4-28-18

[Ketchup]

We had our club tourney out of Ruark today.  The weather was perfect, and it showed by the huge amount of boats on the lake, and not just fishing boats.  Campground was very busy also.  Fishing was good for most, but legal fish no so.  Swimbait did alot of the damage.  I caught my keepers on an underspin using a  Keitech.  Never caught a fish all day in deeper than 5' of water, and i fished 1/2 the day in 10' +.  Seeen  lots of beds with the water clarity, and a few males on them, but the females are still staged out waiting.  Another beautiful day that im grateful for. 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

1 hour ago, Ketchup said:

We had our club tourney out of Ruark today.  The weather was perfect, and it showed by the huge amount of boats on the lake, and not just fishing boats.  Campground was very busy also.  Fishing was good for most, but legal fish no so.  Swimbait did alot of the damage.  I caught my keepers on an underspin using a  Keitech.  Never caught a fish all day in deeper than 5' of water, and i fished 1/2 the day in 10' +.  Seeen  lots of beds with the water clarity, and a few males on them, but the females are still staged out waiting.  Another beautiful day that im grateful for. 

All ours were shallow too, couldn't keep the small ones off the Ned, couple on spinnerbaits and shakey heads, couple on jigs. No real pattern. Just a luck deal o catch a keeper... we probably caught 50 fish with 6 keepers all day

[Bigfishscott]

Ketchup, 

              We were out yesterday too. Spent the first 4 hrs graphing trying to find the bigger females out suspending in wait for the spawn. Looking mainly on windy flat points leading into spawning pockets. Most of the shad were on the bottom in 18-20 ft of water. We did get lucky enough to find a small group up off the bottom and we caught 2 about 4lbs that was it. Bright moon days are the pits!!! Switched to ned and caught one after another for the next 5hrs.

[sixstring531]

We probably landed 35-40 with 10 or so keeper bass one slab crappie on spinner bait. Most of ours were in shallow water with lizards and creature baits. Toward the middle of the day we backed off and hit some of the larger fish on cranks. If you wanted the bigger fish, I think Mr Scott (above) had the right idea. They definitely aren't "up" all over the lake and I expect this week and the next to be a little busier in the shallows. 

 

Shameless plug for a new one I tried this weekend: Rage Bug -- I fished it on a hinged head and it produced most of my fish.