Monday 2 report

[Dan the fisherman]

Launched out of prairie creek at 830, and was totally fogged out.  So much I would go out to open water from fear of a collision.  So I hung out in PC and threw a top water and spinner. I catch small fish about the size of a spook(image below).  I hung out there till I'd say 1045 and head out to main lake. I found a nice school of spots south of the bridg which I fished for an hour or so.  I must have hooked them all cuz by the end of it the wouldn't bite my baits. Spooks and spinner baits were the key for me.  

[Blll]

Dan, at least you had some topwater excitement. Thank the Lord for Spotted Bass. Saved many a trip from "the skunk" I was out yesterday in the fog. Thought it would perk things up but not even. A few whites for the grill was it. Saw that the Loons are back loading up on shad on their way south.  Wt was still 67 yesterday. Lots of bait in PC and around the islands.

[Champ188]

Dan, a suggestion on your Spook ... At the least, put a split ring on the front and ideally, use both a split ring and a snap. This will give the lure maximum freedom to walk from side to side. Hopefully, you're using monofilament line. You never want to throw a topwater on fluorocarbon because the line will sink and give you all kinds of problems trying to work the bait.

[rps]

Champ knows more than I. Having said that, I respectfully disagree a little bit. Use a split ring or a snap, but not both. You want the front of the bait to be a little bit lighter than the rear. Personally, I snug my Palomar knot to the bottom of the eyelet with no ring or snap (1950's old school suggested notching at that location to hold the knot there). However, the cost is that I do retie more frequently to avoid a stressed knot.

 

[Dan the fisherman]

58 minutes ago, Champ188 said:

Dan, a suggestion on your Spook ... At the least, put a split ring on the front and ideally, use both a split ring and a snap. This will give the lure maximum freedom to walk from side to side. Hopefully, you're using monofilament line. You never want to throw a topwater on fluorocarbon because the line will sink and give you all kinds of problems trying to work the bait.

Champ thanks for the advise.  I will put split rings on. About the line, I do use mono for most of my top water. The line in the pic is braid.  Which I use when throwing striper pugs, but the reel that I use with mono was getting cleaned( which I got back today) so braid is what is shown in the pic.  I like the 30lb braid for striper plugs. Can't or don't like to even think how many striper I've lost on mono (top water). I also try using a loop knot but get lazy and don't do it as I should. ?

[Dan the fisherman]

1 hour ago, Blll said:

Dan, at least you had some topwater excitement. Thank the Lord for Spotted Bass. Saved many a trip from "the skunk" I was out yesterday in the fog. Thought it would perk things up but not even. A few whites for the grill was it. Saw that the Loons are back loading up on shad on their way south.  Wt was still 67 yesterday. Lots of bait in PC and around the islands.

Bill, I can't agree more. I love them lil schooling spots.  Saved my day more than I can count...... I haven't got into the whites at all this year.  Normally I slam them during the summer.  Been a weird year for me. Not terrible, just weird.  Oh well, guess that's one of the reasons I love fishing, it's always changing. Wt was 66-65 today.  The fog was thick though. Wow

[wareaglecamo]

non-slip loop knot works great on a spook . . . allows for great side-to-side action . . . however, make sure the loop, when fully elongated, measures no more than one-half inch . . . if greater than one-half inch, it will foul with the front hook of the spook

[Bill Babler]

I'm going to go here with possibly the best Spook fisherman in history.  Charley Campbell.  If he has to tie to the eye, he uses a loop knot.  He prefers a split ring.  It will make the spook skate and he says that is the key.  I never under any circumstances tie direct to the eye.  I've also caught a couple on it.

Good Luck

[Mitch f]

 

I'm going to go here with possibly the best Spook fisherman in history.  Charley Campbell.  If he has to tie to the eye, he uses a loop knot.  He prefers a split ring.  It will make the spook skate and he says that is the key.  I never under any circumstances tie direct to the eye.  I've also caught a couple on it.

Good Luck

I met Charlie several years ago at an MSA banquet. He's a wealth of knowledge. He spoke about ways of using the sun to approach a brush pile. I remember he spoke of being able to walk spooks around obstacles. Met his wife too, great lady. Love those people.

[Champ188]

He is indeed a very good man. Heard the same about his wife but never met her. Really enjoyed talking to Charlie when we both used to fish the Central Pro-Am circuit.

You should also take whatever Babler says to heart. He's caught as many fish from Table Rock as just about anyone.