Kim City report 5-3

[holleybob]

Launched at 7:30 am. Spent the first hour fishing Ned and Shaky head in 5-15 FOW pea gravel with only a bluegill and two truly tiny bass.

Decided to find some new water and ended up in an area with steep banks and standing timber in 30-45 FOW about 8:30. I found an area about 2 acres large that was full of bass busting shad. I first threw the Ned at them because that's what I had tied on and when bass are chasing shad I cannot stop myself to tie on something else. Well surprise surprise the Ned is also a pretty good threadfin imitation. I probably caught 6 or 7 on it before I changed to a smoke grub, then a scrounger head fluke. I think they would have hit anything that resembled a shad at that time.

I spent the next hour and a half in that area and ended up with about 25 fish, LM, fat K's and a couple smallies. All were keepers and all were spitting shad. Some fish had bloody tails and some did not. Seemed like all types and phases of fish were present at the shad feast! Lost 2 really good fish on the same cast (hook was bent at the point ). One pulled off and another grabbed it! Two best fish were a 21 inch Smallie and a 23 inch Largemouth that went 4 lbs.

Every one I caught was being followed by at least 2 more of equal size.

By 10:00 the wind kicked in and it was over but boy what a time it was. Caught a few more on spinnerbait and called it quits by noon.

Apparently the pics of the 2 largest fish are too large to upload. Bummer!

[alltelracer]

Awesome!

[m&m]

Awesome time finding those active fish busting shad. I learned a long time ago to always have a top water bait tied on just in case. My go to bait for those times is an old cotton Cordell crazy shad. Props on both ends. It has caught so many fish that the chrome finish is just about gone. You just can't cast fast enough and you know it will be gone soon. Good looking pics.

[Quillback]

Sweet! I like to hear that they are starting to get out there and bust shad.

[5bites]

Goodness man! Sounds like you flat landed on them!

[holleybob]

I resized the pics of the 21 inch Smallie and 23 inch LM. Lousy picture of the LM but I was anxiuos to get it back into the water. I really need to do better with fish pics. Both show the Scrounger head fluke that really seemed to be the ticket.

[Champ188]

You were 25 for 25 on keepers? That's incredible! My ratio lately -- and for some very good guides -- has been more like 2 for 25.

[Sprint21fter]

Before my last funked up tournament, I was landing 8/12 keeper bites and they were all better than average nothing over 3.25lbs. Since then, my average is 1 for every 7. Not good when money is on the line.

[holleybob]

You were 25 for 25 on keepers? That's incredible! My ratio lately -- and for some very good guides -- has been more like 2 for 25.

I'm not sure I understand the 25 for 25. I did not catch all 25 on consecutive cast. I spent an hour and a half there before the shad dropped and it was over. For me it was pretty spectacular though. Right time, Right place kinda thing I think. I just stumbled onto them.

I was very surpised that they were all keepers. My last time out I could not buy a keeper!

[moguy1973]

I'm not sure I understand the 25 for 25. I did not catch all 25 on consecutive cast. I spent an hour and a half there before the shad dropped and it was over. For me it was pretty spectacular though. Right time, Right place kinda thing I think. I just stumbled onto them.

I was very surpised that they were all keepers. My last time out I could not buy a keeper!

Yeah, he was asking if all 25 were keepers.