Ruark/Stockton, May 12

[nxs]

Lot had several when we got there but not as many as last time and the campgrounds were about empty. Most of the boats were scattered so that was good. I like it when everyone is playing nice.

Picked up a couple of crappie early but they just weren't there. Caught several black bass some up around 14" and walleye about the same. No keepers this trip.

Finally in the afternoon we found them and they had moved out into deep water or deep for me anyway. Running 22' to 25' and hugging the bottom for the most part.

Brought home 23 crappie all female and full of eggs but 3 males. Some were kinda ragged looking on the bottom and red. Would they be making nests out that deep?? All had bloody eggs sacs and a couple just looked like red mush. Most were in the 11" to 13" range and fat.

Wife caught a channel and a 16 1/2" black along with some crappie so she was happy. Her and Ralph pretty much whipped up on me but that's ok.

Minnow's was all we could get them to hit on. Water temp was about 66* all day. We did see some small nests up in 4' of water but nothing around them.

Now we saw a snake just before we left that I don't remember having ever seen one like it. Wish I had thought to take a pic but it was about 4' to 5' long. Fair size around and not quite as dark on the front half as a black snake and the back half was about the color of a copper head. A little over half way towards the tail it had 3 bands about he same color as the back half and they were about 4" a part. It was definitely acting aggressive and watched us for a while before it went on towards the other side of the cove.

Anyone have an idea what it might be??

[blacknoseddace]

Because of the size and lighter color you described, it could be a bull snake which is harmless but can be aggressive.

[Wilson3144]

Fished at greenfield yesterday, just up from Friend Bridge on the south bank. Caught 15 crappie, several small bass and one lonely white bass. Was in 12-15 fow and casting to the bank, with most fish caught halfway back to the boat. Was using a 2" white and chartreuse joker MR CRAPPIE jig and with a very slow retrieve. (Underline Very) all but one fish hit very light, right on the bottom. Tried a few deeper spots below the boat launch with no luck.

[Smalls21]

you could have at least killed the snake

[packersooner]

Thanks for the reports all.

Caught a limit of crappie Tuesday trolling #7 Flickers in bigger coves in the mid-lake region. Fish were in 18 to 38 fow 14 to 22 feet down. Trolled 1.7 to 2.3 mph. All but one were females with eggs pretty much ready. Caught a handful of dink walleye too on main lake points.

Jason

[slab slinger]

nsx...Sounds like a great trip over all. Nice jod figuring them out and finding them in deep water. Nice post good info

PackerSooner...Congrats on the limit! Nice job. Good info

Headed up Friday myself. You boys got me anxious to go!

[nxs]

Bull Snake maybe, seems to be about as many variations of them as politicians. I should have taken a pic.

I forgot to mention we've been catching some whites mixed in with the crappie and walleye. Nothing big but big enough to keep if you like them.

Hope to get back out next week then probably hay time.

[Aggressor1988long]

All I could get was with shiners would not touch a jig and this was around highpoint yesterday evening they are moving up after suset.

[Aggressor1988long]

Sounds like a black choach whip snake.

[nxs]

I've looked at a lot of snake pics and haven't seen anything marked up like this one. The 3 bands on it is what is setting it apart