Mickey and I met at 9:00 this morning at the waterfront and left for the North end of the lake. The wind was blowing but not enough to effect our fishing…to start. We started on the steep bank and went a good ways before we caught the first fish. The first one came on a DT-8. It was another good ways before another one was caught on the DT-8, but this one was caught when the hooks became tangled in the line and one hit it on top as it scooted across the water. The waves were large enough to where you would think no bass would hit a top water. When that one hit on top, Mickey got out the crazy shad and caught 3 in a relatively short time. The crazy shads he uses are the large ones that are not sold any more, one in particular that he has had since the 1970’s. One of the bass when hooked dove into a treetop and became hung up. We went over and Mickey stuck the rod down and freed the fish but as it came up the line broke. There was panic because the bait was in the fishes mouth, but the fish, now free, jumped and shook and the the bait came flying out of its mouth and was quickly scooped up to the great relief of all. The wind was increasing all the time and finally got to the point to where we had to search for a protected spot to fish . There were a couple of spots but they were small and there were no fish willing to bite present. Rather than beat a dead horse we headed for the wharf after catching 5 fish with the largest around 3 pounds.

Hal and I met at the Wallace Creek landing on Enid at 7:00 on Tuesday. We had a great trip there two years ago with the water a little lower but we wanted to get a little jump on the water. We had a slow start as there was nothing on one of the primary spots. We just caught one close by but shallower than we thought. We left there and went to the main primary spot and were not disappointed as we caught 5 or 6 there including the coFOD’s at 3.5 each. Caught them mostly on spinnerbaits, some by the snags and some out beside them slow rolling where there are some rocks on the bottom that you can’t see above the water. From there we went to individual stumps and caught at least one fish on a little over half of them. It was hard to find stumps with enough water, about 3 feet, around them to hold fish. From there it was to a rocky point, but the water had fallen too far and was too shallow. Next we went across the lake to some other stumps that were hit or miss, although on one with some brush around it, we caught 3 on spinnerbaits and plastic. Next we revisited the first place where we caught fish but there were no takers. A deep spot on some rocks was next but only one tight eye on a portion of the smooth bank. Around the corner, we ran upon a school of stripes and caught a few, but left them because they were small. There were some tops in the distance that we tried but they were too shallow. Fishing our way out of the shallow spot, Hal spied some “nervous water” on a shallow bank where we “every casted” them with red eye shads until we caught 9 of varying sizes. Two more just going down the shallow bank and it was time to go. We ended up with 28 and the aforementioned FOD.

Mickey and I launched at the waterfront this morning at 9:00 a.m. with a slight Northeast wind. The wind eventually turned East and picked up a couple of notches. We rode down the lake aghast because it is so low, seeing things we had never seen. Upon reaching the North end, we started to fish going a long way down the 70 bank with no bites except from gars. All the wooden barges were visible but not all were completely out of the water which surprised me. I figured they would be high and dry. We finally caught a bass on a DT-10 that was right off of some rocks but could not get another bite. We rode across the lake to mark a place for the future when the water comes back up next year and the depth finder just lit up with fish.

What kind of fish is unknown but there are a lot of them. It was that way all over the lake. I hope they are not silver carp. We finally came upon a spot, again rocks, where we caught some on a DT-10 and a River to Sea tactical DD crankbait that dives a little deeper than a DT-10. I got the feeling those fish were just coming up out of the deep to feed. Someone has put a lot of fish attractors out in different spots and you can see them now. It was a lot of them and I’m sure it took a lot of work. Here is a photo of one.

Very simply made, cut open with a reciprocating saw and sunk with a concrete block inside. This was one of four in one spot. We ended up with 7 fish and I guess the largest was 2 1/2 pounds (not weighed).

The first time fishing in a good while due to the Wuhan, pneumonia, and the walking pneumonia. It was with great expectations that Mickey and I around 8:00 launched at Lake X. I had looked at the forecast but had not put enough attention to the wind, which was blowing pretty good when we started. We fished around some of the places where we usually have luck but nobody home except one smart aleck that pulled my rod down and escaped. We let the boat drift against a treetop in 3 to4 feet of water and dipped and dunked a worm in between the limbs, ala Garhole tactics. It was not working to start but soon one cooperated and came up between the limbs without getting hung up. We tried that two more treetops with no takers. By 10 the wind was howling making fishing hard. Had it not been for the spot lock on the trolling motor fishing would have been impossible. We would pull up beside a top, hit the spot lock, and fish until we got hung up or until we were satisfied there were no hungry fish there. Then on to the next one. The fish were very reluctant to bite and it took many casts to the same spot to entice them to finally bite. When they did bite it was hard to detect because of the wind. To make any progress against the wind, the trolling motor had to be on at least 8 and on spot lock the motor was running almost continuously . I was convinced that the batteries ( two 12 volts hooked in parallel) would not make it through the day. They did, but it will take until tomorrow to charge them back up. We ended up with 7 fish and a 3.87 or .78 FOD, I can’t remember which. The 4 we kept, <16 inches are going to make great table fare.

Hal and I met Tuesday morning at 6:30 at the Wallace Creek ramp. We were looking to build on Hal’s trip last week where he caught a 6, a 5 1/2 and I believe 6 others, my memory getting bad. We were going to have to dodge some rain storms in the area but that was the day we could fish. To make a long story short, we didn’t get wet, caught 5 small bass and quit around 2:30 due to a screw that had backed out of the trolling motor that would not allow it to be folded down. It was time to quit because nothing was really going on.

