Fishing Report

[Trav]

Decided to jig some spoons in hopes for some big brownies but only caught a couple modest 2 pounders. With the pick up of a decent 3 pound Bow and 2 of her smaller proteges I finished a 4 hour day with 5 fish.

a little below average, but when specifically targeting brownies I have also had days where I had to give up and go after something else just to say I caught something.

Haha...I refuse to ever skunk out.

[Daddy Carp]

I'm going to try to get down to Empire tomorrow. I promised to take the cleaning lady Christmas shopping in the morning. I asked if I could do it on Friday instead, she said no, very firmly. Since she is also my cook and wife,.... is there anything I can pick up for you tomorrow while I'm shopping? LOL

Were you fishing up in the coves at the dam or on the main body? What depth were you jigging when you found the brownies? I'll try to get out there in the afternoon. God Bless........D.C.

[Trav]

Im always out on the main lake when looking for brownies. Thats where they are. They always find some kind of cover in the current, like a rock or a dip on the bed, a fallen log that has drifted deep and away from shore. Then they sit behind it and ambush stocker bows.

Those spots are hard to find and even harder to stay on in the current without spooking them.

Keep in mind if your hunting big ones. Size does matter. Have to present baits over 3 inches and move the bait so they look twice as big when they flash or jig. Those big guys are used to eating 10 inch bows.

Always thought that if the hatchery would sell us some 6 inch fingerlings............haha. But that would take all the fun out of it right?

[Daddy Carp]

Thanks Trav. I went down to Empire and put in this afternoon (yes guys, after I took my cleaning lady shopping). I talked to a couple of guys who were leaving when I got there......Hmmmmmm.... strange, they didn't even know me. They said it had been real slow for them. One had been using rooster tail spinners and caught 1 fair bow. I went out and caught 4 decent table bows right off. I was using a blue fox inline and a candy-apple/white pearl spoon. I then started with some lures. Got some pretty good response on My "walmart specal" diver and a rainbow flat fish (F-5). I probably caught 10-12 bows in all. No browns but did have 1 good follow & strike on the diver by a pretty good sized brownie. Spent the afternoon trolling and casting, working the bottom with the spoon awhile. I did find some pretty good stumps and logs in 18'-24' water with my spoon. Amazing, I still have my spoon. LOL LOL God Bless & Good Luck..........D.C.

[Trav]

DC

Next time you go out, try using some Johnson Sprites. 3 inches or bigger. Silver and gold works but my confidance is with silver. Or if you have some old school vertical jigs with silver dollar size tail-blades, try them.

Sometimes I will take a blue or red Sharpie pen and draw pinstripes on my spoon or blade. Seems to absorb a little different light yet still letting the metal reflect.

Jig them with a narrow figure 8 fashion 2 feet or so over those logs you found. If any of those logs lay in current those will be the best. No need to work them too long. No big brownie in 10 minutes move on to the next one.

I never sit in one spot more tha 10 or 15 minutes at a time.

Run and Gun. Fish for them like they were bass. Get the reaction bite and move on.

You will definately loose your numbers but one 6 pound+ brownie is worth 10 stocker bows.