3/15/22 Fishing Report

[Ham]

I got a little bit of a late start. My gear was in disarray and I had a goal today. I wanted to force feed them crankbaits. I wanted to try various rod combos I have and see if I really need another fishing pole.

I was also hoping to add a few species for the year.

and run the BassCat.

and Not Die.

So I had a successful day. I didn’t die. BassCat ran great. I was Happy with the combos I used today.no need at all for another cranking rod. And I force fed a few.

water temp  was about 50 degrees at the boat ramp (Fouts). Water had a little color. If you ran towards the main lake the water cleared in a Hurry and temp dropped to 49.7 

I tried some clearer water and then ran back up to a transition bank near the launch. Caught one pretty quickly on RK. 
 I moved further up the creek arm and got a little more color. I fished another transition  bank with a wart. Caught a few.

I ran a little further. It got just a little warmer and I caught a few spots on Teckle Drunkered. 

I ran back in a side pocket which was warmer and more stained. I kept the boat in 6 ft and threw to 3 foot with a Rapala Tiny OG. Water temp was like 52.5. Poor little OG got eaten. 

while I was there I found a nice brush like that looked to be loaded with crappie. I caught a couple to prove to myself it was. I’ll get some groceries off that pile. First White Crappie of the year for me. 
 

ran further up and found some 54 degree water, but no takers. I had a final spot I wanted to try. I ran further up and found some shallow stained water that was 56.5. A little bit of surface activity told me that White bass were there. I picked on them for longer than I should have, but not as long as I wanted too. 

 

There was a bank I wanted to grind on with a square bill. It worked. too well. I got a pretty decent channel cat and the lost my bait to what I think was a Big Flathead, but I never turned the fish much leas got him to the surface. That fish took me into some wood and broke the 15 lb Abraz X.  The replace squad bill caught several Spotted Bass and LMB. 

I tried a Jack Hammer, but the fish didn’t like it as much as I did. No Bites.

I quit with 14 Bass, 8 White Bass, 3 crappie, a Bluegill, and a Channel Cat. All fish were released. I was Very Happy with my day. I left them biting, but I have a Lifer Quest tomorrow so I needed to not bw after dark getting home.

so I got a

few Spotted Bass, a White Crappie, a few White Bass, and a Channel Catfish as new for the year species. 
That gets me to an even 60 Species for the year. I’m going to try to add to that tomorrow. 

 

 

 

[BilletHead]

                   Way to go Ham and thanks for the play by play by text today!

[fshndoug]

Hey Ham ,you keep holding fish like that with dangling crankbaits you might want to get a good pair of pliers to get the bait out of you lol, except you won't be laughing.

 

[rps]

18 minutes ago, fshndoug said:

Hey Ham ,you keep holding fish like that with dangling crankbaits you might want to get a good pair of pliers to get the bait out of you lol, except you won't be laughing.

 

Get on ebay and buy a used Boga! Tie it to a partial pool noodle to keep it from sinking when you drop it in the water. Buy some forceps to take the hooks out of the fish. You will soon learn the value of this advice if you keep lipping crank hooked fish by the lower jaw.

 

[Quillback]

That's some great fishing!

[Ham]

I tried to match the bait to the conditions. Depth, water temps and water color. 

[Ham]

I appreciate y’all’s concern. Those fish were cold to the touch. They pulled (better as the day warmed), but we’re pretty tuckered out by the time I was getting hooks out.

The Honorable Duane Doty gave me a set of Boga Grips. I will most definitely use them when necessary , but ONLY when I think it is necessary. Boga Grips can injure fish.

I also have a set of the floating lip lock fish holders. Ai would have used those on the channel catfish, but they were at home with my catfish bag. 

[fshndoug]

Ham, about 5 years ago I hooked a 5 lb largemouth on a spro stickbait in 40 degree water . Fish fought hard, reached down to lip it and promptly got a #5  treble hook in a finger. Fish was flopping with the hook in me. Had to get the hook by myself with the fish held between my legs . cut the hook free with my off hand ,pulled the hook out of my hand with a hard yank and gritted teeth. Let the fish go ,replaced the hook ,made one cast and hooked another #5  and you can bet I didn't try to lip this one. Everyone that fishes should own a pair of Manley super pliers 5 in model with a tungsten side cutter on it.They will cut through anything.

 

[Johnsfolly]

@Ham congrats on a great multispecies trip! Lots of healthy looking fish!

[rps]

12 hours ago, Ham said:

I appreciate y’all’s concern. Those fish were cold to the touch. They pulled (better as the day warmed), but we’re pretty tuckered out by the time I was getting hooks out.

The Honorable Duane Doty gave me a set of Boga Grips. I will most definitely use them when necessary , but ONLY when I think it is necessary. Boga Grips can injure fish.

I also have a set of the floating lip lock fish holders. Ai would have used those on the channel catfish, but they were at home with my catfish bag. 

Bogas are hard on trout, yes. Never had a problem with bass or walleye.