9/26 Lower end

[AR Huzgr]

Got out for a few hours this morning.  Thought I might see some topwater but none to be had.

Got a few small smallmouth on a bandit 200 around docks.  Then moved to a nearby point and marked a LOT of fish, all in the 35-40 ft range.    I tried ned and swimbait with no luck.

Switched to a war eagle spoon and aggressively jigged off bottom.   Got 2 decent smallmouth right away, then kept at it and got a 20" walleye and the small striper.  Not a ton, but fun morning nonetheless with little boat traffic and an eagle sighting to boot.

Water temp 76

[bfishn]

Not bad for a bluebird day like this.

[Quillback]

Nice fish!   Last time I was on that lake was Sept. 15, caught a 2 lb. smallmouth and that was it.  Might give it a shot again next week.

[AR Huzgr]

2 hours ago, Quillback said:

  Might give it a shot again next week.

I should be out there as well.  I had to miss learning the lake last fall when I had my truck totalled so looking forward to actually fishing here in October.  

I'm curious how the walleye transition from summer spots.

[Quillback]

On 9/29/2023 at 4:59 PM, AR Huzgr said:

I should be out there as well.  I had to miss learning the lake last fall when I had my truck totalled so looking forward to actually fishing here in October.  

I'm curious how the walleye transition from summer spots.

I never catch many walleye in the fall, usually I get them in the spring while bass fishing.  I have a buddy that catches them deep on spoons over on Table Rock this time of year, so you'd think it would work on the Beav too.

[rps]

In August, on Bull Shoals, Table Rock, and Beaver, the thermocline goes deeper. It will stay there until sometime in October when the water cools. When the surface is so hot, fish go to the thermocline depth and stay there except to feed, usually at night. Fish can and do go below the themocline; the water has some oxygen in it even below the thermocline, although the percentage decreases the deeper you go. Ask Phil about the effect of diminished dissolved oxygen on the fishing in Taneycomo.

Under those conditions, the fish will eat a fast moving bait. A jigged spoon that goes up fast and flutters down fits that description.

Look for flats or points where Spring and early Summer fish hang out and feed. Keep going out until the flat or point falls off, usually into the channel. If that fall off is at the thermocline, fish will be somewhere along there. If the flat or point extends beyond the thermocline, look for lumps, ditches, or other anomalies at or just below the line. A timberline is an example.

I hope this explanation helps.

[AR Huzgr]

Thanks very much for the information RPS.   That is a great description and I look forward to learning the fall patterns!