Lower trip report 9/12

[snagged in outlet 3]

I was after whites again thanks to @fishinwrench😁. Woke up early enough to be there at the crack of dawn but dozed off and made it by crack of 9:30.  
Way lower on the meramec.  Headed up in the rain about 4 miles I guess.  Had on my double rooster rig, nada.  Never saw any bait or activity.   Switched over to a finesse drop shot rig just to get some action and caught this one.   Barely short of 17 inches.  Had several more whack it but that was it.  I know I’m around them I just haven’t hit it when they’re really on a frenzy.  I’ll try again in the morning. 
 

[Johnsfolly]

55 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I was after whites again thanks to @fishinwrench😁. Woke up early enough to be there at the crack of dawn but dozed off and made it by crack of 9:30.  
Way lower on the meramec.  Headed up in the rain about 4 miles I guess.  Had on my double rooster rig, nada.  Never saw any bait or activity.   Switched over to a finesse drop shot rig just to get some action and caught this one.   Barely short of 17 inches.  Had several more whack it but that was it.  I know I’m around them I just haven’t hit it when they’re really on a frenzy.  I’ll try again in the morning. 
 

Nice fish buddy. Hope you catch a bunch in the morning. 

[fishinwrench]

59 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

 I know I’m around them

Know it for a fact.  That's the coolest thing about chasing Whites....if you find one you've found 30 or more.  

If you just INSIST on using spinning/casting gear, let me make a suggestion... 

And if you aren't getting bit don't slow down your retrieve like you're probably inclined to do with other species.  Instead, speed it up.  Then speed it up even more.   Fast and crazy erratic retrieves get hammered when slower retrieves won't even get a sniff.   

[fishinwrench]

If they are moving around and you can't stay on top of them, some 4# mono, safety pins, and balloons really help.  😁

[BilletHead]

30 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

If they are moving around and you can't stay on top of them, some 4# mono, safety pins, and balloons really help.  😁

               Low Tec tracking device!   Did that once to a yellow perch in Minnesota when I was a kid. My grandpa laughed until he hurt. That fish pulled that balloon all over that lake. It was that or a northern took it all over he said.

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

And if you aren't getting bit don't slow down your retrieve like you're probably inclined to do with other species.  Instead, speed it up.  Then speed it up even more.   Fast and crazy erratic retrieves get hammered when slower retrieves won't even get a sniff.   

I haven't tried the red eye shad or the pop R but I will tomorrow.   I vary my retrieves up to crazy fast until it pulls out of the water and sputters.  I'm thinking evening may be better.  I'll try an evening trip this week.    

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

               Low Tec tracking device!   Did that once to a yellow perch in Minnesota when I was a kid. My grandpa laughed until he hurt. That fish pulled that balloon all over that lake. It was that or a northern took it all over he said.

If the water is calm out on the shallow flats I can just watch the surface and pinpoint where they are, and which way they are moving.  

I ballooned one once and after awhile it came right up next to the boat.  I glanced down at the LCR and it was solid black from 9-2.5ft.   Dropped my bait off the side and BLAM! 

Limited out in 5 minutes right under the boat in 8-9 fow.