When I reached my first intended place to fish on Lake Whittington this morning, the lake had apparently started to fall, as the flotsam was flowing out. I thought things were just right until my trolling motor hit bottom. It was a little too shallow for that place and the water was kind of funkified. It was not muddy but was certainly not clear and the gars were in abundance. There were many spots on my mind so I left for greener pastures and hopefully better water. Bar Lake was where I stopped next and tried three places, all with different scenarios. One was next to a steep bank where two roads go down to what is a dam at lower water stages. Another was in the East end of the lake where the wind was blowing flotsam into a large drift. In the past I’ve caught fish there but the lake probably needs to fall more to concentrate the fish there. The last was in water where there was a shallow flat and then fell out to 15 feet. The bottom was covered with smartweed.  Nothing in any of those places, not even a bite. I had fished with a Ribbit, a Booyah , and a swimbait. Next I went into the middle ground and fished in 24+ feet of water around the log drifts with alternating baits. Some places it was ribbit only because it was so many sticks and logs. Something finally made a move toward my bait but I figured it was a gar. At that time I was desperate, so I threw back in the same spot, and lo and behold, a feisty 1 1/2 pound tighteye came out and ate my bait. I retained my composure and hesitated before I set the hook. The only fish of the day was in hand. After thrashing the logjams more with no luck, I ventured to Game Warden Lake, where I resorted to a fluke around some large logs in 20 feet of water back in the willows. I got one peck and it did not take the bait. That good garlic dye was on it too. Another bad day but it’s going to get better as the water falls.