Fishing Reports for 2009

Naaaa,

You just have to have a open mind, remember past outings, factor in the weather, & try to think "What would a fish do"

Fish have to eat, and avoid being eaten.

So "cover",,,, weeds, grass, limbs, tree roots, can be a key  to find fish to catch.

After 3.25 inches of rain,,, lake Monroe was about 7 feet above normal level. The water color was a "light tint brown" towards the dam.

Going east the water became more & more muddy. Another factor was the water temp. in the creeks that filled Monroe the water was 53* Going towards the dam you could find water temps at 60*

All "but three boats" headed towards the open water, deeper water, away from the muddy creeks. If you ever fished Monroe,,,, "You  know of the fishing history of the Boy Sout camp grounds". That is where we started. I threw a jig up into the flooded buck brush,, for two hours not a bump. We pulled back to deeper water off along point. I started throwing a deep diving crank bait. I was bouncing the crank bait off rocks and old sunken logs. Another hr. has passed,, no fish.

We then went to the back of the cove to all the flooded weeds shrubs and stick up's I threw a sinko. (or skipped a sinko) way back into the "Junk" I slowly worked it back to the front side of all the brush. I felt nothing, but I saw my line start to move sideways. My first fish was a 4 pounder.

After that fish we caught six or seven fish "dinks" This sounds crazy,,, You had to skip your bait back into the brush to catch a fish. If you threw in front of the brush nothing would touch it. ( Just a guess because of the flood water, the fish were in back of the brush to eat the earth worms and bugs.)

We left the Boy Scout camp and went to Allens creek. Allen's Creek is a rocky cliff bluff. It's full of stones and old trees that has fallen from the cliff's. The creek wasn't as muddy as the others. But all the stone caused the sun to heat the water. We found water temps in the 68* zone. Spinner baits and shad crank baits proved to be what the fish wanted. The next "keepre" fish was caught on a crank bait.

We quit at 4:00 twelve fish were caught yesterday. With the cold water, muddy water, & flood conditions. It could take a week to get back to normal fishing again.

Monroe is a good lake to fish, but it is a flood control water way,, "they" will start to lower the lake to get back to normal pool,,,, then lower it again for winter pool in about two weeks.  It's a 2 and half hr. drive down. 112 miles. If you do fish it You might want to get a motel room for the night,& make it a two day outing.

(White River is closer, the bass are hitting, & the water color is perfect)

See ya on the water

C.J.S.

Going to float White River tomorrow,,,Looks like I get to stay out all day,,, I'll give a full report after 7:45 p.m.

 Her rhythm chart says we need to try at 6:30 a.m. & again at 7:15 p.m. this kid is going kill me ,,,, but what a way to go,,

Fished White River yesterday,

The wind was blowing hard all day, and the water temps are now down to 49* The fishing was slow I got my first one on a sinko at 10:15.

This fish was tucked in, next to the bank under a over hanging tree. They wouldn't hit on anything giving off any action,,, I ended up "dead sticking" almost all day. Dead sticking is when you  wait and wait for the fish to take your bait. (You end up wondering and wondering if any fish are down there because it takes forever)

I ended up at the dam The water is about 15 feet deep with all kinds of "Junk" on the bottom (years and years of flooding). I got slammed three times,,, each time I got hung up on the bottom, & had to break my line to get free.

I could tell it was a bass because how hard it hit my bait. (a catfish would just swim away with it) It ended up to be a school of small mouth. I caught several but this was my biggest.

Fishing the dam has its dangers, I only do it when the water is at normal pool, I also make sure my big motor has been started several times before I get into the "dam area".

The river  has tons of fallen leafs floating. You can't throw a crank bait or spinner bait. If you throw a worm, sinko, or jig you should get some bites. This cold snap will slow the fishing down,,,, "IF",,, we get a week of Indian Summer,,, Look out, they will be going crazy.

See Ya on the water

C.J.S.

Captain,

You are a liar and I think you may be full of stuff.  (I do like the looks of your 24  wife).   Nobody can catch that many fish.  Heck I had an aquarium and did not see that many fish.

You the man capt.

j/k on them not being yours

I know I could have caught one more fish,,,, "IF" I didn't have to be home to perform the baby dance   at 7:15p.m.

That is some funny stuff right there Captain.   I do not care who you are.  That was funny.  

Could you imagine a 73 year old weiner try to go in anywhere

Sorry Capt

Arrrrr,

When I'm not fishing I play the piano, They don't call this 73 year old a pianist  (For God sake I hope I spelled that word correctly) for nothing.

 Fished Shadyside today,,, water temps now 51*  "IF" you fish there,,, "LOTS" of pan fish are being caught.

 Bigger bass can be found "under" fallen logs, & docks. Throw something that falls slow,,,  a Sinko, or Suspending jerk bait.  The bass are cold and have to be "P.O."ed to hit your bait.

Throw in at the same spot several times,,, and fish very slow.

Good Luck

C.J.S.