The Big M 4/01/2014

[Quillback]

Launched right before 7 AM and fished until 3 PM. Fish were really tough early, but later in the morning and in to early afternoon the bite picked up. Rocky banks and points with a breeze on them were best. Caught 18 bass, mostly spots, a few LM's and a couple of smallies. Caught 7 or 8 keepers all in the 15 -17 inch range. For some reason I can't get a big bite. I'm no big fish specialist, but even so, usually this time of year I'll pick up a big fish every now and then, but it's not happening. I can't even tell stories of the big one that got away.

Tubes are still working, picked up a few on the Spro McStick, and several on the Wart. Wart fish were all 12' or so bank running males.

Lots of wrapped boats flying around the White today. They are really working over the rocky points.

Spotted bass bite has picked up, and they are moving in relatively shallow on the rocky banks.

Water temps 49 - 51.

[Champ188]

Sounds like a fun day, QB. Plenty of action to keep it interesting. Big girls will show up before long.

[Sore Thumbs]

I love looking at the pictures. Let's me know what im missing while im at work. Jealous is all. Nice job.

[jmes]

good job Thanks for the report

[fishingaddiction]

Good catching, nice to see some brown fish and spots in the mix. Watch out for the wrapped boats they will be catching and hauling your white river fish down to Branson!

[Quillback]

Good catching, nice to see some brown fish and spots in the mix. Watch out for the wrapped boats they will be catching and hauling your white river fish down to Branson!

That's the downside to these tournaments - lots of fish get relocated.

[merc1997 Bo]

i ventured out for a little night fishing in the eagle rock area last night. caught somewhere around a dozen bass, but no keepers among them. even the little ones where out about 12 feet deep. caught all on them on a 3/16 NuJig tied with hair and used an 800 spring lizard pup for a trailer. the big one must still be out fairly deep, but they will figure out the water is warming fairly soon.

bo

[Mitch f]

the big one must still be out fairly deep, but they will figure out the water is warming fairly soon.

bo

I seriously don't mean to be a smart Alec, but I've heard that about the pre spawning females my whole life, and if it's just a matter of depth why don't you just put on a 1/2 oz jig and fish deeper? I guess I'm not convinced that depth is the only reason no one is catching big pre spawn females. I just gotta believe there's more to it than that.

[dtrs5kprs]

Kind of have the idea some of those girls, maybe not the 3#-5# fish but the bigger ones, get shallower a lot sooner than most of us give them credit for.

[merc1997 Bo]

I seriously don't mean to be a smart Alec, but I've heard that about the pre spawning females my whole life, and if it's just a matter of depth why don't you just put on a 1/2 oz jig and fish deeper? I guess I'm not convinced that depth is the only reason no one is catching big pre spawn females. I just gotta believe there's more to it than that.

most of the time, they are not only a bit deeper, but also suspended further out. this is where the umbrella throwers are catching some of these bigger females. the problem we have on the upper end is no trees out in deeper water. they are getting fewer all the time on the lower end. with that said, here on the upper end, just where do you throw your lure when they are suspended out in the channel with no trees or other cover for them to suspend by????? guess we could buy a case of beer and go trolling. jokes aside, trolling would be a great choice to pursue to catch these suspended big bass. you can certainly cover more water trolling.

one other thing is that on the upper end of table rock, big bass and numbers of bass keep dwindling every year. why?? because, and especially above the eagle rock bridge, there is too much cold water coming down out of beaver to keep trout alive to ever have very successful spawns. i have watched the water temps go from low 60's to 50 degrees in less than a days time, and with even volume to cool the creeks off more than halfway back in them. what do you suppose that would do to eggs that had just been laid?? pretty much why the fish population on the upper end keeps getting less and less every year. from big m down there is getting to be a few more bass now. but still nothing like it was before the fish kill.

bo