Bull Shoals - 4/17 Report

[Fishin Hodge]

Been on the water a lot, mainly turkey hunting until yesterday. The bite is hot right now. You can catch fish on a bunch of different baits and places, in fact you can get a bite just about anywhere. A shakey head worm was my go to bait and the number of 2 to 3 pound fish you can catch is about as good as it gets. Pea gravel was the best for me. Starting down the lake from Diamond City the water was begining to clear the further I got towards Peel. The clearer water towards Peel was a little better for me for numbers, but two of my better bites came in the Lead Hill area with a little more water color. Water temp started around 62 yesterday with the cool night and ended around 68. I had posted I was catching post-spawn fish last week on the bluffs a little. That has dried up and a new wave has pulled up to the bank. Fish were prespawn primarily and I believe some of them were around their beds. One was oozing some eggs. Get on the water.

The Elites were running the area heavily and I expect to see a lot of the top finishers fishing from Diamond City to Big Creek. Guessing the 50 cut at 25 pounds, top 12 to 41, and winning weight of somewhere around 65 pounds. The fish are biting and I may be selling the winning weight short, but I don't think so.

Now for the turkey hunting. All in all it is tough. Heard very few and talked to a lot of people fishing, some of the Elites too, and noone was hearing many gobble. They are winding down. That being said if you can find one, and I am telling you it isn't easy, if you can find one gobbling you can kill him. Me and my buddy got on some birds the first day and ended up doubling. Here I am holding both of our birds. His bird had a 12 inch beard. Mine was right at 9. Wish I was there right now.

[Fishin Hodge]

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[lockjaw]

Beautiful, congratulations on a great day,

[Bill Jr.]

Glad you got a couple nice birds. Hunters around us were having a hard time over the weekend. totally agree with the new wave of spawners and looking forward to the weights this weekend. I think you are on the light side but will like to see the results. can't wait to get down there again. thanks for the reports