Quick Trip Next Week

[Scott C]

Greetings from Iowa. Been awhile since I posted on here.

My wife, sister in-law and brother in-law are coming to TR for a quick trip without the kids next Wednesday the 27th to Saturday the 30th)for my wifes 32nd birthday. I am wanting to do some serious fishing while there but the wives won't let us bring the boat down and my wife is pregnant which means we will most likely end up renting a pontoon and cruising while I try to get some fishing in while I can. Planning on going out in the Shell Knob area as my grandparents used to live there and wanted to see the area again (I haven't been back since we moved my grandpa back up to Iowa a couple years after my grandma died in 1992). I have lots of great memories of fishing that area with my grandpa but couldn't tell you a darn thing about what to do.

I understand the lake changes all the time and this year appears to be off a little. I am just mainly looking to catch anything while there, wouldn't mind getting into some bass but am mainly more concerned about getting into enough fish to keep the wives entertained in between floating in the lake etc.

As you can see this is not the ideal trip for fishing but it's the best I can do until next year when I will bring my then 6 year old son down for a trip. My wife's theory is that I just spent 9 days fishing in northern Minnesota so that this trip should be about spending time with her (whatever you say dear!!!).

Once again I don't really care what we catch, just looking to catch something whether it be bass, crappies, gills, or whatever comes our way.

Thanks and looking forward to a fun trip and finally getting back to an area that was a huge part of my childhood.

[Bill Babler]

If you have not been to the Knob, since the 90's hold on. Not the same place at all. With the Spit-toon, I would probably fish the long runout points, deep dock cables and bridge piers with crawlers. Fish seem to be in the 26 to 40 ft. range. Probably catch a kitty or an eye mixed in with the gills, and a few bass. Good Luck

[Scott C]

Thanks Bill-

I am kind of preparing myself for what Shell Knob looks like now. Not even sure I want to go see my grandparents old house looks like now either, hate to ruin my view of the house. I have heard that it has changed tons, i'm assuming the old ice cream shop is gone as well as the restaurant that always had seafood buffets on weekends, can't remember their names but we went there a lot.

Appreciate the fishing advice. Will give those tips a shot. Going to be bringing down my own electronics so hopefully I can find the fish. Unfortunately everyone has decided we need a big 25 foot luxury pontoon even though there is only four of us, so keeping that thing positioned should be interesting.

Really looking forward to trying the electronics on TR (even though they are my cheaper portable ones). Spent a week three weeks ago chasing suspended walleye in 60-70 feet of water and catching bass off deep water humps in Minnesota that you wouldn't have found without electronics. Looking forward to see if I can find fish in a large reservoir.

[Scott C]

If you have not been to the Knob, since the 90's hold on. Not the same place at all. With the Spit-toon, I would probably fish the long runout points, deep dock cables and bridge piers with crawlers. Fish seem to be in the 26 to 40 ft. range. Probably catch a kitty or an eye mixed in with the gills, and a few bass. Good Luck

Bill-

Forgot to ask what would be best option for fishing crawlers. Mainly jig tipped with a crawler? Slip bobber? Drop Shot?

Because of how much I fish up north I do a lot of jig and slip bobber fishing for eyes but am open to try anything.

Thanks