The Big M 08/04/2014

[Quillback]

Started fishing about 0600 today and was off the water at 1130. At about 1125 saw a big house boat heading towards me and decided enough was enough, time to put her on the trailer.

Caught a sold keeper LM on a wobble head tipped with a Black/Blue Megabug early near a dock and hooked two others that got off half way to the boat. Headed on down to Emerald Beach to see if I could get in on some of the action that has been going on there, but didn't do any good, one short wallie on a drop shot and a couple of weak swirls at the BX waker was all I got at that spot.

Decided to run back up the lake, saw some top water activity off a gravel beach, stopped and threw the BX waker at them - again a couple of swirls but not takers. Out of desperation I picked up a light spinning rod that I had rigged with a Spy Bait and started throwing it. Surprise, surprise, the spots liked it. Caught a dozen 10-14" spots on it, had another dozen or so hooked. Maybe one keeper. Threw it a boiling fish, soon as it hit the water, flipped the bail over and brought it in at a steady pace. Lots of fun on the light tackle.

Once that bite ended things got tough again, picked up a couple more on the c-rig craw and the drop shot.

Should have fished the Big M courtesy dock, spooked 3 keepers from underneath the float near the bank as I was walking off the dock.

[Champ188]

Glad to hear that about the spy bait. Guess I'm gonna have to break mine out.

[Bill Babler]

Quill nice day. Guess I'm gona have to break down and buy one of those durn things. Anybody throw that buzz bait any since Fisherman's report?

[Quillback]

I have not thrown a buzz bait at all. I just have my doubts it would work on the White river spots - but I could be wrong.

[Bill Babler]

I think it might. I really noticed a lot of color up there last Friday. Just could not do it on a guide trip. Take 30 minutes and wing it around on some of your favorite junk and see what ya think. Might be happy.

[Quillback]

I might do that then - you're right about the color, the cove at the Big M launch was really stained, almost to the pea soup level.

[tse90]

Quill nice day. Guess I'm gona have to break down and buy one of those durn things. Anybody throw that buzz bait any since Fisherman's report?

I was up there Thursday and threw one for a little with no luck just followers. After throwing several other shad imitations with no luck and a few follows I had a chatterbait tied on an extra rod so figured might as well. Three casts later I found out that's what they wanted. Had 14 fish from 8-noon. Biggest was about 4 with only three shorts. All fish came from about 2-4 feet of water also and they were just crushing the chatterbait. The other thing though was the weather was set up pretty good for them to stay shallow most of the day so I'm gonna say that's why they were up there then.

[Quillback]

I've been thinking chatter bait, now you've got me motivated.

[tse90]

I was surprised at how well it worked out. I figured the water was too clear but the fish loved it. I tried the 3/8 and 1/2 oz both in white with a few strands of smoke on the bottom and the 3/8 seemed to produce more bites. There's just something about the vibration I've noticed that gets it bit more than a 1/2 oz on most places I've fished it.

[Quillback]

Do you use a trailer?