I was nervous about going to the Garhole after talking to a person that fishes there often. Not only had it fallen 2 1/2 feet but this person did not have glowing reports of his fishing there lately. Fishing started at 7:00. For the first three hours, fishing was terrible. Nothing on plugs and missed bites and “pull it down and run” on plastics. I started with a rugby head and a 10 inch Berkley worm that I believe was intimidating to the little bass so later I swapped to a shaky head and a smaller worm that seemed to work better. The fish were deep in the tops and the only way to fish for them was to drift up to the top and dip the worm in between the limbs and jig it up and down. Sometime they wouldn’t hit it until you were pulling it up to put somewhere else. I was using a spinning reel with power pro braid with a leader so when I felt the slightest tap I set the hook. Hookups were good. Most of the tops were in 2 to 6 feet of water and it was amazing to me how many might be in a top. Caught 18 with a FOD of 2 pounds. No telling how many bites were missed for one reason or other. It was satisfying to figure the fish out even they were small. Now to figure out the big ones. I already have some ideas.

I went to Lake Ferguson at 7:00 and fished until 10:30 when Jackson called,with only one peck of a bite on a Carolina rig. He wanted to have lunch. I left immediately. ZERO.

Mickey and I launched at Lake X at 7:00 Saturday morning which is a little later than usual. The major feeding period was supposed to occur around 2:00 p.m. so we went a little later than usual to save our strength for when the feeding was supposed to happen. Trying to figure out exactly when the fish are going to feed is an exercise fraught with error. In my observation the real feed will happen 2 to 3 hours before the time shown in the table, most of the time. It seemed there was a little activity right at the start that declined until about 9:00. After that it was hard to get a bite at all, and when you did it was in the middle of a bunch of wood where you were likely to hang the fish for a short while and then get hung up, only for the fish to get off and maybe you having to break your line. Frustrating to say the least, but that was the game the fish were playing. Around 11:00 bites picked up a little, still down deep in the wood. One time Mickey had one to hang him up but the fish stayed on. We charged the top with my 11 foot pole with the big hook on the end. After reaching down amid the limbs, we finally hung the line and the fish was still on. We pulled it to the top and got the fish in hand. After dealing with the fish, we dropped the jig head back in to get it back out of the wood but it got hung again and eventually lost. We should have just cut it off, reeled in the line, and retied, but that is afterthought. We both lost a rugby head jig which is the first one I’ve lost in about a year as they are very weedless. They will get hung up but usually come out easily due to a hidden line tie. We quit around 1:30 with 10 fish caught and a FOD of 6-1. We had another 4-10 and 4 more in the 3 to 4 pound range.

You know how some of the worst time spent on a fishing trip is when you pull the boat out and it is the at the hottest part of the day. Mickey came up with a great idea to pull the boat out and go straight to a nearby shade tree to strap down the boat, get our equipment out, and to have lunch. There was a pleasant breeze and it was quite pleasant. The only problem was, I left my cane leaning up on the side of the boat when we drove off. I discovered it when I got home and had to drive back to retrieve it. That cane is perfect and handy so I was delighted to get it back.

Started fishing at Lake Enterprise at 6:30 this morning. I was planning to pick up Bland’s 13 year old grandson Jack at 7:30 so I just hit a couple of spots to check out the “lay of the land” before I picked him up. He was waiting on me when I drove up to the dock. We started fishing and tried several places with no success. I watched a boat fishing close to the trees and figured they would be having some luck just dropping a jig in quietly. Jack and I tried the trees and the middle and all points in between with no luck. Later in the morning we crossed paths with the boat I thought was doing such a good job. They were having a tough day too. Misery loves company. Shortly after visiting with the other boat, while fishing with a swim jig near the bank, I got a bite, but when I set the hook I thought I was pulling in a limb. When The “limb” broke the top of the water it turned out to be a cormorant. It looked like an immature one but it quickly spit out the bait and flew off. I’m usually observant, but that thing came out of nowhere. After the cormorant caper we left and visited the spots I visited first this morning. At the first one the bass were schooling. Not large ones but we were glad to see some fish that were hungry and finally caught 7 fish in all ,3 pound FOD. The fish would chase some shad to the top, hit them and go right back down to the bottom in 12 feet of water. Drop shot next time. It was past the time Jack needed to be back so we left. I thoroughly enjoyed my day with Jack. A delightful young man. I hope we can fish together again soon.

I went to the Garhole this morning not knowing whether I would have a boat to sit in. Been a long time since I have checked on it. I usually take a leaf blower with me when it’s been a long time since I have used the boat but rather than spend the time riding around to the house, I preferred to spend it fishing. The boat was a mess but it was fishable. Fishing started at 6:00. The DT-8 is a new crankbait that fills in between the 6 and 10. I had one and intended to try it out today so it went first. It looks like a junior sized DT-10. The body is the same size as a 6 but has a little larger straight diving bill like a 10. I am impressed by it . Casts as good or better than a DT-6 and it caught a fish in the first 10 minutes. That fish was the first and I thought was going to be the last. There was a long drought afterward that lasted an hour or two with a good many different baits in really good spots. Finally with a Carolina rig I had a bite, a sharp peck, but nobody home. I thought it may have been a gar but the plastic came back with all its appendages. A gar usually gets one of them. Over a short time there were two more with only one holding on for a short time. A little later I threw a DT-6 next to a log coming in to the water intending to fish the tree top, but a bass grabbed it before I made three turns of the reel. Next I dipped and dunked a worm in a top and caught another. Then another bass hit a DT-6 beside a log just like the other one and ended up the FOD 3 3/4. Had some more worm bites where the fish held on for a few seconds but then escaped. Had some other small ones on a 6 or 8 but nothing was really ever going on. The water temp was 91 on top but there was shade and the depth finder showed 31.7 feet deep at one point, plenty of cool water was available. I ended up with 7 bass. A pretty poor day in the Garhole.

Hal and Richard caught 37 the other day at Beaverdam fishing back through the cypress trees. It must be the shade keeping things cool.