Shell Knob (4/22-4/24)

[dwiebenga]

Jim and I fished out of Shell Knob for 2.5 days and caught about 60 total fish.  Here are the details.

4/22--started the OA One Bass off my family dock.  We tried some early power fishing to no avail, and ultimately settled on finesse.  We caught a number of fish on Ned and shakey heads (Zoom Speed Craw) in about 5-12 feet of water in the spawning coves.  No giants, but about a half dozen keepers.  About 11am, we pulled into a transition bank with some submerged trees on it that I have fished in the past.  I saw a Spot surface on a small school of baitfish.  I proceeded to throw a small Keitech bait to him, and bang.  Threw a second cast and another fish.  We decided to pull off into about 45 feet and cast in to the trees.  Soon after I caught my big fish for the weekend, 3.22 lb Largemouth.  It also claimed runner up in the OA Tournament.  We caught a couple more smaller bass and then moved on to the next bank.  Same result, and Jim started whacking fish on a modified "NED" drop shot rig.  The last stop for the day was a deep point with more trees.  As soon as we pulled in, the water boiled for about 2 minutes.  Fish were smashing shad.  Jim caught a solid 2.5lb white bass on a Spittin' Image.  We also caught about half dozen bass on swimbaits.  We ran out of time, and headed to Eagle Rock.  We had a fantastic time with the other forum members, and was happy that we all caught fish.  I am looking forward to next year all ready.  Also, GREAT FOOD!!!!!!!!!  Way too much, but great!

4/23--started with topwater, and had limited success.  We returned to the points from the day before, and the deeper point with the trees was the winner.  I think I caught about 12 nice spotted bass off the point on the Keitech bait, and Jim caught three more on top.  The deal was throw up on the point, count to 10, and then slooooooowwww roll it back to the boat.  The rod would really just load up, very few whacking the bit.  Once the bite died down, we tried shallow hoping the warming sun would get them going, but it was here and there.  We caught a few more on the Ned, but no real pattern.  

4/24--Headed back to our "point" for a short session before we headed home.  We caught about 15 more fish, but struggled to get the schoolers to hit a spook.  It was better to throw the swimbait and let it fall through the attack zone, and they would pick it up.  

The biggest lesson of the weekend was that the deeper fish seemed less impacted by the rising water.  The deep bight 35-50 feet was still there on the points.  

Best baits:  Keitech 3.3 (Electric Shad), NED (PBJ and California Craw), Shakey Head (Speed Craw), and Spittin' Image.

Water temp was consistent at 64-67.

Good Luck and Be safe, we will be praying for all of you over the next week.  

Dave

[buckwhisperer]

Great report, also glad to here you had a great time with the OA bunch! 

[Quillback]

I agree, great report! 

[Nitro 750]

Thanks for the detailed report!!!

[m&m]

Dave, great report. It was good to meet you and Jim at the weigh in. 

Mike

[Champ188]

7 hours ago, dwiebenga said:

Jim and I fished out of Shell Knob for 2.5 days and caught about 60 total fish.  Here are the details.

4/22--started the OA One Bass off my family dock.  We tried some early power fishing to no avail, and ultimately settled on finesse.  We caught a number of fish on Ned and shakey heads (Zoom Speed Craw) in about 5-12 feet of water in the spawning coves.  No giants, but about a half dozen keepers.  About 11am, we pulled into a transition bank with some submerged trees on it that I have fished in the past.  I saw a Spot surface on a small school of baitfish.  I proceeded to throw a small Keitech bait to him, and bang.  Threw a second cast and another fish.  We decided to pull off into about 45 feet and cast in to the trees.  Soon after I caught my big fish for the weekend, 3.22 lb Largemouth.  It also claimed runner up in the OA Tournament.  We caught a couple more smaller bass and then moved on to the next bank.  Same result, and Jim started whacking fish on a modified "NED" drop shot rig.  The last stop for the day was a deep point with more trees.  As soon as we pulled in, the water boiled for about 2 minutes.  Fish were smashing shad.  Jim caught a solid 2.5lb white bass on a Spittin' Image.  We also caught about half dozen bass on swimbaits.  We ran out of time, and headed to Eagle Rock.  We had a fantastic time with the other forum members, and was happy that we all caught fish.  I am looking forward to next year all ready.  Also, GREAT FOOD!!!!!!!!!  Way too much, but great!

4/23--started with topwater, and had limited success.  We returned to the points from the day before, and the deeper point with the trees was the winner.  I think I caught about 12 nice spotted bass off the point on the Keitech bait, and Jim caught three more on top.  The deal was throw up on the point, count to 10, and then slooooooowwww roll it back to the boat.  The rod would really just load up, very few whacking the bit.  Once the bite died down, we tried shallow hoping the warming sun would get them going, but it was here and there.  We caught a few more on the Ned, but no real pattern.  

4/24--Headed back to our "point" for a short session before we headed home.  We caught about 15 more fish, but struggled to get the schoolers to hit a spook.  It was better to throw the swimbait and let it fall through the attack zone, and they would pick it up.  

The biggest lesson of the weekend was that the deeper fish seemed less impacted by the rising water.  The deep bight 35-50 feet was still there on the points.  

Best baits:  Keitech 3.3 (Electric Shad), NED (PBJ and California Craw), Shakey Head (Speed Craw), and Spittin' Image.

Water temp was consistent at 64-67.

Good Luck and Be safe, we will be praying for all of you over the next week.  

Dave

Super report Dave. Thanks a ton.