2/27/18 Trip Report - Diamond City

[Lvn2Fish]

I fished the OMTT last weekend down there . Stayed within 5 miles of the dam for the practice day on Friday . We caught 6 fish with 4 of those being healthy keepers .  2 on the JB and 2 on the RK. These fish were all back in creeks , probably 3/4 of the way back water temp around 46.We did find some 50 degree water but not a bite out of it . Late Friday we decided to try some main lake current spots . With the dam releasing a lot of water we figured some fish might move up. The first stop we made payed of with a drum. This thing had a stomach on it that resembled a small melon. As much as I hate a drum bite when looking for bass this fish really clued us in. It was obvious this fish was there gourging on shad. After an intense battle with 10lb line it was netted and released. A quick retie and I fired the jerkbait back out and hooked another fish , this time it was the right kind. A hefty 3 lb largemouth with the same bulge in the stomach. That was the last cast made in practice before the event . 

Saturday we were greeted with a break in the rain taking off from Bull Shaols Boat Dock we made a small run to where we found the fish late Friday . On the first pass on this 75 yard stretch of bank we had 3 in the box with one being a 3lb class fish . We turned the boat around and caught one more that was close to 4 lbs . And just like that the light turned off . We fished the same area for another 3 hrs finally picking up a chunk of a small mouth  that was also pushing three . This fish came unhooked in the net . This was about 11:45 and the deluge of rain started . By 2:00 there was wind gusts over 30 mph and straight down lighting. I really Love tournament fishing and fishing in general but 3:00 could not come quick enough . Our best 5 weighed 13.5 lbs and landed is 2 ounces from the money which was disappointing, but it was a good finish especially for only getting 5 bites on the day . All on the jerkbait. 

[mixermarkb]

In a tourney against the quality of a field that the OMTT draws, that is a solid finish for sure. Nice job!

[magicwormman]

On 2/28/2018 at 9:24 PM, 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

 

I fished Big Creek yesterday and we only had one bite on a jig and missed that fish. Threw ARig, SB, jig, and ned. Water color was decent with the mud line directly out in front of mouth of cove.Lots of dying shad.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I made it about 3 miles from my house and I smoked my tracker hub right in front of the Tracker Trailer plant.    It ended up chewing up the spindle real bad so i had to order a new axle.   

[Ham]

3 hours ago, aarchdale@coresleep.com said:

I made it about 3 miles from my house and I smoked my tracker hub right in front of the Tracker Trailer plant.    It ended up chewing up the spindle real bad so i had to order a new axle.   

Been there done that. I’m sorry we have that shared experience 

[Lvn2Fish]

This happened Friday before the tournament on my way down , when I was passing a logging truck on hwy 5 ! 

[mixermarkb]

Been there done that, on hwy 5 between Gainsville and Mountain Home. Not a sign of a shoulder anywhere!

[dan hufferd]

On 2/28/2018 at 8:34 PM, Ham said:

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. 

 

Spoon maybe??? Jerkbait has been ok on Stockton. Thats all I got.

[Ham]

I still really think the big problem was the Shad kill. You just can’t catch many fish when there is all that free food to be had. 

[Fish24/7]

10 hours ago, Ham said:

I still really think the big problem was the Shad kill. You just can’t catch many fish when there is all that free food to be had. 

 for me that's when an underspin and float n fly  get the nod. if the jerkbait doesn't click. So many dead shad can be a problem, it's made me scratch my head many times in confusion.  the recent tournament weights would say they are biting good. Many 5+lb fish being weighed in . even some 6+'s. Heard it took 17+ to win Saturday. Had a buddy and his friend tell me they caught some nice bass last weekend jigging  finesse baits in brush piles while trying for crappie.. should start seeing a lot of bass,crappie,and whites make the journey up the major creek channels now or soon. I had time to fish today and well it's a little windy on the pond right now , dang