Something to ponder

[shrapnel]

Ya, I'm sure several...like 1/2 of them were relocated fish.  I live about a mile from PB2 towards the bridge so....   The fish that took Big Bass Friday night was a 5.40 with her lower jaw ripped open from the stringer type cull balls, it makes a nice handle to grab them by, but it's sad.  We have been using the clip type for a long time, one pops off every now and then but at least it leaves the fish without major scars.  Actually, so would the stringer type if guys didn't use them as handles to pick up large fish, I think a small hole would heal but a 4" gash will not.  I wonder how many shad are sucked in and then escape through there...lol.  It's a proud moment to catch a big one with no cull ball gashes.

I would like to see the limit raised to 17" lakewide for bass, or maybe a slot limit anything between 14 and 17 goes back.

[fishinwrench]

Yeah raising the length limit wouldn't be a bad move if they are going to keep on hauling fish to the scales, because a limit of 15 inchers isn't going to take any checks here. Ever.   

[shrapnel]

I have fished Kinkaid lake in Southern Illinois a lot as well, They have a 16" minimum and 3 per day, so one guy can not legally weigh 5 fish.  That lake is producing some toads but not many limits come to the scales.  The Strike King tourney usually draws around 90 boats and MAYBE 20 will weigh a limit.  I'm guessing most 90 boat tournaments here that 60-70% of the boats will catch and relocate a limit of fish.

LOZ is one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country, but gotta wonder what it could be just if...

[fishinwrench]

The cooler weather has kicked off a dandy topwater bite in the backs of coves.  Anything right up on the shoreline has the potential to hold a good fish (boat ramp, dock walkway, edge or corner of a shallow seawall, a cable dipping into the water, ect.).

If the guy in the front throws noisy stuff that moves fast, like a popper or a buzzbait, and the guy in the back walks a hollow bodied frog or throws a spook...... you should have some fun.  

Should last until it heats back up again. Just be sure to cast right up to the bank, or actually smack the seawall because if your cast lands 2' from the bank you won't get near as many bites.  Early and late are obviously best but the middle of the day is still pretty good.  

[MoCarp]

On 6/25/2017 at 11:11 PM, fishinwrench said:

Saw 2 dead gar in one area and we were thinking "oh wow....a GAR KILL IS GOING ON".  But then we rounded a bend and there was a bowfishing rig.   Explained that right away.  Bowfishing is a cool sport but I still can't warm up to killing fish and just throwing them back in the lake.  I'm sure the turtles appreciate it.

Did you notice if you caught more or less fish coming in behind the area bow fished?

[Walleye13]

Thanks for the top water tip Wrench. Haven't been out since they quit pullin water, may have give it a go...

[fishinwrench]

10 hours ago, MoCarp said:

Did you notice if you caught more or less fish coming in behind the area bow fished?

Yeah I noticed.   How much is that info worth to ya?  

[slothman]

10 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

The cooler weather has kicked off a dandy topwater bite in the backs of coves.  Anything right up on the shoreline has the potential to hold a good fish (boat ramp, dock walkway, edge or corner of a shallow seawall, a cable dipping into the water, ect.).

If the guy in the front throws noisy stuff that moves fast, like a popper or a buzzbait, and the guy in the back walks a hollow bodied frog or throws a spook...... you should have some fun.  

Should last until it heats back up again. Just be sure to cast right up to the bank, or actually smack the seawall because if your cast lands 2' from the bank you won't get near as many bites.  Early and late are obviously best but the middle of the day is still pretty good.  

I didn't take the boat out last night, but I walked the bank for a few hours. I noticed that many of my bites were coming pretty shallow as well. Some were farther out, but not too many. 

[MoCarp]

51 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Yeah I noticed.   How much is that info worth to ya?  

Ill share an awesome fishing spot or 4 at Stockton or TR IF you keep it to yourself.....

[fishinwrench]

34 minutes ago, MoCarp said:

Ill share an awesome fishing spot or 4 at Stockton or TR IF you keep it to yourself.....

We didn't catch any behind the bowfishers but that doesn't mean anything because there were numerous areas where we didn't get bit.  

I wonder what draws gar to a certain area?   There are 4-5 places within a 10 mile stretch where there are ALWAYS gar sipping and slurping year round, and none of the places has anything noticably in common.