Upper White Smorgasboard

[SKMO]

Fished out of Shell Knob about 3.5 hours this afternoon. Final tally: 5 LM all legal, none you would have to measure but none over about 17.5. All these fish were real healthy and absolutely beautiful in color, plus one SM short (but barely), plus one crappie 14", plus the walleye whose mug shot is attached, 21" pretty plump probably a bit over 4#. Plus one real nice fish that pulled off and I had two good flashes from nice LM that sniffed the pointer, shot me the bird and disappeared. All in all a good 3 and a half hours, not another boat out that I saw which was kind of surprising.

Thought it kind of funny that someone was asking me today what color stickbait I was throwing. I said a Pointer 100, I was not sure what the color was called, but it was the color of a honey brown walleye. Appearantly they eat their babies. In any case that's the only stick I thew all day. It's been a good one for me last few weeks.

[Martin]

Fished out of Shell Knob about 3.5 hours this afternoon. Final tally: 5 LM all legal, none you would have to measure but none over about 17.5. All these fish were real healthy and absolutely beautiful in color, plus one SM short (but barely), plus one crappie 14", plus the walleye whose mug shot is attached, 21" pretty plump probably a bit over 4#. Plus one real nice fish that pulled off and I had two good flashes from nice LM that sniffed the pointer, shot me the bird and disappeared. All in all a good 3 and a half hours, not another boat out that I saw which was kind of surprising.

Thought it kind of funny that someone was asking me today what color stickbait I was throwing. I said a Pointer 100, I was not sure what the color was called, but it was the color of a honey brown walleye. Appearantly they eat their babies. In any case that's the only stick I thew all day. It's been a good one for me last few weeks.

Nice fish SKMO.... ! Do you throw that Pointer with spinning gear or baitcasting gear? What lb test line works for you? Do you use mono or one of the superlines?? Sorry about the flurry of questions. Thanks in advance for any info.....

[ryan]

Fished out of Shell Knob about 3.5 hours this afternoon. Final tally: 5 LM all legal, none you would have to measure but none over about 17.5. All these fish were real healthy and absolutely beautiful in color, plus one SM short (but barely), plus one crappie 14", plus the walleye whose mug shot is attached, 21" pretty plump probably a bit over 4#. Plus one real nice fish that pulled off and I had two good flashes from nice LM that sniffed the pointer, shot me the bird and disappeared. All in all a good 3 and a half hours, not another boat out that I saw which was kind of surprising.

Thought it kind of funny that someone was asking me today what color stickbait I was throwing. I said a Pointer 100, I was not sure what the color was called, but it was the color of a honey brown walleye. Appearantly they eat their babies. In any case that's the only stick I thew all day. It's been a good one for me last few weeks.

do you usually catch a few walleye in that area

[SKMO]

Nice fish SKMO.... ! Do you throw that Pointer with spinning gear or baitcasting gear? What lb test line works for you? Do you use mono or one of the superlines?? Sorry about the flurry of questions. Thanks in advance for any info.....

Hi Martin -

Don't apologize for the questions, that's what forems are for.

I always use baitcasters for stickbaits. In fact about the only time I use a spinning rod anymore is when I am swimming a 1/8 or 3/16 oz gub on a jighead. (or using ultralight for crappie of course) Anything heavier than that I use a baitcast rig. I even use a baitcast for dropshotting, a 6' med light stick with a bantam curado and 8# floro. Spinning reels and I have "issues". Throwing a stickbait often involves a great deal of accuracy as I am usually threading it amongst trees and I have very little (zero) accuracy with a spinning reel.

I thow stickbaits with a 6 and a 6-6 medium rod with 10 or 12# test. Either Seaguar florocarbon or Maxima, the 2 lines I have settled on. There are a lot of good lines out there, I don't think there is anything magic about these two. I never use superline on TR unless we get a big muddy rise and I am flipping jigs in real heavy brush and muddy water. I don't even have a rod with any spooled up now, I take it off and store it for use a couple weeks every other year or so. It's great stuff but you can function quite well on TR without it.

Short rods are good for me with a stickbait because I retrieve them with the rod tip pointed amost straight down at the water. I generally like shorter rods, can cast a 6" more accurate than anything, if I would have to choose I would go for the 6 personally. If I need great distance in casts or leverage I'll use a longer rod but for accurate casts short is best for me.

