Lower End Short Report

[bobby b.]

Been fishing early mornings in between rains, sometimes getting wet but not intentionally.    Been finding keeper SM in 10 to 15 fow on main lake primary and secondary points.  Sometimes the bite starts early, sometimes later - no telling, at least for me.  WT 75 deg.  1/16 or 1/8 oz Hula Stick Ned works the best.  Keepers are always SM but also short Spots.  SM are on a diet - nice length but they are losing weight.  Heaviest fish only 3 1/4 lbs.  Cooler mornings without rain are very pleasant.  

[Carl W]

Bobby I fish beaver mostly but I am curious how much do you idle around using your electronics before you fish?  

[bobby b.]

1 hour ago, Carl W said:

how much do you idle around

Carl, Lately I have the boat in my slip to reduce driving around because of the high gas prices and therefore I am more familiar with this area and can go to known spots or likely productive areas.  Plus neighbors and I share information.  My preference this time of year would be trailering to mid lake or the James to explore new areas and thus would result in lots more looking with the electronics.   I have learned from the guys on this forum to do more searching before fishing.  The winter months require lots more looking regardless.

For me the FFS is the key.  As others on the forum have said the FFS is the tool to not only locate fish but just as importantly to know where they are not.  For me it has been an invaluable teaching tool in that if I know that fish are there it eliminates at least one of the variables so I can work on the others like type of ground, type of bait, color, presentation, time of day, etc.  

[Carl W]

Thanks Bobby.  Just got FFS and am learning to use it. 

[Champ188]

Great job, Bobby. Those postspawn smallmouth are a blast.