Sunday, 2-12-17, White River arm

[Champ188]

First cast at 8:30 a.m., last fling at 3:30 p.m. Fished pretty hard throughout the day in the middle White River arm, roughly from Campbell Point to Baxter. Only had nine total to show for our efforts, with just two keepers. Wind howled all day, swinging around from northwest to due east by the time we left.

Jerk bait carrying a lovely Tim Hughes custom paint job produced the first and biggest fish. After that, bites came on a crank plug, a single swimmer and the Venerable Varmint. Apologies (not really) to the BASS Open and other prefish drive-by guys if you don't know our lingo here.

Weather has these fish stirring. Saw water temps up to 51. Pretty surprising where we found some of them.

 

[Sore Thumbs]

Nice fish. I was at Grand today. Wind was terrible. I had waves coming over the front of the boat trying to hold on a point. Had to find less productive waters with less wind. Couldn't take the beating much longer. Glad you found some today. 

[Champ188]

We considered going to Grand but when I walked outside at 5:00 and the wind was howling, I said nah, we'll go north. That's the nice thing about pretty much giving up derbies ... not duty-bound to practice at a particular lake.

[Sore Thumbs]

I hear ya Champ. That lake still leaves me scratching my head sometimes. They must be scattered. No rhyme or reason to when and where they are going to bite. Lots of casts on wind blown banks with Spinnerbait,crankbait and A-rig between myself and my buddy. Jig is still only thing producing right now. For me anyway. 

[Champ188]

It will change. A lot. And probably pretty soon judging by the forecast.

[96 CHAMP]

Nice fish Champ, crazy water temperatures for Feb. I wouldn't be surprised we see some crazy fluctuations in weather and temps this spring. Probably go from one extreme to the next.  Already got daffodil bulbs and Crocus bulbs popping up in yard.

[Sore Thumbs]

No doubt. My main purpose for going over there is to find a few off the beaten path spots that might produce come tournament time. Between the BFL and folks practicing for Nichols the following day there could potentially be 4-500 boats on the water during our event. Gonna be nuts. 

[Nitro 750]

Thanks for the report Champ, nice fish.  It was nice of Donna to let you hold her fish!!!!

[dtrs5kprs]

March is just sitting there, laughing at us. You can feel it.

[merc1997 Bo]

2 hours ago, Champ188 said:

We considered going to Grand but when I walked outside at 5:00 and the wind was howling, I said nah, we'll go north. That's the nice thing about pretty much giving up derbies ... not duty-bound to practice at a particular lake.

yep, it is nice to just put in where you want, when you want when possible, and just enjoy the day.  you can put the hammer to them when the bite is on and not have to catch one and leave to save them for a tournament and they they are not there by the time you need them, lol.

grand for the last several days would have been a beast to fish.  the wind has been so bad that you would have to travel 5 miles to go one tacking back and forth in-between the troughs.  grand can really be a fun lake to fish this time of the year though.

bo