Beaver Report 2-17-13

[Ron Burgundy]

Chris, u have to be really getting blown around today.....man it's bad.

[Feathers and Fins]

Dam Chris, you got it bad to go out on a day like this especially if your going to Rocky Branch. Good luck and be safe. I cant wait for next weekend looks like we have steady temps persay for the next 5 days so it shoudl really turn things on.

[wc1063]

Thanks for the report. It's good to see the fish are biting!!

[chris3179]

Chris, u have to be really getting blown around today.....man it's bad.

you are correct sir. it was not an easy day. on the positive though, the boat ran good and minimal issues with the trolling motor. hard to stay on path while trolling.

[chris3179]

Dam Chris, you got it bad to go out on a day like this especially if your going to Rocky Branch. Good luck and be safe. I cant wait for next weekend looks like we have steady temps persay for the next 5 days so it shoudl really turn things on.

I didn't have it bad till i heard that "15 walleye" thing. After that all logic and sane thinking went out the window. Ended up not having time to make it rocky branch. Had every intention, then wife happened. Went to the blue springs area and trolled (flickr shad, hot n tots & rogue's) the bluffs and points north of the 412 bridge. Not one single bite!! I have a sonar, but its a entry level one. we were seeing fish, just couldn't catch any. I think i am going to have to start trading old wiggle warts/money/ammo for some beaver lake/white river fishing sessions (not kidding around).

[Feathers and Fins]

Chris, In all honesty my sonar when im under 15ft is used for a dual purpose and never for marking fish.

The first thing I do is start out deep 30+ fow and side scan an entire area that could be as much as 5 miles long ( im pulling lures just in case of a striper ) but the primary reason is to mark on the map where stumps are or boulders basically any hump. Then I will review the marks over the contour map and see where they are concentrated. I am looking for a 2 to 4 foot range so I can cover the most of them as possible. Then i simply set the boat on that path with sonar on and waypoints markes. I dont care about seeing fish im trolling very specific things where fish should be.

One long points I will work up one side and take it out to 30fow and then turn back in and run the other side trying to maximize my chances. If I hit a walleye or other species im wanting i immidiately waypoint mark it and make another 4 passes if I catch another fish its waypointed agan. 2 fish in 4 passes stops the boat and out comes the Keitechs and i work the area very carefully between the two waypoints. That is the simple secret to how i catch so many fish is by marking them on the map then mythodically taking the area apart.

Ask WC he has seen me sit on a spot for hours picking it apart

[chris3179]

Chris, In all honesty my sonar when im under 15ft is used for a dual purpose and never for marking fish.

The first thing I do is start out deep 30+ fow and side scan an entire area that could be as much as 5 miles long ( im pulling lures just in case of a striper ) but the primary reason is to mark on the map where stumps are or boulders basically any hump. Then I will review the marks over the contour map and see where they are concentrated. I am looking for a 2 to 4 foot range so I can cover the most of them as possible. Then i simply set the boat on that path with sonar on and waypoints markes. I dont care about seeing fish im trolling very specific things where fish should be.

One long points I will work up one side and take it out to 30fow and then turn back in and run the other side trying to maximize my chances. If I hit a walleye or other species im wanting i immidiately waypoint mark it and make another 4 passes if I catch another fish its waypointed agan. 2 fish in 4 passes stops the boat and out comes the Keitechs and i work the area very carefully between the two waypoints. That is the simple secret to how i catch so many fish is by marking them on the map then mythodically taking the area apart.

Ask WC he has seen me sit on a spot for hours picking it apart

wow. thanks for the play by play. this add's a new avenue for my new sonar. i had all but gone away from the side scan idea and was going to go with the elite 7. guess i need to do a little more research and maybe go with the hds 5 (like you suggested last year to me.). so correct me if i am wrong. side scan is basically for seeing the terrain under water? then you use that to look for places fish like to hang out?

[Feathers and Fins]

That is the simple explanation. its helped me put more fish on the boat but takes time getting use to doing it but when you do it will put more on the line.

[chris3179]

That is the simple explanation. its helped me put more fish on the boat but takes time getting use to doing it but when you do it will put more on the line.

gotcha!

[Feathers and Fins]

Chris here is the really cool thing. Using google earth and my waypoints I have been able to mark out tons of spots that will never show on any lake map. For instance I have on little boulder its only 5sq ft of mass and 10inches tall but when the waters right and time is right I have pulled as many as 20 walleye off it, another is a stump only one in the area and its a big one, it almost always produces a catfish. Those simple little things mean a lot to fish and because of that mean a lot to me I have a google earth picture that looks like it has the worse case of chickenpox lol.

I use landmarks and then the measure tool from google to almost exactly plot those spots. A long way from old topo charts and guess a spot. Im working on an article right now for the way I troll but might take a some time, but ill post it when i get done.