Experience Still Means Something

[Bill Babler]

Got a call from James last week wondering about the bite on TR. He had not been on the pond in a while. 

I told him what I knew and he expanded on it.  
He gave me a call thanking me and then told me how he caught his best  ones. 

Needless to say after church yesterday I used his advice to catch 12 really, really nice keepers in about 4 hours right in the middle of the day. 

Spawned out SJ that still weighed 4.01  

I listened to the PBFL fishermen complain they could not get a quality bite on Saturday, most weighing in 7-8-10-12 pounds. Some with limits sone not. 

Might have been what they were doing and how they were doing it. 

Thanks much Pard appreciate your wisdom. 

PS, up to Champ to tell ya what he discovered.  Not my place.  I was just the recipient of the knowledge of an experienced hand. 





 

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Seems a tad warm for his liking.  

[96 CHAMP]

I have found the bite to be good during these rain fronts moving through the area. 

[Alex Heitman]

I went with my dad this past weekend focusing on Smallmouth in dam area and thought they would be on fire. We caught enough to keep us interested but they were not holding in the usual spots in numbers. We would catch maybe 3-4 in each spot but these areas are usually loaded when they are spawning. I don’t knowing we missed it or they have not all moved in. Usually we catch them out 10-12 ft and in but almost all of them were 8 ft or less with Ned rig. I even tried out deeper on the gravel in 15ft plus with tube and nada. Thinking of going tomorrow but not so sure with how the bite was last weekend. I don’t know if the water fluctuation has them scattered or what. 

[Dock-in-it]

The shad spawn may be hijacking the smallmouth. The high water in the bushes provides the shad something to spawn on. As the shad travel down a bush line the smallmouth will follow.

There are plenty of smallmouth out deep taking advantage of plentiful shad and the shad spawn.

On a different note, this spring I am seeing an abundance of short fish out deep. 

[Foghorn]

There's a boat load of experience on this forum!

[Bill Babler]

I’m catching a Bucket Load of SM out deep. All spawned out. Plenty of LM out there.  They also have been spawned out. 

These are deep pre and post spawn locations.  There are also quite a few Big, Big K’s mixed in with them that are pre spawn. 

Kentucky’s are fat as toads and have not stepped up to the maturity ward yet in any numbers.

I haven’t caught a spawned out K yet.  

Don’t know if y’all watched any of the MLF today but Nick Hatfield was on a very similar pattern as I’ve been fishing.  
Unlike Nick however I’m not catching one every cast. 🤣🤣

They will be scattered spawning thru the 1st. Holiday, especially the K’s, but we have had a minor and a major wave finish up. 
 

[willyfish]

4 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

4 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

I’m catching a Bucket Load of SM out deep

 

How deep Mr. Bill?

[Bill Babler]

Yikes. On Topwater, Dixie Jet flutter spoon and a 2.8 Keitech 

Think pre-spawn when the water is cold and they’re just starting to move up and stage. 

RIGHT THERE. 
 

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

I bet Champ was out in 50ft scoping with a minner.   

 

I went up the James all the way to McCords bend today. Mainly crappie fishing with my lil man.  We did pretty good.   Water temp way up the James was 59. Flatt Creek I saw 64. Water was very clean and clear above Bridgeport.  Below Bridgeport water was  nice stain but not muddy