Rocky Branch 5-4-20

[TrophyFishR]

We fished in between storms yesterday. 

Caught 44 bass in 4hrs. Mostly short largemouth & couple walleye.

Ned Rig on Bluff banks

I didn't see any shad or schooling fish.

I cant figure out why there are no fish on the flat pea gravel points. 

 

[Bassmeister]

Wouldn’t expect to find them on bluffs this time of year! Were the bluffs in the middle of the lake or at least by the mouth of creeks or spawning pockets? Sounds like a fun day, congrats!

[Sore Thumbs]

Saw a few schooling in Clifty area Sunday. If it’s a sunny day you have to be in the right area as the sun is coming up. 

[Greg B.]

I saw a few schoolers just north of the 412 bridge At the mouths of the coves last Sunday.  These were mostly white bass with a few largemouths thrown in.  Right at sunrise.  They were down by the time the sun came up.  

[EzFishN]

 

@TrophyFishR where they hitting it before it hit bottom? Or were you casting onto the bluff and bouncing it off? I haven't used much of my finesse gear this year, but I had my wife throwing a shaky head with similar results, where they didn't even let it hit bottom, but picking it up on the fall. 

Over the last month, mains schools of shad I have found have been in 15-25 feet of water. From my experience I'd say it's a little 'cold' still to see them in the flats. Maybe a week or two out. It looks like a big warm up this weekend and going into the 80s. I bet the flats will be good with some water temps mixing. 

• Prairie Creek, west side of the marina. staged between the buoys and before it splits into in the Y. 
• Indian Creek (N Lost bridge) all the way at the back of the creek where it splits into a "Y". Go the NW side where the water is still flowing and you can cast net giant shad. I had to pull my boat onto the gravel and get out. About 200 of them in 4-6" of water, 8-12" size. ( I was looking for white bass)
• Deer and Bear Island I haven't seen much of anything. Been around it a couple times in the last couple of weeks. 
• Rocky Branch, North of marina against the JB Hunt home bluff, lots were stacked there when the wind was blowing from the south. west of point 7. 
• Coose Hallow was a bunch of nothing last week 5/8, but that north 30mph wind was wicked. 
• 412 Bridge and S. in channel swings I found tons of bait and crappie stacked on the side scan. 
• Mont Ne was deader than a door nail a couple weeks back. 
• War Eagle Creek (way up there, about 1-2 miles from the mill), had some giant bass spawning in 3-5 foot of water where it is all flooded timber. Big blow ups.  I hooked up on one but failed to get in the boat before it ran me into the brush and got off. I was using a 6" glide bait and was able to watch the whole thing. It was probably 5lb or better. Wife and daughter were my witnesses
• Checked out the dam and rip raft and no sight of fish. 
• South of the big island towards the dam (S. Lost Bridge) the SE corners of those coves, I checked all the timber and pockets and didn't see much of anything either. There was those stupid Kentucky bass staged in cedar trees. Easy to draw out with a swim bait for a look. 

 

[breeves2245]

Thanks for the detailed info. It's really helpful for someone like me that has done much exploring around Beaver.  

[TrophyFishR]

@EzFishN, 

You're correct. They're hitting before it hits the bottom or as I go to reel it in to recast.