Kings River 61 degree and could really not get bit

[merc1997 Bo]

bill

i have a friend that has been catching them on up in ark. in the kings already. perhaps you were not far enough up.

bo

[SRV1990]

I think I can clear up this mystery. My annual trip to the rock is this weekend so it was inevitable that there would be huge storms followed by a major cold front. I'm just surprised that the fishing wasn't awesome up until the day before I got there. I'll be gone after Sunday so the fishing should get back to normal starting on Monday.

This happens to be every single year... I mean, it can't possibly be me, right??

[Bill Babler]

I did not get that far. I fished the flat below the 86 bridge. It was 61 degree and full of both gizzard and threadfin shad. I have caught hundreds there, both pre and post spawn. It is a natural holding area.

While I was up there 1/2 dozen boats trolled by that had come from as one said Way Up in Arkansas. None of the folks I talked to had a single white. Talked to two couples that had been clear up to the Chicken Coop and had not caught a White or even seen any on the shoals up there, where they spawn. Locals that catch them every year.

They may have turned on a bit right before dark, but the storm ran me out. White bass are like Morrell Mushrooms, some times you find them and someone right next to you may find some but not everyone will.

Had a guy tell me two days ago he was catching them at the mouth of the kings trolling flicker shad on the twin rivers flat, so I'm guessing those fish and every other white is not above the Romp Hole yet. It would get pretty crowded if they were.

I'm guessing there is a mad push up there now with the influx of this warm rain and the river going out of its banks, I'm thinking they will make a run on the river for the next couple of days.

[Bill Babler]

Another Tid Bit on the whites. About 20 years ago I was guiding for them the first week of April on Bull Shoals. We were at primetime on a Wednesday, I remember this as everything was perfect. Quite a few clouds and warm water coming down Swan Creek. This is back in the day they parked on both sides of 76 and the lots were full to overflow.

People lined the banks from 1/2 mile up Swan to out on Bull clear down to the bridge. There were boats everywhere and no one was getting a single bite. I was fishing the first bend just into Swan and the field was flooded on the left going in. I had been doing really well on a blue backed Rebel on this flat right before dark. I mean you could limit out in 20 minutes. They were chasing on the surface and it was perfect.

On this day it was NOTHING. I did not see a fish on a stringer or even see a person get a bite. There were so many people you would have thought that someone would just snag one. Well, one guy got out of his spot and this old timer took his place in line. I remember he had a old cardinal on a yellow Eagle Claw Rod, those old buggy whips. His line was so old and coiled he could only throw about 30 ft. Took him exactly 35 minutes to walk out with his limit. Caught one on his first cast and really I don't think he missed a fish and did not see a fish miss him. Believe he caught 15 in 15. Throwing them in his plastic bucket and headed up over the hill.

He was using an 1/8th. oz Blakemore Road Runner with a white curltail. Everyone has a box full especially in those days during the white bass run, as Blakemore was made here in Branson and you could go out to the factory and just load up.

We never caught a single White that evening, and we stayed till well after dark. I never saw but 3 other fish caught off the bank and never saw a person catch a fish that stood right where the guy had caught his limit.

That is the day I pretty much stopped guiding for White Bass. They are just as Fickle as a Cute Gal.

[Quillback]

Good story.

[fishinwrench]

I have been "that ol'guy" quite a few times. When it happens I can always attribute it to the speed of retrieve. Most folks retrieve too slowly when fishing for whites and the fish will chase it, flash at it, or follow it....but won't eat it.

Speed things up as if you are trying to keep one from getting your bait and they'll nail it.

[willyfish]

Sounds like a fish story to me Mr. B, can I pass that one on

[Fish24/7]

I have been "that ol'guy" quite a few times. When it happens I can always attribute it to the speed of retrieve. Most folks retrieve too slowly when fishing for whites and the fish will chase it, flash at it, or follow it....but won't eat it.

Speed things up as if you are trying to keep one from getting your bait and they'll nail it.

this describes last SUnday. Faster retrieves were putting fish in our boat when nobody else around us was getting bit.

and a larger 4" bait was getting more bites than the 2-3"

[Jason R.]

I have been that guy- fishing clouser minnows on my 7 wt with a full sinking line in Goshen. All the guys with spinning rods kept getting closer and closer to me and they just could not get bit. It was glorious. One guy parked his boat right over where I was catching fish and eventually moved on out of frustration. Hasn't happened since.

[Quillback]

I have been that guy- fishing clouser minnows on my 7 wt with a full sinking line in Goshen. All the guys with spinning rods kept getting closer and closer to me and they just could not get bit. It was glorious. One guy parked his boat right over where I was catching fish and eventually moved on out of frustration. Hasn't happened since.

That is the downside of being "The Guy".