Big M area 9/14

[Quillback]

My first time out on the big lake in a few weeks and I may wait a couple more weeks before trying again.  Me and a buddy caught a grand total of 6 bass during the morning, and only one of those was a keeper largemouth, the rest being 12" fish.  A couple on jigs and a few on c-rigs.  Tried to find some deep drop shot or spoon fish and just could not find many bass out deep, usually September is a good month for deep fishing, but I just can't find them.  The shad are everywhere from the backs of the coves to out in the middle of the channel.  There are some scattered fish out in the channel chasing shad, but it is so hard to get on them, they just don't seem to be schooled up, at least not that I can find.

Beautiful day, good day to be out fishing.  Surface WT was 77 when I left.  Only saw one recreational type boat and not a lot of fishermen out there either.

[cheesemaster]

Thanks for the report Quillback.  What would you say the visibility is at that part of the lake?

[176champion]

Was out there yesterday and only saw 2 recreational boats out a no Fisherman.. water temp was 77 degrees, fairly Windy also. I mostly drove around stirring up the water.

[Quillback]

1 hour ago, cheesemaster said:

Thanks for the report Quillback.  What would you say the visibility is at that part of the lake?

I'm going to say about 3 feet as a rough estimate. 

[96 CHAMP]

I reckon if the shad are everywhere the fish are most likely also. That would surely make it tough. They don't have to go to the local corner for groceries when the groceries are free for the pickings.

[vernon]

I haven't posted this week cause there wasn't much to offer. We traveled from Indian Point to the mouth of the Kings and back, to Cape Fair boat dock, two short trips to KC and to Big Cedar. Yeah, we like our boat riding - especially in September when I hate fishing. Played golf two days but was on the water the other five. 

The fishing we did do resulted in about 25-30 Kentucky's and a couple little largemouth. Zip for keepers but lots of fat 13 - 14 1/2 inchers (the photo's pretty representative). As is pretty normal for us in September fish were scattered all over the place. Nothing doing on the normal deep spots and the graph consistently looked like one of my more recent brain scans. 

All but a couple of our fish came off of points and bluff ends but no consistency at all. Catch one or two and back to the Dead Sea. It was my opinion (I'll be posting long term weather forecasts next) that the shad were everywhere and constantly moving. Hence, so was the fishes. 

My imperical data to support this theory is that during all that traveling (mostly at 30 - 35 mph) I must have seen 500 single swirls out near the channel or WAY out off points that were obviously a bass on shad. Never did we see any activity that would lead one to believe that there was any semblance of a school in the vicinity. We even took the bait (who's fishing for who?) a few times and stopped and flung a wide ranging arsenal in the exact spots to the still visible swirls but except for two times failed to hook up with anything more than the swirl remains.  

I shouldn't be disappointed (and really I'm not) as it was a typical September visit for us. I was marginally more hopeful due to the cooler temperatures the past month or so but never found water cooler than around 75 - 76 (and that was early) and most was still 79 - 80. Perfect for Kathy's beloved September swimming but same 'ol same 'ol for my fishing. Kind of amazing how some of the trees have already turned.

Nonetheless, a superb week of weather and we'll be back to do battle again in mid October. 

I'd appreciate it if y'all could get these babies a little more cooperative by then!

[m&m]

21 minutes ago, vernon said:

 

 

Vernon, thanks for the report. I hear it is really difficult fishing right now. One reason for you might be the U of KS woman's volleyball uniform you are wearing. I heard fish aren't hungry when they are frightened. lol

Mike

[vernon]

41 minutes ago, m&m said:

Vernon, thanks for the report. I hear it is really difficult fishing right now. One reason for you might be the U of KS woman's volleyball uniform you are wearing. I heard fish aren't hungry when they are frightened. lol

Mike

Now that is just WRONG. I might expect that from some of the lower class name callin' OA members (Ankeenan, Duke Lovin' Dave) and a few of the other soon to identify themselves cause they just can't resist haters but YOU?

Now I really am disappointed in the trip.  

As if it ain't already bad enough that we got a football game tomorrow that I'll have to listen to on the way home!

 

 

[Quillback]

1 hour ago, m&m said:

One reason for you might be the U of KS woman's volleyball uniform you are wearing.

Ouch!  I was going to say a Speedo.  Not that I looked long enough to make a definite identification. 

[vernon]

10 hours ago, Quillback said:

Ouch!  I was going to say a Speedo.  Not that I looked long enough to make a definite identification. 

You guys are embarrassing yourselves.

Any self respecting liberal would immediately identify that entire ensemble as non gender specific. 

Which I've pretty much been for four or five years now.........