11/20/12 Lake Report

[Greg W]

I just wanted to say hello to the great guys on this forum. I have been Fins and Feathers, Stumper Bumper, Jeb and the rest of you guys blogs for the past 2 years. You guys have really helped me learn about beaver lake. I have been an avid fisherman for several years now but really struggle on this lake. I enjoy taking my grandson and granddaughter out on the lake to fish for white bass and striper. I would really like to see them get into a mess of fish and get hooked for ever.

Anyway, today was not a good day for catching. I did get to see the geese fly over PC this morning. Some bait was between the bouy in PC but not much bait back in the coves. I cant seem to find the bait like last year and I do not understand.

Why do you guys think that the bait has not bunched up like last year? Has it not gotten cold enough or is it because the lake is so low? Any suggestions?

[jeb]

Search around the mouth of the PC Cove, also called Sunset Cove. If you have side imaging, you'll see them. Big time. Everytime I've been on Beaver the last couple of weeks, it's been choked with shad. Not as much in front of the Avoca cove this year, for whatever reason. Hard to catch black bass near those bait concentrations, though. The fish just have too much real stuff to look at. Not sure on the whites as I don't normally fish for those on purpose.

[Stump bumper]

Try the points in PC right at dark and you will find the whites. They holding deep until dark for some reason, with bluebird skies seems the shad are holding on the bottom but early morning and dark they will black out your screen then the whites will feed. I have not hung around much after dark but have a feeling they feed all night.

Hooked a good fish between the islands last Sunday, pretty sure it was a large stripper but threw the spoon before I could wear him out.

They are there and will hit cranks and live bait it is just a matter of timing and seems that bright sun warming the water is not what they are looking for, strange late fall pattern. My rate of catching whites is only 4 or 5 a point but they are around not grouped very tight though.

The shad are happy anywhere in the lake with water temps in the 50s, but will run to the back of coves when the deep water gets to 45 or below since they die off around 41 and will need that sunlight on shallow rocks to survive. I did notice a mayfly hatch at dark and believe that is what draws them up at sunset. But I am not going to wish for cold weather, the sun and warm weather and watching ducks and deer with no gloves on is just as good as catching fish.

If you do find a large school, please share your pattern....