Indian Creek, Oct. 4

[Quillback]

Launched early - went to a spot I like to fish over by the big island, and saw some scattered stripers chasing shad on top.  Threw top waters at them, could not get any to respond.  Kept an eye on the sonar screen and kept seeing fish and shad near the bottom in 30 FOW.  Said the heck with the top water stuff, tossed a drop shot out there with a fluke and bang, fish on.  That fish fought hard, thought it was a striper, but turned out to be a 3 lb. smallie.   One strong fish.

In the next 15 minutes, caught another keeper sized smallie and a 15" striper, thought I was on to something.  HA!  Sun popped over the hill and everything ground to a halt.   Fished another couple of hours, drop shot, jig, and c-rig at various locations and only caught one 12" smallie.  By 1030 I was done.

Great weather, and the monarchs were migrating in force, they were flying across the lake, across the parking lot, and I even saw a couple flying over Indian Creek road.   

WT 75

[Dutch]

That is a pretty brown fish for sure.

[Champ188]

Nice brown fish, Jeff. Good thing he didn't get caught by the striper guide I saw at Rocky Branch dock the other day. Guy was tied up to the dock and whacking their sides off one smallmouth after another. I wanted to barf on his boat. 

[Dan the fisherman]

Sounds like a fun day.  With these cooler temps makes the day so much nicer. I know I’ve been enjoying these cooler temps.  Seems like the Stripers are firing up with the cooler temps too. 

[Quillback]

6 hours ago, Champ188 said:

Nice brown fish, Jeff. Good thing he didn't get caught by the striper guide I saw at Rocky Branch dock the other day. Guy was tied up to the dock and whacking their sides off one smallmouth after another. I wanted to barf on his boat. 

Yeah, you hate to hear that.  

[Quillback]

10 minutes ago, Dan the fisherman said:

Sounds like a fun day.  With these cooler temps makes the day so much nicer. I know I’ve been enjoying these cooler temps.  Seems like the Stripers are firing up with the cooler temps too. 

I was back today and it wasn't happening.  Caught one and only one smallmouth.  Briefly hooked a freight train on my wimpy drop shot rod, but it pulled off, I bet it was a striper.  

However the stripers were not on top today.  I can't figure it out, maybe it was the north wind.

[Quillback]

Forgot to add that I got checked by the wardens today at the ramp.  First time on Beaver that I have been checked.

[Champ188]

On 10/9/2024 at 5:02 PM, Quillback said:

Forgot to add that I got checked by the wardens today at the ramp.  First time on Beaver that I have been checked.

Glad to hear it. They must've gotten a tip that you were barging in on the striper guides' smallmouth spots. LOL. They are usually checking hunters this time of year.