Stay'en Warm, But Ready To Go

[Bill Babler]

Snuggled up to the fireplace here at the lodge looking out on the azure waters of the Rock is getting my fever up, but not quite yet for me.

Have not been of the forum much, just not alot going on.

Here is what I have been thinking and hearing about.

Buster has been out quite a bit and is doing pretty well on both the crappie and the K's. He is deep fishing the K's and most of his fish are coming from cove mouths or deep cuts in the major drainages. Typical stuff is around 50ft. Contrary to some of the posts I am reading, shad really don't seem to be much of a factor for either him or Bill Beck, they are also catching the K's on somewhat of the same pattern.

Bait usually never hurts, but it seems these fish are like caribou and migrate to the same lake sections every year reguardless of what we can see as far as forage on our sonar.

Crappie seem to be pretty good up Long and Cricket on the flats in the 15 to 22 ft. range on the bottom. Slow presentations with either a small tube, swimming minnow or maribou seem to be the ticket. Buster has been after them and is doing quite well.

There is still a pretty good jig bite going on the KC to LC end or dam section of the lake. Most of the boys that are doing well here are catchin'em

on 3/8-5/16 oz jigs on the really, really flat docks. Pea size gravel where the ramp is shallow and the front of the dock is in the 24 ft. range. This is on the big 20 slip docks. Bites have been from the ramp to the deep end, with absolutely no certain area to be holding the fish. Just fish the entire dock.

Been reading alot of stuff on the shakey head. For the guy coming down in March, although you can catch some fish on the "head" then, I would rethink my ammunition. At that time of the year, although there are some bass at the foot of the water column. The majority of the shark population are in transition, traveling in the "Rogue Zone". Very similar to the twilight zone, as it can be very scary twitching that stick of wood or plastic, not knowing what kind of a behomouth will grab it and run.

Grub swimming is also in vogue and can be very good.

The questions about the 3 favorite baits for the Rock would come into 2 catigories, your favorites or the best to catch fish.

My favorite is without a doubt a Suspending stickbait, Redfin, Floating Worm.

Absolute must have bait for all season fish catching on the Rock would be

1/2 oz white spoon, pbj jig and trailer, your personal favorite. Green pumpkin fish Dr. The Dr. will from Mid-April to December outcatch anything on the lake if you will just either drag or suspend it.

Crazy as it sounds and I usually don't use it for a drop shot bait but last fall, for some reason on a trip I was getting very low on worms. One of my clients picked up a used Dr. off the floor of the boat while I was working on his partners rig and said I'm going to try this on my drop shot for a minute if its ok? I said knock yourself out. We were fishing a deep flat in about 40 ft. and he started just flat hanging it on his buddy. The Dr. is great in any situation.

Becky needs on the computer. Hope to get out before long, good luck.

[WebFreeman]

Good to hear your thoughts, as usual. Thanks

[markg]

Thanks for the report. I've been sitting in front of the computer every night waiting for anyone to give a crappie report. I won't be down until March & April but February seems to be the barometer of what is to come. Was getting real nervous since I hadn't seen anything.

[Dutch]

Thanks Bill I been thinking about trying those Cricket Creek Critters for a while now.