Dam Report, 5-19-15, a lesson in Ned

[kjackson]

Since this forum has been a bit slow, I'll add yesterday's trip.

Hit the water at the crack of 10:30 at Dam Site and left at 3:30. The wind was a bit stiff, but the forecast showed it dropping later in the day. Started trolling crankbaits in the wind because of boat control, and then changed to spinners after a pass at one of my spots with no one playing. Saw a bunch of bait or debris on the graph and ran over a couple of schools of fish, but they didn't want to say hello.

Since I needed Ned practice, and the 'eyes weren't cooperating, I headed to one of the creek arms where I had the smallies surrounded on my last trip. I started with the ZMan leech in a pearl-translucent color (Blue Steel) on a 1/16 Gopher head. Hooked a nice smallie that I'd guess--you can see where this is going-- over three pounds and perhaps as much as four. Got her up to the boat before she gave me the fin and got off.

Started playing with the Ned seriously--tried Fireline, fluorocarbon and XL lines to get a better sense of the hit. I also tried ZMan's new head, the ZMan leech and the TRD. I also used the 1/16 Gopher head with a Canada Craw TRD. Didn't have enough time to switch things around between lines, so my results may vary. However, the most success came with the 1/10 ShroomZ Finesse head in red with a New Money TRD on XL. The Fireline rod was rigged with a fluorocarbon leader and 1/16 Gopher head with a leech in Blue Steel. The fluorocarbon rod had a Gopher head and craw TRD.

I did have swing-and-misses with each rig, but the most success was on the XL rod...don't know whether it was because of the heavier head or the color or the fact that the mono line didn't transmit the bite as quickly as did the other two. The leech was a magnet for small fish--bluegills or whatever as I'm thinking a lot of the bites were only tail grabbers. While I had a lot of strikes, I hooked fewer fish on it.

I didn't keep count, but I'd guess I landed maybe 25 smallmouth (two that would keep) and a dinner guest, a maybe-five-pound channel cat, which was a hoot on light gear.

Water was 70- 72 degrees and visibility was eight feet or so. Having said that, there was a lot of trash in the water--leaves, sticks, logs, deck chairs, styrofoam logs and whatnot.

[fisherofmen11]

Nice report.

[Quillback]

Good to hear there's a bunch of smallies in the dam area.

[Guest]

Its too bad the horrible boating crowd is about to spout.

Otherwise, I would be up there saturday.

I can certainly help with anything Ned related.

I like 2 Ned rods setups:

1 with 10lb braid to 8lb hybrid,

1 with straight 8lb hybrid. (6lb hybrid would be better for that real clear water)

the braid combo is for boat docks & heavy cover like bushes, logs & piles

the straight hybrid rod is for those same areas where I break off a lot & get tired of tying leaders.

Its more efficient to pick up another rod & keep fishing them retie leader as your going to the next spot or theres a lull.

Aside from that, I need to locate crappie & walleye on that end of the lake.

Ive gotta a crappie rod for bobby garlands & a walleye rod for livebait.

Im still new to walleye fishing but I run across them by accident with the Ned.

Now that Ive figured out their down image footprint, I hope to start landing keepers.

So, crappie & walleye first, then bass 2nd.

If its real windy & overcast, I found a rock crawler & topwater bite on the mainlake.

those threadfin are spawming right now & the topwater is good. gotta find the shad

If I want numbers of bass its Oklahoma, Missouri or Ark River.

[M_Taylor]

What knot do you like with the braid to floro Trophy? I use the Uni but always open to other ideas.

[Guest]

What knot do you like with the braid to floro Trophy? I use the Uni but always open to other ideas.

Alberto (think Chinese finger puzzle)

Wired2Fish has a youtube of Brett Hite.

Its easy after you practice.

I used to take a spare spinning reel spool of braid & a pony sized spool of hybrid. tie them on my break & after work until I got it right.

Here's the link

[kjackson]

Good to hear there's a bunch of smallies in the dam area.

What has been a surprise for me is the total lack of spots and largemouth in the area I'm in. Across the lake it's different, but this area and the one next to it are deserts as far as anything but smallies are concerned. I need to fish both areas a bit more to really see if it holds.

[Dan the fisherman]

That's a great knot. I learned it by a different name ( modified Albright). But whatever u wanna call it, it works great. Great report btw.. makes me want to head back up there...

[M_Taylor]

Thanks. I grew up tying the Albright for fly fishing, and this is very similar.

[kjackson]

"Aside from that, I need to locate crappie & walleye on that end of the lake.

Ive gotta a crappie rod for bobby garlands & a walleye rod for livebait.

Im still new to walleye fishing but I run across them by accident with the Ned.

Now that Ive figured out their down image footprint, I hope to start landing keepers.

So, crappie & walleye first, then bass 2nd.

If its real windy & overcast, I found a rock crawler & topwater bite on the mainlake.

those threadfin are spawming right now & the topwater is good. gotta find the shad"

Wish I could give you specifics on walleye location, but my experience has been scattered fish; I've never found significant numbers in any one place. Having said that, I'm still learning the ins and outs of the clear end. The only crappies I've caught on the dam end have been in Indian Creek, and from reports, I'm guessing that also is where the bulk of the walleyes are--generally. I've not done much there except chase bass with some success.

But on every trip I learn something different. This last trip turned up some offshore structure that looks really good for summer fish that chase shad in open water. My plan is to hit that next week after the crowds thin a bit and if there is a hole in the thunderstorms that will let me slip out.