Maybe more info than you wanted but any other questions fire away.

[SKMO]

do you usually catch a few walleye in that area

Ryan - I usually see 8-12 walleye a year caught out of my boat, all accidently. Also the majority are real nice size, I am not sure I have ever caught a sublegal except up the James from the recent stockings. Most are this size or larger. Also kind of interesting is the fact that I have never caught one in the Kings, where I fish quite a bit and where there is a substantial spawning run. Not sure what to make of this myself.

I catch them in the White River channel from Big M to the mouth of the James which is not really great info because that's where I fish most of the time, along with the Kings. Have caught them about every which way but I would say most are in pretty shallow water, shoreline to 8' deep, although I have caught some deep spooning. The Biggest one caught though was 27.5" caught on carolina rigged brush hog about a mile up the James on a big gravel flat in June.

There are a few locals that fish for them specifically this time of year way up the Kings, mostly at night and mostly with bait, and mostly from the bank. They are pretty tight lipped about it but I think I get the idea. This year with the water low I think some different locations are being fished. If you are interested in more info about this let me know.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I like the braided lines for Jerkbaits for a couple of reasons. First is the fact they have virtually no stretch and it allows a good feel for those real light biters. The second thing is that it floats and remains somewhat straight on the pause, and I think this allows the bait to do its thing. I'm partial to Tuff XP and Power Pro in the 15# test.

I also like a short rod for the same reason that SKMO does, working the tip close to the waters surface. I've never used anything but baitcasters and I don't think I would like a spinning rod for them.

[loo10]

SKMO -

your walleye looks yummy.

Hope he fried up nice n crisp.

[SKMO]

SKMO -

your walleye looks yummy.

Hope he fried up nice n crisp.

He is still swimming around so you can catch him next time!

[Martin]

Hi Martin -

Don't apologize for the questions, that's what forems are for.

I always use baitcasters for stickbaits. In fact about the only time I use a spinning rod anymore is when I am swimming a 1/8 or 3/16 oz gub on a jighead. (or using ultralight for crappie of course) Anything heavier than that I use a baitcast rig. I even use a baitcast for dropshotting, a 6' med light stick with a bantam curado and 8# floro. Spinning reels and I have "issues". Throwing a stickbait often involves a great deal of accuracy as I am usually threading it amongst trees and I have very little (zero) accuracy with a spinning reel.

I thow stickbaits with a 6 and a 6-6 medium rod with 10 or 12# test. Either Seaguar florocarbon or Maxima, the 2 lines I have settled on. There are a lot of good lines out there, I don't think there is anything magic about these two. I never use superline on TR unless we get a big muddy rise and I am flipping jigs in real heavy brush and muddy water. I don't even have a rod with any spooled up now, I take it off and store it for use a couple weeks every other year or so. It's great stuff but you can function quite well on TR without it.

Short rods are good for me with a stickbait because I retrieve them with the rod tip pointed amost straight down at the water. I generally like shorter rods, can cast a 6" more accurate than anything, if I would have to choose I would go for the 6 personally. If I need great distance in casts or leverage I'll use a longer rod but for accurate casts short is best for me.

Maybe more info than you wanted but any other questions fire away.

Hey thanks for the info SKMO... I have always used baitcasting gear but I've got friends who swear by using spinning equip.... Like you, my accuracy goes out the window when using spinning gear. In your opinion, is the floro that much better then regualr mono ?

[SKMO]

Hey thanks for the info SKMO... I have always used baitcasting gear but I've got friends who swear by using spinning equip.... Like you, my accuracy goes out the window when using spinning gear. In your opinion, is the floro that much better then regualr mono ?

It has certain advantages as far as sinking or floating and it has it's own degree of abrasion resistance. I guess it all goes back to personal preference.

I really prefer the clear floro in the white river channel, however I use Maxima if the water has color.

On the other hand I know guys who fish florescent mono and superbraid lines and catch a lot of fish in the clear water. Personally I think the more invisible to ME the better, but the proof is in the pudding on what works for you.

Mono vs Floro will be debated forever, just spool up with some good stuff that you like, much more important to find the right spot and the right time and the right fish. When you do that you can catch them on a chunk of shoe leather and a catfish hook.

Point is don't get hung up on your line. In my opinion it's a pretty minor part of the equation.