Beaver Report - 04/28/13

[J-Doc]

• Launched at Prairie Creek
• Water temp varied around 64 degrees
• Water clarity was stained and visibility was limited between 1-2ft
• Wind varied between 5-12mph?
• Boat traffic was CRAZY considering the water is still in the 60’s. Yuppies on wake boards are already out and fishing traffic is increasing.

So yesterday was my birthday. I don't celebrate getting older. Getting older just sucks after 25 . I planned on staying home due to rising water, post frontal conditions, moon phase, etc. Then my son who does not enjoy fishing and never wants to go any more (got burned out early I think) surprised me and asked me to take him out! I was shocked! I think his younger sister of 3yrs wanting me to take her out has his interest up. LOL!

We started at the mouth of a main lake cove and started fishing between docks on laydowns and any cover we could find. I expected a tough bite and I was right but it turned out better than I had planned. I brought crappie gear and live crappie minnows hoping that would coax a bite out of something. IT DID! My son got his first largemouth about 3lbs on a live minnow on the first cast! After that, he was as hooked as the fish. He told me last night, “there’s something addictive about that feeling you get when a fish is on the line. It’s so peaceful out there on the lake too”. Yep! He’s got the bug now and Dad couldn’t be happier!

We fished our way to the back bouncing between docks and cover. Then we went into a pocket and found scads of fish “selectively” feeding when they felt like it. Several top water bites chasing shad. Why I didn’t throw a topwater bait is beyond me. Probably could have loaded up but I was sticking with the live minnows and a secret artificial bait (that will remain secret) that’s perfect for a youngster. It’s a fish catcher when fish are finicky and don’t want but whatever it is they are feeding on. I’ve had luck with it in the past and so did my son. We caught 8 total but lost a few at the boat (one of which was my fault). We had 2 good 3-4lb keeper largemouth, a really nice 14” crappie on a free-lined minnow with a split shot on the line, and a random white bass.

Funny story….

I was trying to teach my son how to set the hook. Those crappie hooks need a good solid hookset in a tough LM bass mouth because they are so small of a hook. I had just rebaited my hook and cast out. I said, “watch, this is how you set the hook”. When I did, a 3lb LM was on the line and I never even knew he was there. The rod loaded and the fight was on with a 12ft crappie pole! He said, “Show off!” Made me wonder how many fish we missed just because we didn’t feel the bite.

We ended up keeping our catch (as I typically catch and release) but I owed some fresh fish to a friend of mine. I attached a photo below. I couldn’t get my son to hold the fish so I’m taking baby steps. Step 1, get him fishing. Step two, get him to bait his hook, step 3, get him to land is on fish! Hahaha!

Overall, I had the ABSOLUTE BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT of all. My son wanted to go fishing and he didn’t want to leave. “One more fish Dad!! One more fish!”

Best

Day

Ever!

[skeet88bt]

That's awesome! Good day on Beaver! Especially getting to spend the day with your son making some good memories on your birthday. Thanks for the report.

[Quillback]

Excellent, glad to see you got into them with your son!

[Feathers and Fins]

no better gift than that from the kids... Nice fish as well.

[J-Doc]

Yeah that crappie I got was great! I found a big wad of them but the picky suckers wouldn't bite. One I got one, I wanted a least 5 or 6 to make a meal off of them.

No joke, there were at least a thousand fish in the last area we fished. They were lighting up my Lowrance like a Christmas tree.

[Feathers and Fins]

Its a weird year bro kinda like the bass I threw you on at PC, making heads or tails of a pattern that is holding this year is hard. But one thing im noticing is its there but just moving in FOW this year more than most. I haven't put up the Flickers yet and that is strange by now im trolling keitechs in 4 to 6fow and then picking the area apart for walleye but this year they are staying deep. Stripers have been all over not super concentrated. Don't get me going on crappie I think WC is still hogging all the keepers.

[J-Doc]

I bought my first Flicker just the other day. Didn't pull it out yet. Might do that next trip.

I'll just have to play with the phone or something to keep my ADHD in check while waiting on a fish to bite as I'm trolling. LOL!

[wc1063]

Glad to see you and your son had a great time fishing together, hopefully one day I can get my two girls to go out fishing with me.

I caught a few crappie at BS trolling flicker shad, the colors they like the most seem to be blue tiger and white/silver.

Oh, and Scott, what's a man to do when you are hogging everything(eyes, stripers, whites, even carp) but crappie!! LOL!!

[J-Doc]

Oh, and Scott, what's a man to do when you are hogging everything(eyes, stripers, whites, even carp) but crappie!! LOL!!

Ok Scott.............he's gotcha there Mr. 300!!

[Feathers and Fins]

Hey even an old dog gets lucky on occasion and I got lucky that day, its not like I hammer them every time out.