Rodent Report 2-7-2012

[Feathers and Fins]

Had some time to get out this afternoon from about 1:30 to 7:30 ( would have been longer but the battery was dieing and sleet in the forecast )

Anyway. 12 Large Mouth bass, 2 small mouth, 12 striper, 2 walleye 1 keeper walleye even. ALL WERE ON THE A-RIG in Prairie Creek. I was joined about 4pm by two friends from work in one of their boats and the Totals went up. I beleive they had 6 stripers 1 bass and 1 walleye keeper and their battery wasnt low and they are still out there.

Top-water bite started at about 4 and was still going when i left the lake. What a day I had a lot of short strikes to go with the totals.

Anyway whats a good day without pictures.

I think there are still a few stripers in Prairie Creek.

This one got a mouth full of A-RIG

Used this rod for measurement the handle is 12'' real seat is 5'' and the front grip is 3.5'' I called this a nice bass any day.

And this shall be dinner for awhile.. Note the striper above the Walleye is 34 5/8 inches

[Stump bumper]

Looks like a GREAT day, hope it holds through the cold front.

[Feathers and Fins]

Top water might slow down but im betting they keep up the bite just in deeper water. They key in was smaller bait schools. Stay clear of the massive size scools and look for the tight balls.

[wc1063]

Wow!! Looks like I really need to take the boat out to Beaver and not sitting in a chair at Lake Atlanta waiting for the trout to bite!!

[Feathers and Fins]

Yupper,, you need to lol

[Quillback]

Congrats, that's a nice bunch of quality fish!

I wonder what it will be like fishing an A-rig when the upriver white bass run starts.

[Stump bumper]

Congrats, that's a nice bunch of quality fish!

I wonder what it will be like fishing an A-rig when the upriver white bass run starts.

I wonder if there is going to be much of a run. Infishermen had an article about a big decline in white bass populations all across Kansas and Ok and Mo and I haven't seen the big schools in Beaver this year. No one seems to know why. I have found schools of little 6in whites and scattered big whites but seems to be more 15in blacks than whites and never thought I would say that, those things used to get on my nerves now I miss them.

[Feathers and Fins]

Stump, ive been into some large schools of very large whites in PC and Montne / Horshoe Bend. They are very deep for this time of year and I think people are fishing way to shallow for them. Im betting we have a decent run this year. As to how the A-rig will work on them I have wondered that myself. I slaughter them on flies and small jigs, I wonder if the A-rig will actually be to much lure for them?

The one thing I keep seeing this year is the massive amounts of shad in the 1/2 to 1 1/2 inch size. I threw my net in Avoca yesterday just to see what I was marking size wise and pulled up well over 500 in one throw of the 3/4'' size ones. If we do not get a die off and there are no signs of it yet we might find catching them harder with the large food supply.

Not a bad problem because healthy bait populations means healthy game fish.. Lord I love fishing its always changing and diffrent.

[Quillback]

I was fishing in Jeb's boat with him a couple of weeks ago up by Rocky Branch, he caught 3 nice 2-3 lb. whites on the A-rig. I think it will work for them, but might have to run smaller baits on it, like grubs, jigs, or maybe Road Runners.

[Feathers and Fins]

Thats pretty neat, I was wondering if the big profile would scare them off, guess not. The walleye were a real treat. One of the ones caught actually came up to hit it on the surface so they will pusue it, it appears. Now if all holds well im going to be back in PC thsi weekend trying some other baits on the rig to see what happens.

Heck you guys should come out and join, we had our two boats feet apart last night and were having a blast working the same spot togeather and i never mind good company and laughs while having fun on the water. Besides its funny seeing 3 A-rigs hit the water at the same time feet apart.