Got Just What I Deserved. 4-16-26

[Bill Babler]

I have been feeling so good about myself, I forgot for a couple of weeks , this is Table Rock. 

Fished the James River today cause the White is to easy “🤩🤩🤩”

Went as far up as Campers to fish a flat pocket I love this time of year. Surface temp at 61. Have no idea why it’s cooler than the White. 
Visibility about a foot in the tannic color water. 

First cast at 6:30, by 7:15 I had 5 keepers in the boat all K’s all 2.2 pounds.  Chatterbait.

Gosh this is easy no matter where you fish🤣

I’d like to revise my 125 pound 2 day total down somewhat. Went the next 3 hours with out a bite.  Zip.

I had to beat feet out of the river or this was going to be a total disaster. 

Wind started to really howl so when I got back to the White I picked up the Magdraft. 4 casts in I just got hammered. 4 pounder jumped and the MD looked like a rocket headed for the moon.   “ Well that’s not right.”

1/2 dozen cast later another solid bite. I could do nothing with this fish. It was pulling drag and digging. I was just along for the ride.  Then that sickening feeling as it pulled off.   “Cripes,I’m doing good.”

Stayed with it as I’m not a quitter. And for my efforts another hammer out of a cedar. Set the hook STRONG. 17 pound test line and a Big hook on the MD.   Another I’m guess 4 pounder,  She shot out of the water and the MD sailed over my head. 

If I’d have been in a car I would have gotten a ticket for reckless and negligence. I mean I totally sucked it up. 

Ended a 7 hour day with 2 more keeper jaw’s 

Total 7 keepers all under 3 pounds and 5 short fish, not to mention 3 major lost opportunities. 
Also a back lash Birds Nest any Robin would have been proud to lay an egg in.  

I’d like to say I needed this but I didn’t. 






 

[pstone]

that would be a good day for me, Bill!    Me and my 2 brothers put in at Aunt's Creek this morning and had about 30 between us.   nothing big, maybe 4-5 keepers.   mostly smallmouth and several K's.   Only 2 largemouth.   My baby brother caught 2 nice goggle eye's.     Most on swimbait, he caught a couple on spinnerbait on rocky bank, right on the bank.   I had 1 on a senko and 1 on a brush hog type bait.      Fished from 7-noon.    Fun day with the bro's, just coudn't find the big uns.   Gorgeous morning.    So blessed to be able to enjoy a day on T rock with family.

[Bill Babler]

I’m not sneezing at 7 keeps, but for the past month it’s been 3 to 5 time that.  Got a little spoiled.  Not to mention the 3 hours of just enjoying nature or the 3 LM that totally ate me alive. 🤪🤪

Glad y’all had a very solid morning. 

[Quillback]

Beaver was on fire today, if I caught every bite I had, I would've had over a hundred.  I boated a little over 50 bass, mostly smallmouth.  Not getting the average size on the smallies Bill has been getting, but had 15 keepers `15-`17 inches and one smallie that was `18.5".  Had a largemouth that was a hair short of 4 lbs.  Keitechs were good, but the ned bite was really good.  

The fish were really shallow in some cases, even though the water is clear enough you can see bottom in 10-15 FOW.  Clouds and wind had them up in 4 feet or so and they were eating.  Look to be done spawning for the most part, but I think the largemouth are now spawning.

Tried green pumpkin magic Keitech today.  Only had three of them glued up, and they got torn up pretty quick.  The smalls seem to like that color.

[Bill Babler]

You know, I always used to fish GP. Buster Loving fished it all the time. I might give it a whirl. 
Great day Jeff. 

[stinger160]

That would be an awesome day for me!!!!

 

[pstone]

Congrats on a great day Quil!

[Champ188]

Darn good day, Jeff. Cherish those on Beaver, as they don't come along often. But you know that. 

Appreciate the report. Helped make up my mind where to go today. 

[Quillback]

13 minutes ago, Champ188 said:

Darn good day, Jeff. Cherish those on Beaver, as they don't come along often. But you know that. 

Appreciate the report. Helped make up my mind where to go today. 

Going to be nice and windy - your kind of day!  

[Quillback]

Here's a few from yesterday: