5/11/19 Dam Area

[Seth Clarkson]

I fished around the dam area on Saturday from around 1 to just before dark. Saw low 60 water temps even after the cold snap and rain. Air temp was still cold and sun just never stayed out. Water was much clearer than I anticipated but I had also been fishing Bull Shoals the last few times out. Didn't do all that great until switching from fishing around various cover to the chunk rock by the dam in 15 to 25 ft. Caught around 10 on a small dark sleeper and the best bait being a puke tube. Caught 3 or 4 in 5 or 6 casts about an hour before dark but the smallmouth were swallowing it so just had to cut a couple baits. I hate letting them swallow it, but I think they were getting it on the fall and I didn't notice. Any suggestions on how to do better about that? Also caught a couple Google eye on the area just off the chunk rock. Also had on what would have been my pb smallmouth on the dark sleeper that came off at the boat while trying to net it. Replaying it over and over all I can think is it had hooked itself and I was focused on not letting it snap my line as it dove down rather than making sure I hooked it better. It was a dull gold color compared to most of the other more vibrant brown and striped ones I'd caught. Estimate it would've went 18 inches and 3 lbs or so. The smallmouth in the pic was 16.5 inches and the one I lost was visibly bigger. I didn't measure the goggle eye but it was bigger than most that I typically catch. 

[dblades]

I like it when it's  puke tube time for smallies. Good report.

[Bullcreek]

Seth I have that problem with the tubes also. I figured it was the same issue also. It is hard to detect that bite on the fall sometimes and those smallies can be so aggressive they just choke it. I don't fish a tube much because of that. Seems I can catch them on a jig also with out the trouble of deep hooking one. Nice report. 

[Bill Babler]

If you feel like you need the weight, go to a Ned of 3/16 or even a 1/4.  Also a small 3/8th. jig and they will not swallow either as bad and you will get just as many bites as the tube.  The 3/8th. to 1/2 oz. jig right now is simply on fire.  I'm fishing a PigSticker in GP Orange with a GP Smallie Beaver and they cannot leave it alone.  None are porking it, just nice roof or upper lip catches.

When they are taking the tube like that, mash down the barb and you can easily stick your finger in their mouth and turn the tube and it will slip right out.  You will get your finger bitten and scratched buts that's OK.  Even with a mashed barb you will lose hardly any when its way back in their craw like that.

Good Luck and great report

[bferg]

I haven't tried it but I have seen a couple of videos like this lately:  they suggest taking your long pliers through the gill plate to reach the gutted hook:

 

 

 

 

[Seth Clarkson]

7 minutes ago, bferg said:

I haven't tried it but I have see a couple of videos like this lately:  they suggest taking your long pliers through the gill plate to reach the gutted hook:

 

 

 

 

I've seen enough of these videos to think about this when it happens, but I have not gotten to the point where I could execute it. My pliers may also not be long enough because I feel like it's digging into the gills when I start from that side before I can ever get the hook located. I'm sure the tube blocking the line of sight to the hook doesn't help either. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

50 minutes ago, Seth Clarkson said:

My pliers may also not be long enough because I feel like it's digging into the gills when I start from that side before I can ever get the hook located

Last year I bought some 9" long needle nose.  Best thing ever.  Especially unhooking a flopping trout with a jerk bait full of hooks flying around. 

How do you like the Dark Sleeper??  I thought they might be good as a sculpin imitation for Taney. 

[Royal Blue]

1 hour ago, Bill Babler said:

If you feel like you need the weight, go to a Ned of 3/16 or even a 1/4.  Also a small 3/8th. jig and they will not swallow either as bad and you will get just as many bites as the tube.  The 3/8th. to 1/2 oz. jig right now is simply on fire.  I'm fishing a PigSticker in GP Orange with a GP Smallie Beaver and they cannot leave it alone.  None are porking it, just nice roof or upper lip catches.

When they are taking the tube like that, mash down the barb and you can easily stick your finger in their mouth and turn the tube and it will slip right out.  You will get your finger bitten and scratched buts that's OK.  Even with a mashed barb you will lose hardly any when its way back in their craw like that.

Good Luck and great report

On your recommendation I picked up some pig stickers in PB&J this winter.  I'm sure it's psychological, but I seemed to have a really good hookup ratio on them.  I'm down to my last one, so I'll be heading to Sportsman's asap for more.  

[Seth Clarkson]

6 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

How do you like the Dark Sleeper??  I thought they might be good as a sculpin imitation for Taney. 

So far I like it, but it's been hit or miss. I think mainly my lack of being around fish is the miss. It has great action no matter the speed. You can run it like a regular swimbaits but pulling it along the bottom and hopping it like a jig works best. After my first good day with it I went out and bought some more but have only caught them on the smallest size in a white with yellowish stripe down the side. The eyes come off pretty quickly and mine is need of some glue soon otherwise the hook and weight will pull out of the plastic body. I'm not sure about imitating a sculpin since I haven't fly fished but I can definitely say the 2 3/4 inch size or whatever it is works. This was mine after the first day with it. A lot of the scraping on the top was attempting to get it out with pliers on a deeper hook up. It's a real small bait and has an even smaller area to get the hook. 

[Bill Babler]

1 hour ago, Royal Blue said:

On your recommendation I picked up some pig stickers in PB&J this winter.  I'm sure it's psychological, but I seemed to have a really good hookup ratio on them.  I'm down to my last one, so I'll be heading to Sportsman's asap for more.  

Get some GP/O quick 5 in 3/8th. and 1/2 oz.  Later in the year I switch to the big boys, but right now in this shallow water that jig is on fire.