Fish seem to be adjusting

[dtrs5kprs]

Fish seem to be settling into the higher pool, cooler water. 

Yesterday was challenging, but fish were caught. Same bait, same places. Smallmouth spawn banks, 6-10', Ned Rig of one version or another. It was a grind it out day. Fished from about 10 to 245. Cold rain is hard on Arizonans. Ended with around 8 keepers, probably 3x shorts.

Fish went back to feeding today. Points were key, pole timber didn't hurt. Caught fish from the bank to 26 feet. Mix of old reliable, and a big shakey head. Had 13-14 keepers, including some fat K's, and some solid brown fish.

Of note...we are not really seeing post spawn fish. Catching a lot of nice, solid, adult fish that don't look like they have been near a bed. Think there is a good bit of staging going on.

Temps were running 63-64 when we trailered little after 5pm. Quite a bit of color in some places, good and clear in others. Mind the debris. 

 

[Ham]

In regards to spawning fish, it seems like to me the SMB are less likely or at least a lot slower to follow the water up and spawn on what's normally high and dry.

LMB not so much. 

Have you seen that in your years at TR?

[Alex Heitman]

We experienced the same thing Dave stated over the weekend. We caught some really nice LM on Friday on the Ned while it was not lightening. We only had about an hour window and they were munching. These were caught on ned by docks. Saturday we had a great day but tired of the rain and mist in face all day. A few of the SM we caught had spawned but most of them have not. We found that must of the SM did not come up with the water and were a bit deeper in the 10-15 ft range. Yesterday we had a terrific day. Tons of fish caught and some nice big SM and LM. Noticed a huge wave moving and and start making fresh beds. This including big LM. Water cleared to about 20 ft visibility in the dam area yesterday in places cruisers were everywhere. 5-6 inches of rain predicted by next weekend. Hoping that holds off

[Quillback]

They're predicting another 5" of rain!!???  Yikes!  Start marking picnic tables on your GPS.

[vernon]

Not much to add other than, "What they said". Fished from 1000 to about 400 and caught 35 - 40 but only two for sure keepers. Three or four others were close but didn't measure them. One K on spinnerbait that hit about ten feet from the boat - all others on Ned. 

Caught 'me from three feet to thirty feet. Some absolutely hammered the Ned while others just "were there". Personally, I was very pleasantly surprised with the way the day went. Was expecting much tougher going but pulled up on a secondary point in a cove across from Indian Creek and started catching 'em right away. First fish had two or three followers which kind of shocked me but sure didn't hurt my confidence level or negatively affect my attitude towards the day!

The water was about as clear as I've ever seen and it was just fascinating to watch the fish fifteen to twenty feet deep especially when a couple of others were chasing. Messed around for about an hour trying to find some crappie but no luck. Overall just a beautiful day on the water and lots of fun. 

Cant wait for this fog to burn off and get back after 'em today!

[vernon]

7 minutes ago, Quillback said:

They're predicting another 5" of rain!!???  Yikes!  Start marking picnic tables on your GPS.

Weather Underground says more like 2" and I, for one, sure hope they're right. 

However, I'm willing to bet that Alex is just as good if not better at forecasting as WU so don't rule out the 5 - 6"!

[vernon]

9 hours ago, dtrs5kprs said:

Fish seem to be settling into the higher pool, cooler water. 

Yesterday was challenging, but fish were caught. Same bait, same places. Smallmouth spawn banks, 6-10', Ned Rig of one version or another. It was a grind it out day. Fished from about 10 to 245. Cold rain is hard on Arizonans. Ended with around 8 keepers, probably 3x shorts.

Fish went back to feeding today. Points were key, pole timber didn't hurt. Caught fish from the bank to 26 feet. Mix of old reliable, and a big shakey head. Had 13-14 keepers, including some fat K's, and some solid brown fish.

Of note...we are not really seeing post spawn fish. Catching a lot of nice, solid, adult fish that don't look like they have been near a bed. Think there is a good bit of staging going on.

Temps were running 63-64 when we trailered little after 5pm. Quite a bit of color in some places, good and clear in others. Mind the debris. 

 

Enjoyed bumping into you and meeting Dwight last night. Long ways to drive for a get together though!

Might see you again sometime today as we'll likely ride up that way. I like the dam area fine but always have to run up to Kimberling a time or two during the week. 

And I really need to blow the cobwebs out of my toaster oven sometime soon anyways.

I have my binoculars at the ready so if you start getting that weird feeling that you're being stalked you'll know why.......... 

[vernon]

12 minutes ago, vernon said:

Weather Underground says more like 2" and I, for one, sure hope they're right. 

However, I'm willing to bet that Alex is just as good if not better at forecasting as WU so don't rule out the 5 - 6"!

Just noticed the "updated and revised" WU forecast now says a little over 3" so certainly trending towards the Alex "model"!

[Alex Heitman]

I'm hoping we do not get that much rain. KY3 posted a pic on Facebook that shows between 6-8 in. Here it is. If we get that much rain we will be up in the high 920's in no time 

[dtrs5kprs]

8 hours ago, Alex Heitman said:

I'm hoping we do not get that much rain. KY3 posted a pic on Facebook that shows between 6-8 in. Here it is. If we get that much rain we will be up in the high 920's in no time 

Yep. No way around it unless they really start running the lake, which does not look like the plan.