Lower end, April 8

[Quillback]

I launched at Indian Creek today (I like that ramp), but fished part of the morning quite a ways from the launch in one of the big arms, well started there and worked my way back.  Went into the very back of that big arm and dropped the TM about 400 yards from the very back, I have fished this area a few times over the years and was thinking I might find some black bass pulled up in there in pre-spawn mode.  

As I started, I kept seeing some top water activity in the shallow water in the back, it wasn't a feeding frenzy but it was enough for me to stand on the troller and get back there.  Started tossing a 3.3 keitech and slow rolling it, and quickly caught a 19" walleye.  Caught a couple of white bass too.

Then the something happened that was the best part of the morning, I had swam the Keitech close to the boat, looked down at it and could see a big fish swimming after it - usually when that happens, I get excited and yank the bait away from the fish, but today my brain was working and I killed that bait.  Bang!, that fish made that Keitech disappear, and I could see that it was about a 10 lb. striper.  Now I was throwing it on a spinning rod with 6 lb. leader, so wasn't much I could do but hang on and follow that fish around.  Had it on for about 30 seconds and the hook just pulled out, and I wasn't that disappointed it got off as I had no plans to keep it, and was happy enough seeing that fish come to the boat and grab that swim bait.

That was the end of any sizeable fish catching for me in that location, caught a few small bass, and several hand sized whites.

Started working my way back to the launch fishing points, picked up a few more small bass and 2 more keeper walleye, one of the walleye on a Ned rig, and another on a Keitech.

I was about done for the day, but a south wind had started to blow a little and I have a point halfway back in Indian that can sometimes fish well with that wind blowing into it.  2nd cast with a Ned and I hooked a 4 lb. or so striper.  Again on 6 lb. test so that fish gave me a run for my money, but in the end I was able to boat it.  Made a few more casts and headed for the barn.

Lots of boats on the lake when I left at noon, mix of fisherman and recreational types.  WT 59-60.

Some fish pics: (Walleye are skinny spawned out fish)

 

 

 

 

[Bassmeister]

Awesome day, congrats! The striper on light tackle would be a heck of a fight. I caught a 15# striper two weeks ago on a rock crawler and thought I had on a whale. Do you think the 6# leader makes a difference as opposed to 8? I go back and forth using braid to flouro vs. straight flouro. I sometimes wonder if they get spooked by the bright braid even with a leader. 

[Quillback]

From the fish's perspective I don't know if they care if the leader is 6 or 8.  I like 6 lb. for finesse fishing because it just works well for me, I can't really rationalize it well, just one of those go with what works for me kind of things.  

Same with leader length, usually I'll run a leader about as long as my rod.  So about 7-8 feet long.  

 

[Johnsfolly]

Nice mixed bag of fish @Quillback! Congrats buddy on a decent day fishing!

[Sore Thumbs]

I don’t think it matters on leader size. I use 7,8 and 10. I haven’t seen a better bite on smaller diameter. About the same. I like 7 on my drop shot because when I tie the palomar and go back through the eye of my ds hook the knot will go through allowing the hook to stick straight sideways. 

[jolicious]

6 hours ago, Quillback said:

I launched at Indian Creek today (I like that ramp), but fished part of the morning quite a ways from the launch in one of the big arms, well started there and worked my way back.  Went into the very back of that big arm and dropped the TM about 400 yards from the very back, I have fished this area a few times over the years and was thinking I might find some black bass pulled up in there in pre-spawn mode.  

As I started, I kept seeing some top water activity in the shallow water in the back, it wasn't a feeding frenzy but it was enough for me to stand on the troller and get back there.  Started tossing a 3.3 keitech and slow rolling it, and quickly caught a 19" walleye.  Caught a couple of white bass too.

Then the something happened that was the best part of the morning, I had swam the Keitech close to the boat, looked down at it and could see a big fish swimming after it - usually when that happens, I get excited and yank the bait away from the fish, but today my brain was working and I killed that bait.  Bang!, that fish made that Keitech disappear, and I could see that it was about a 10 lb. striper.  Now I was throwing it on a spinning rod with 6 lb. leader, so wasn't much I could do but hang on and follow that fish around.  Had it on for about 30 seconds and the hook just pulled out, and I wasn't that disappointed it got off as I had no plans to keep it, and was happy enough seeing that fish come to the boat and grab that swim bait.

That was the end of any sizeable fish catching for me in that location, caught a few small bass, and several hand sized whites.

Started working my way back to the launch fishing points, picked up a few more small bass and 2 more keeper walleye, one of the walleye on a Ned rig, and another on a Keitech.

I was about done for the day, but a south wind had started to blow a little and I have a point halfway back in Indian that can sometimes fish well with that wind blowing into it.  2nd cast with a Ned and I hooked a 4 lb. or so striper.  Again on 6 lb. test so that fish gave me a run for my money, but in the end I was able to boat it.  Made a few more casts and headed for the barn.

Lots of boats on the lake when I left at noon, mix of fisherman and recreational types.  WT 59-60.

Some fish pics: (Walleye are skinny spawned out fish)

 

 

 

 

Got me beat, as usual... I had a handful of smaller fish. Put in at Prairie at daylight and fished the cove across from Copper Mine almost all day. I did have one interesting moment. I skipped a fluke past a tree, and it disappeared with a swirl and no splash. I don't know about up here, but on the St John's River that usually means it's a big girl "sipping tea", as my cousin calls it. Anyway, was no big girl, was a little fella that managed to stick himself to the bait and the bush at the same time. I had to stop, while reeling in, and take his photo just because, well, how many times do we see a fish eat a bait and a bush??

_

[Quillback]

6 hours ago, jolicious said:

Got me beat, as usual... I had a handful of smaller fish. Put in at Prairie at daylight and fished the cove across from Copper Mine almost all day. I did have one interesting moment. I skipped a fluke past a tree, and it disappeared with a swirl and no splash. I don't know about up here, but on the St John's River that usually means it's a big girl "sipping tea", as my cousin calls it. Anyway, was no big girl, was a little fella that managed to stick himself to the bait and the bush at the same time. I had to stop, while reeling in, and take his photo just because, well, how many times do we see a fish eat a bait and a bush??

_

Didn't throw a fluke but thought about it, I can catch other species but I'm not getting bass either except for little ones.  

There's a pocket near Indian where the smallmouth spawn, spent a little time looking for beds to see if there were any spawners, saw one bed off the end of a log in about 8 FOW that had a smallie sitting on it.  

[Sore Thumbs]

I love throwing the fluke! Been waiting for the time it’s on. I knew it was close. Need Indian Creek to stay at 60 or above. Then it’s on like Donkey Kong.