Friday Morning Before Work- Monte Ne

[bferg]

Got on the water at 5:30 this AM.  Beautiful morning although I would have killed for some cloud cover and a little breeze.  Water temp: 69-70.  Started throwing some top water and kai techs right near the ramp.  Moved over to the cove and was marking a lot of fish but couldn't get a bite.  At about 6:30 near the last dock on the cove a huge school of shad came up and proceeded to crash the bank back and forth along about a 50 yard stretch.  Threw every trick in the book in and around the shad and never got a bite.  It was really frustrating.  Saw something I had never seen before- a cat from the house came down to the bank and was going along trying to eat the shad that were crashing the bank. Trolled our way out of the cove with some Flicker Shads and got no bites- but did hook a few shad!  It was loaded with shad in there.  

 

About 7:15 moved out to some deeper drop offs still targeting top water fish- had one striper blow up a pencil pop'r but that was about it.  Sun was already up high and bright at that point.  Off the water at 7:45.  

 

Beautiful morning out!!  Wish I could have just stayed out there all day!

 

 

[J-Doc]

Cool way to start the day. 

[Quillback]

Very nice - saw some shad spawning on Table Rock this morning (they actually laid eggs on my motor and transom) -  I bet those shad you see up on the bank are spawning.

[1969Larson]

Great pic!

[Dan the fisherman]

Nice man.  Too bad about the missed striper though. 

[Robert Haynes]

I am going Sunday morning and try to find some stripers on top. I have not fished this year but I use to do good around Pt 6 this time of year on top water stripers. Are they up that far or would you recommend starting in a different area? I live close to Monte Ne but can trailer anywhere. Thanks for advice. 

[1969Larson]

Yes. I have heard reports of topwater action in the rocky branch area lately.  

[dan hufferd]

I would had to try jigging a spoon under those shad, it might work, looks like a great day!

[Stump bumper]

I am really surprised there are stripers that far south, you have motivated me to get out of bed Sunday morning. 

[Quillback]

My neighbor has been out the last couple of mornings early and has brought home 3, 8-10 lb. stripers.  When it is calm, they look for top water activity, and on the windy day they went to the same spot and threw Storm Wild Eye Shad swim baits.  They have been fishing the dam area.