Upper End in the Heat

[merc1997 Bo]

There were huge balls of bait today as deep as 65' Mostly in the guts between the flats. The bait was not so much suspended, but completely thru the water column. Lots and lots of it today 22' to 45'.

area of the lake is probably making differences in level of the shad, and time of day as well.

bo

[merc1997 Bo]

Kind of a funny story today. We were fishing a roll-off early up the white and along comes a power pole boat. The point right next to us was covered with surfacing gar and Gizzards. I mean it was alive.

The guy slams on the brakes and he and his buddy jump on the bow and start throwing a spook. I can hear them as plain as day and they are saying this is the most bass they have ever seen surfacing in their life. They worked the spooks for about 10 minutes and then the middle box lid came open and the switching was on. They were running thru topwater after topwater and you could just hear the frustration mounting, wondering why these bass just would not hit.

They were still working them hard when we vacated. I should have told them maybe a piece of nylon ski rope would have worked a bit better. Regardless, they were having a blast and I just could not spoil their fun. And on top of that, You just never know.

Good Luck

if they never figured it out, they will have one whale of a fishing story to tell.

bo

[rps]

Without giving up specific spots, how do you determine which water to fish? When I look at the maps provided on this site, there are tons of bends as the lake is essentially a river. I fish Viola when I get down there and pick up the occasional eye, but seem to spend tons of time fishing unproductive water. What makes you pick on bend over another? Most bends I fish are typically flats and if I find trees, all the better. Are the drop offs only a few feet or are they severe (10 ft or more) going into the main channel?

Bill gave you the 100% answer. To try and save you some of those hours, here are a few "helpers." I look for changes on changes - that means I look for flats the fall into the channel and then look for change on that break. I use the thermocline as a baseline. That means I look for those change on change locations that happen to occur at or near the thermocline. I follow a mantra that goes like this - outside bend, timber is good. Inside bend, nothing or brush. Last, I have written two walleye articles for Phil Lilley (this forum) that say many of the things I have learned. Check these out:

http://www.ozarkanglers.com/white-river-walleye-on-worm-harness/

http://www.ozarkanglers.com/table-rock/trolling-for-walleye/

Hope these help you.

[Champ188]

I should have told them maybe a piece of nylon ski rope would have worked a bit better.

I've found that purple (Grape Ape) rope works best but it can be hard to find. Skeet Yeller is a good second choice and that blue/white checkered rope (Blue Shore Minnow) will produce at times, too.

[Jerry Rapp]

if they never figured it out, they will have one whale of a fishing story to tell.

bo

yea, they would have won the tournament "if"

[BleacherBum28]

Bill gave you the 100% answer. To try and save you some of those hours, here are a few "helpers." I look for changes on changes - that means I look for flats the fall into the channel and then look for change on that break. I use the thermocline as a baseline. That means I look for those change on change locations that happen to occur at or near the thermocline. I follow a mantra that goes like this - outside bend, timber is good. Inside bend, nothing or brush. Last, I have written two walleye articles for Phil Lilley (this forum) that say many of the things I have learned. Check these out:

http://www.ozarkanglers.com/white-river-walleye-on-worm-harness/

http://www.ozarkanglers.com/table-rock/trolling-for-walleye/

Hope these help you.

I follow your postings alot and have read all of your articles. I cannot express my many thanks to you and all the others willing to share information on how to catch fish. You've gotten a hack like me to be able to catch some. Thank you... by the way, that pic of you with that 10 lb eye has me hooked... again. Thank you all.

[Sore Thumbs]

You can definitely tell the difference between a gar and bass hitting the surface.

[JacobW]

Blue shore minnow... Thats a great one!

[mjk86]

I follow your postings alot and have read all of your articles. I cannot express my many thanks to you and all the others willing to share information on how to catch fish. You've gotten a hack like me to be able to catch some. Thank you... by the way, that pic of you with that 10 lb eye has me hooked... again. Thank you all.

Could not have said that better.

[Quillback]

Blue shore minnow... Thats a great one!

I wish he would not mention the secret color on a public forum. Now everyone will be throwing it.