Frustrating Day on the Upper End

[rps]

I went out, after carrying gas to the boat in the lift, around 9:00. Water temp was 54 - 55. Water visibility was 10 - 15". Brisk SW wind with intermittent sprinkles. I caught one dink bass on a Rockcrawler and had one hard strike that did not hook up. That is over a two hour period fishing known locations. In the next two hours I fished a Ned, again in known locations. For that effort I caught a green perch. I grew tired of the action and came in around 1:30.

[IL Fisherman]

Sorry you had a tough day RPS.   I feel a bit better knowing I’m not alone.  Better luck next time.  

[96 CHAMP]

One thing for sure, it happens to us all. seems on a regular basis at times also. another thing for sure, there is always a next time!!  Good luck next time.

[abkeenan]

It's been almost a week since my last cast on TR but when I was there I caught A LOT more fish in the clear water than I did the dirty stuff. Not sure the reason but bites were hard to come by in Long Creek that had maybe 2 feet of visibility. Whereas around the dam you'd catch 3-4 fish per stop on windblown secondary points. Clarity there was closer to 8 feet if I had to guess. Couple of weeks and that Top Dollar should be going for you. Good luck.

[Guest]

sorry, but with the rapid rise in water, and influx of colder water, plus the amount of water moving down the channel, it is going to be kind of sorry going for a while.  might be a good time to just stay home for a bit.  5 to 7 days of stabilization will do wonders to finding a better and more consistent bite.  this will be even more true on this upper end.

bo

[m&m]

Bo, I certainly agree with you. We fished Saturday from 10am to about 2pm in the dam area and had two dinks to show for it. Talked to a MN fisherman who caught two on an a-rig. We fished secondary points with crank baits, spinnerbait, jig and jerk bait. The water rise has slowed our bite a bit. But it was still nice to get out on the water. 

Mike

[dan hufferd]

You are not alone. If this keep up I might have to sell my boat.......Not really.

[Basfis]

Friday we found the males to be in 15-25’ 10-15 down. Less where dirty (12”) more so where the clarity came to 2-3’. Every fish was off the bottom. 

The handful of females we caught were on timber in the middle of pockets. 

I’m a bank beater by nature and kept seeing fish on my graph while beating the bank. The females on timber was a lucky guess. We fished arigs, I’m guessing a stickbait would work though it lacks the blades and vibration for the dirtier water

Its like many fish stayed right where the were and let the lake come over them. I hoped the moon might override the temps and it looks like the temps won.