Another Tough Day on the Rock

[Flippin]

We fished yesterday for about 7.5 hous and only had 8 fish to show for it.  Only 2 keepers. We could not find a pattern. This cold water is really killing the Spring bite for me or maybe I don’t know how to catch fish any more. 

[m&m]

Flippin, sounds like a lot of people are having the same luck you are. I’m gonna try tomorrow around the dam area and see if I can catch any. 

Mike

[Macsimus]

You are not alone sir. In 5 years of coming down here for the months of March and April, I've never seen it this tough. I am reminded of a quote by fly-fishing author, Thomas McGuane:

"What is emphatic about angling is made so by the long silences - the unproductive periods."

Personally, I am ready for some "emphatic". 

 

 

[*T*]

I seems like, as you may have seen mentioned here before, there are areas with great concentrations of fish and others that are barren. 

Fished 3 days this last weekend, 2 up the James and 1 up the White.  Found good concentrations of fish in a few locations on both, many FAT keeper size spotted bass with one good largemouth at 5# on jerkbait.  Key for us was (as always at TRL) fishing wind blown points/banks, cedars and certain docks.  Baits were jerkbait, swimbait, nedrig & Menace on swinghead jig, mostly main lake areas and not too many shallow fish, most maybe 10' - 20'.  Also, morning bite was poor but late morning early PM was very good.

I'm still learning that if you're not on fish - move.  If you're catching fish there are probably more around.

Good luck out there!

[Flippin]

Today was a better day. Found water temp around 58-60 and caught around 30 keepers today. 

[m&m]

Flippin, sounds like you certainly had a better day. I went out on Monday from the dam and headed into Long Creek. Bill Babler was correct - most banks have been pounded. Saw a lot of boats still pounding away at the banks. I fished main lake cuts and windy points down past long creek boat dock. Only caught 4 fish all on a bluegill colored chatterbait in <10 fow. Just one keeper. Water temp was 55.6 at the dam to 62.2 in one of those cuts in the afternoon.  Water has better color past the 86 bridge. Still plenty of slime around the dam. 

Mike

[Flippin]

Had a tougher day today in blue skies. Caught around 15-20 keepers. Did catch a 18.5” SM. Launched  out of Cape Fair. Did find water up to 63 by the end of the day.