2/27/18 Trip Report - Diamond City

[Ham]

With the recent rains and warmer weather, I was hoping I could find a Wart bite. I did not. 

Water is now >660 up over 8 feet in 10 days. Lots of debris in the water. Not the best time to be running WOT. I’d suggest running low 40’s in MPH to give yourself time to dodge stuff. 

Water temp was basically unchanged from pre rains. Mid 40’s to 48 degrees max. 

Water color was stained to pretty dingy. MASSIVE amounts of threadfin in the creeks and lots of gulls feeding on dying Shad. I feel like the bass are too. 

I get that Shad struggle with cold water. I dont get why they are struggling with mid 40’s. I still have a lot to learn about fishing Shad kills. My preference is to run away to areas without dying Shad. I could not get away from the dying Shad yesterday. 

I threw a lot of different stuff, but minimal to no response. I swung a couple times with odd stuff on Ned, but no sure thing looks. I swung a couple times when the Football Jig got heavy, but it was loaded with algae. I felt A rig plowing through Shad, but no bites. It’s a lot more fun throwing jerk bait when it gets a bite every now and again. 

Wart and or RK bumped and ground through good stuff and every once in a while stuff felt “alive”. It was odd, but I eventually tail hooked a monster carp which explains the live feel. It was full grown and tested my gear pretty good for a long time. It Pulled the BassCat around which was interesting. 

That was the only fish of the day. I am working up a serious animosity towards Fish in general and BSL bass in particular. I will get a lot of payback. I won’t slow up and I won’t quit until it gets dark or I catch 100 that day. I’m still going to catch and release most of them, but I’m going to try to sore mouth ALL of them. 

I’m ready for Spring and 50 something degree water. 

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[Dutch]

I was hoping for a white bass report.  Evidently you decided to look for green fish instead.

[mixermarkb]

Thanks for the report Ham. 

[Stein]

Banking on a better report in a month.  Heading back down then.

[Ham]

8 hours ago, Dutch said:

I was hoping for a white bass report.  Evidently you decided to look for green fish instead.

I felt like it was too early

[mixermarkb]

Shame all that rain wasn’t really much warmer than the lake already was- but then again since I’m at least a week, if not two out from getting down to fish, I’m not too torn up about Mother Nature taking her time on spring.

[Ham]

In hindsight, any other choice would have been better. I could have tried Theodosia, or Tecumseh or Lake Norfolk. Guys are reporting warmer water and catching fish on Table Rock. I don’t understand warmer temps further North, but I will accept the data.

Im still trying to learn, if any one wants to offer suggestions on what I should have tried amongst the dying shad, I’m all ears. 

 

[Ham]

11 minutes ago, mixermarkb said:

Shame all that rain wasn’t really much warmer than the lake already was- but then again since I’m at least a week, if not two out from getting down to fish, I’m not too torn up about Mother Nature taking her time on spring.

You’ll be Golden. It’s coming on. They will flood shallow when it starts. 

 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I think i may go to Big Creek Friday.  If i do ill report back whether it be good or bad

 

[Ham]

3 minutes ago, aarchdale@coresleep.com said:

I think i may go to Big Creek Friday.  If i do ill report back whether it be good or bad

 

You can’t do worse than I did. No real consolation, but no one I talked to admitted catching anything