Lockjaw on the lower river

[semble]

Fished the lower mac this afternoon with nothing but a slice of humble pie to show for it. Had one solid bite on a spinnerbait that, of course, the fish just plain missed. Covered around 15 river miles. Looked for prespawn fish in areas they tend to stack up as they are moving up. Fished banks with shoreline eddies where I can usually pickup a few fish here and there as they are moving. Even probed around a couple spawning areas. Nothing, nada, zilch. Temps were 54-55. Water had a little more color from the rain the other day. Still, any day on the river is a good one and I had it to myself, only saw one tandem yak.

[Cwallis]

It’s been rather tough fishing despite the weather and river levels. They’ll turn on and off in a flash. It’s going to get better. 

[jfrith]

Found them up a creek a couple days ago busting schools of shad. Pretty wild actually, like something off of the Planet earth tv series. Both spots and whites/hybrids. Went back the next day and nothing.....

[Smalliebigs]

59 minutes ago, jfrith said:

Found them up a creek a couple days ago busting schools of shad. Pretty wild actually, like something off of the Planet earth tv series. Both spots and whites/hybrids. Went back the next day and nothing.....

that spot is completely dependent on how much water is coming out of the lake and how high the river is......if any part of the equation changes those fish are gone real fast

[Cwallis]

Some unpredictable quarry. That’s what makes it fun. If a person can tell you where and how to catch fish any given day they are lying or lucky lol

[semble]

On 3/28/2019 at 7:37 PM, Cwallis said:

It’s been rather tough fishing despite the weather and river levels. They’ll turn on and off in a flash. It’s going to get better. 

Here today, gone tomorrow!  Was able to find a few the week before.

[semble]

19 hours ago, Smalliebigs said:

that spot is completely dependent on how much water is coming out of the and how high the river is......if any part of the equation changes those fish are gone real fast

yep.

 

@jfrith  A few days back, a buddy of mine was back there in an older tracker and saw a guy bank fishing your spot. Water levels look about right, maybe you?

[Smalliebigs]

On 3/28/2019 at 6:51 PM, semble said:

Fished the lower mac this afternoon with nothing but a slice of humble pie to show for it. Had one solid bite on a spinnerbait that, of course, the fish just plain missed. Covered around 15 river miles. Looked for prespawn fish in areas they tend to stack up as they are moving up. Fished banks with shoreline eddies where I can usually pickup a few fish here and there as they are moving. Even probed around a couple spawning areas. Nothing, nada, zilch. Temps were 54-55. Water had a little more color from the rain the other day. Still, any day on the river is a good one and I had it to myself, only saw one tandem yak.

The Lower Mec is a fickled beast at best. The flow rate right now is not optimal. I have also found historically anytime the flow is restricted or backed up below Flamm it seems to do weirds things all the way up to Rte. 66.

The best part about the Lower Mec is most people can’t do anything down here and tend to stay away after futility but, I know you ain’t one of them hahahaha.

once we get some stabilization you will be destroying them.

I also wanted ask you about the bridge footing construction @ 44 kinda wild and the fishing has been different since they started that IMO

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 minutes ago, Smalliebigs said:

I also wanted ask you about the bridge footing construction @ 44 kinda wild and the fishing has been different since they started that IMO

I boated up there a few weeks ago to burn some gas out.  I didn't go through the gap as I couldn't see what was going on since it was overcast.  Caught a couple asians.  Water was real high then too.  Saw two other boats but they were racing each other not fishing.

[semble]

3 hours ago, Smalliebigs said:

The Lower Mec is a fickled beast at best.

To call her fickled is one of the best compliments I've heard! Tough fishing in any conditions.

Mississippi has the river backed up well past VP right now. IMO, these conditions really scatter the fish and they don't know what to do without the current telling them. If it stays backed up long enough, they seem to settle in to a little more predictability. Regardless, they still relate to the same pools and ditches.

To be honest, I haven't been below Unger since they started constuction. Been fishing from where the backup starts and up this spring. Spent most of my time last summer fishing above Eureka. I was looking forward to that strech last fall but, due to flooding where I hunt, spent my fishing time scouting for alternate duck plans.