good

[Phil Lilley]

The guys report catching some real nice rainbows this morning but the bite was real slow after about 11 am.

They were drifting white woolies and small silver cranks baits on the bottom. Darin got out and fished white jigs against the banks and did well too.

Down below the did well on Gulp pink eggs but have to use a bunch of weight to get it on the bottom.

They've been finding some big spoonbill floating on the upper end of the lake. They're coming over the flood gates.

[Phil Lilley]

More pics from this morning

[vonreed]

The fishing looks pretty varied up there. The only thing missing is a walleye.

[mwfischer]

Also got out this afternoon w/ a boat from Lilley's. We ran up from Fall Creek to the dam a few times, the bite was slow, but I think we weren't able to keep the 1/8 oz jigs on the bottom enough (White) I did get one very nice Rainbow about mid way around 3pm. Thanks to the folks at Lilley's, everyone was great. First boat rental this weekend, very fun. Glad the dock was back in business.

[Phil Lilley]

I took a crew up to the dam in a pontoon for a few drifts between 2-4 pm. Worse time to be out- high sun.

Babler fished all day- said it was good early but got real slow in the afternoon. They were dragging small crank baits mainly he said.

We drifted white 1/8th oz jigs and white shad flies. The guys caught I think 5 rainbows, all decent trout.

I noticed they were working them way too much. I told them to let them go to the bottom and let them drift. You about got to TRY to get snagged on the bottom to get bit.

[mwfischer]

Yep we were out there in one of your bass boats running with Bill and a few others. It was definitely slow. I actually was trying just some basic split shot a few inches up the line and that was what produced the one 18" bow. Still a fun day.

[Phil Lilley]

I need to write a little piece on getting a jig or anything with weight to the bottom in this much water.

I noticed yesterday- and other times- that if you throw off the back or upstream of the boat you just don't get down unless you have an ungodly amount of weight on--often time too much and you get snagged real quick.

If you throw off the side, by the time your weight starts tinking the bottom good, it's up towards the dam direction and you lose touch with the bottom.

I throw downstream at about a 45 degree angle. The weight gets to the bottom at about a 90 degree angle and it keeps contact with the bottom longer. I also slow the boat down in the current with the trolling motor to keep the weight on the bottom longer.

If you're not on the bottom, you won't get bit.

Talked to Tony today- said they did real good this morning on an egg fly/scud combo up at the dam. Lots of big rainbows.

[Louisiana Flyman]

ok i have never seen a spoonbill fish. what do you use to catch those. odd fish. can you eat them? lol i am from louisiana we eat anything.

[Seth]

They are plankton feeders so you have to snag them to catch them. There's a season that runs from March 15 - April 30 every spring just for this purpose. People either hate or love to eat paddlefish. The flesh is more like chicken than a fish in my opinion. Grill it, fry it, boil it in cajun, or whatever else you can think of.

[Jack Jones]

I read about "snagging" or "gigging" spoonbill in one of the other forums. What exactly is that Seth? Is that the only way to catch them?