36 Hour TR Trip - Dam Area + Intruder in MY Cove

[Pepe]

Nice fish, but you don't look happy

[dtrs5kprs]

24 minutes ago, Pepe said:

Nice fish, but you don't look happy

He's too tired to look happy.

[abkeenan]

1 hour ago, Pepe said:

Nice fish, but you don't look happy

It's because I know that I have to leave the next day.......

[Alex Heitman]

On June 27, 2016 at 2:09 PM, abkeenan said:

Brother and I were able to get away and come down for a short weekend trip. Saturday morning tried a little of everything (plopper, spook, jig, ned, 10" worm, 10XD, spoon) with very little success. Spent a good amount of time trying to spoon docks but they weren't having it. Not even one bite on the spoon thus Saturday morning/day was a bust. I have a habit of trying to force feed fish on what I WANT them to eat...not what THEY want to eat. 

However, Sat night the flip switched around 9pm and ran into a pretty good jig bite. Our fish were in 18-26 feet of water and on mostly ledge rock locations. Gravel points and run-outs didn't yield much and I never did see much on the graph at those locations when snooping around on the big motor during the day. Fish were all very healthy (especially the Kentucky's sponsored by Butterball). Big girl bit at 11:30 in 26 FOT and was released swimming to fight another day. She went 5 and I believe 22" maybe 23. Need to get one of those hog trough measuring boards. Was a good night on the water with a million stars and saw a few meteors as well. Very pleasant night.

Thermocline looked to be setting up in spots as you could see a definitive line but it isn't solid or locked in yet I don't believe. Was wavering around 28 feet + or - in most locations from what I could tell. Surface temps around the dam were 85.3 to almost touching 87 degrees.

Water patrol was out pulling plenty of people over in the early evening for being morons. Was good to see their presence. Had a guy go between myself and the bank on plane over that shallow drop-off point coming out of Jake's Branch across from 86 while pulling two little girls on a tube. It was the worst case I've ever experienced as far as passing between myself and the bank. Lower unit must have been inches from it's demise. Guy literally cut that point maybe 10 yards from the bank. I made a motion to go around me before he got to us but he returned the signal as if I was supposed around him at speed while on the troller and my line out. Glad the two girls weren't hurt.....at that point...as he made his way towards State Park.

I also finally caught Alex Heitman red handed dredging my cove with a crank and had a brief visit. Good to see another forum member even if he made like Greg Hackney and was fishing an off-limits area.....MY COVE.

My advice would be to get out early, get off early and get out at night. Tight lines and stay safe.

 

Some pics of the better/dumb ones:

 

It was nice to meet you and pretty funny you caught me in your cove haha. I would have chatted longer but we were hit and ready to head in. The fishing was pretty good first thing in the morning on the spoon but very few bites after that. The crankbait bite has died for me and they seemed to be more suspended now. Not much love on drop shot though. Next time we will shoot the bull longer. Those are some nice fish. Night fishing is always better come summer time. 

[abkeenan]

5 hours ago, Alex Heitman said:

It was nice to meet you and pretty funny you caught me in your cove haha. I would have chatted longer but we were hit and ready to head in. The fishing was pretty good first thing in the morning on the spoon but very few bites after that. The crankbait bite has died for me and they seemed to be more suspended now. Not much love on drop shot though. Next time we will shoot the bull longer. Those are some nice fish. Night fishing is always better come summer time. 

No worries. We were wrapping up our trip as well. I'm sure we will run into one another soon enough.....just better not be in my cove again.