122314 Report

[J-Doc]

That's my report. Plain and simple.

Met up with kjackson at Prairie Creek marina at 9am.

Went to a spot where the striper bite was strong and bait was supposed to have been plentiful. But that ship had sailed. Almost no bait whatsoever and hardly a mark on the graph. A lot of boat traffic churning the area as well. So we abandoned the primary mission for massive stripers and went elsewhere. Found some around 50ft deep and snacking on shad. When I saw that, I didn't even drop a spoon. Without live bait, it wasn't worth it. That proved to be true elsewhere also when we found stripers.

Trolled one of my favorite spots and found lots of fish marks on the graph. Fish were deep hugging bottom and our baits wouldn't get a bite. Switched to deeper diving baits and ticking bottom, still not bites. Tried jigging spoons and still nothing. Went to a waypoint where I marked the best numbers of fish and jigged spoons for at least half hour. Finally a fish in the boat. Well by fish, it had gills. It was a 6"-8" spotted bass. Got him on a $35 Diawa graphite rod. No expensive gear needed for me to feel a bite. That little rod works very well for spoons.

Tried our hand at bass fishing. No bites, hardly any fish on the graph. Gave that up and went to another favorite area. Almost immediately found fish. Big arches, deep too. Based on size, I felt it was stripers. Dropped spoons on them for 45mins or more. Not a bite. Tried trolling the area, no bite. Finally ran towards shoreline and the graph started lighting up like fire flies. Massive school of hybrids. SURELY we can get both rods loaded up. Sadly, only one rod loaded up (mine). A nice hybrid was scooped into the boat. Turned around and trolled area again and the fish had moved. I've noticed whites & hybrids are always on the move. Never in the same place sitting still. Constant movement. Dropped some spoons on them and finally, another hybrid. Me again. Poor kjackson still no fish. I felt really bad for him. Super guy, deserved a good day catching fish that I know are there.

I think he was doubting mine and F&F's descriptions of locations. But he saw the graph today. No doubt that fish are in the areas we visited. How to get them to bite in cold front conditions with bait being plentiful is another story.

If anyone has a sure fire method on how to get cold front fish to bite when they are very much target locked on a very specific bait type, let me know. I'm all ears.

At the end of the day, I got to spend a day with a great guy, had fun, somewhat managed to stay warm, and the new boat fished wonderfully.

[wc1063]

Doc, don't worry, time will come when you get a big one!! Do practice on the cast net throwing though!!

[Lance34]

Yep, that sums up my day too. Manage 5 but it was a slow process. Beats working though and glad to get out.

[kjackson]

That was a great day even if I was "Biced" by the guy on the front deck. The best part was meeting and fishing with Jason in person, and the second best was seeing more of the lake. I've been locked into the dam end and upper Table Rock, so the change in scenery was invigorating as was the breeze running at 50 mph. That Ranger is a sweet setup, and the way Jason has the electronics working is great, even if the driver occasionally runs into buoys while watching the game show on his Lowrance.

Thanks, Jason!

[J-Doc]

"Biced".....HA!!! That's a good one. :-)

There is so much more lake to see. So many other great locations. If you're around and available, we will make a river run for the whites.

Yeah, that buoy jumped in front of me at the bridge. Lol!!

[fishinwrench]

That Ranger is a sweet setup, and the way Jason has the electronics working is great, even if the driver occasionally runs into buoys while watching the game show on his Lowrance.

Captured for posterity.

[J-Doc]

We were idling under a no wake zone bridge. Smartly pants.....

[Feathers and Fins]

yes I see this thread I'll take care of it when I get back where I've got decent reception. Currently I'm in snow goose and specklebelly goose heavenit's so warm down here I can pick up a bundle of bananas guess who's both are going in