4/21 .. started off as one of them days. pulled a hat trick

[HookedUP]

Went out to the light this morning at 3:00 and loaded the tank with big herring again and a dozen good guy gizzards to match. Couldn't ask for better bait. Only problem now is the lack of power in the trolling motor batteries because the idiot that plugged his boat up next to my slip had a bare non insulated spot in his drop cord and ran his cord through the water which of course trippec the breaker...now neither one of us have batteries and he's lucky to be alive. ..... thanks pal. What the heck am I gonna do now. Ran up river, the mud had washed a few miles further down and pushed we to around the s turns to even start looking still very stained but possibly fishable. So discusted I wasn't gonna waste the morning bite so I went out and put 2 drift socks out bc of the Gail force wind and used the big motor to guide my path. NO Love. So I came back to the hotel and jerked both batteries out and started them charging. Waiting for batteries to charge I figured I'd go scout around for a while. Talked to a few residents at the capns quarters and they said there has been alot of fish caught down around the dam and Craddock creek bottom fishing with live and cut bait. So I tore out heading south in 2 footers white capping the whole way. Sure glad I have a deep V or I wouldn't have any teeth left. Get to the dam and marked fish immediately. Only place that was fishable was to tie to a tree on the island and drop a hook back in the timber and use the island to SOMEWHAT break the wind. Fan casted a spread around the boat with 3 way rigs setting over a 30ft bottom put 4 down rods down. 3 way rig with cut bait gets whacked immediately and we put a long skinny in the boat 26" fish. Spent the next 2 hours retieing rigs bc that place is a jungle and the boat swaying on the hooks would hang up every 20 seconds. Finally fed up I went to pull my anchor and what do you know, Lost a $60 anchor. Not breaking my spirits I was off to find this pack of fish in craddock and get out of this wind. Marked very few fish and bait anywhere in there but the guides are supposively really getting them in there. Heard tell of a guide picking up 41 fish in there yesterday all anchored. I did alot of scouting(graphing) with little results. Finally with grey hair appearing in my hair line the stripers where well hidden and wearing there vaginas today like stripers normally do. I'm headed back to pick up my batteries. Dropped my father in law off so he could head back to NC, put the fresh batteries in Hopeing for a evening bite to bring a smile to my face. Looked around at a few places south of the bridge but the wind was howling. Headed intobettys creek seeking wind break and ststarted in the back gonna pull the whole creek back out. First bank picked up a 3 lb largemouth...:-( they just don't excite me anymore..still dragging had a steady pick of bites connecting on about 50% of them on cookie cutter 24-28" fish. Made the turn left at the end of the creek started towards the bridge in the main channel. Caught 4 more fish from there up to the next marker. Had alot of action all on big ales, no good guy gizzards where hurt or damaged during the travels today. Not even a sniff. I WANT TO FIND SOME BIG FISH. All I won't is a memory, tug of war, and a photo and you can get back to your buisness Beleive me when I tell you there are some up the roanoke but the water and debris won't allow you to fish for them. I even tryed cut baiting them on anchor fishing but couldn't get them to chew. Where to head tommorow. Never been up the.dark side so I may spend some time in there tommorow looking for a big gal. I'm run in out of water and ideas. Im Riding solo tommorow. I hope the the fish keep me busy.

[Deleted]

Wow you are a breath of fresh air sir. I think you have fished the info like an expert but your lack of time and a 30 pound memory will be your downfall. Additionally, chasing the info can cause you more pain than it is worth. In fact, you might consider taking all that good info of where the fish are biting as your sign of where not to go.

I would stay away from going too far south at this point. You just don't have the proper time to make the new water yours. Although it is awesome to read about your agility and adaptation to new areas and techniques.

It seems to me that your original idea of staying North was a good one but has been killed by the flood. So... Take that determination you have, park your patience in an area below the debris field and mud and work a smaller area that looks good to you.

Don't let the memory of Beaver and a 30 pounder take you off your game.

[striperjohn]

Hey Striperbinger... don't take the reports you see on here especially from some guides or guided trips too seriously-they will have you chasing your tail! The guides on this lake know of the popularity of this website and some use it for disinformation purposes. They take some folks out and tell them we're fishing up here today but Craddock is loaded with fish etc etc. LOL Just saying, the best way to learn this lake is just what you're doing, fish it and keep a log.
These fish start thinking spawn when the water temps get to and hold 63-65 degrees night and day. Until then they are major predators that will travel 7-10 miles in a day foraging.
I personally wouldn't try to learn the R and Dark side in one year or even two, together unless you're fishing everyday. My advice would be to stick to one side or the other and concentrate on that. I have fished this lake since the late 70s and am very familiar with the R side. Now "the Dark Side" is another matter, I'm familiar with it up to and including Gills Creek--no further, heard they had Gators and stuff up there that get bigger the further up you go!

[BentRod]

GO BIG, GO SHALLOW, GO AWAY FROM OTHERS, GO BIG, GO BIGGER, GO $&@)in' HUGE!

^You find better advice than that and I wanna see it!

StriperJohn, there aren't even any guides on here! Well none that post anymore....

[Deleted]

John is making me paranoid. I actually was wondering if Skiff is really a guide. Skiff?

[mwardncsu]

Apr 22, 2015 7:22:44 GMT -5 BentRod said:

GO BIG, GO SHALLOW, GO AWAY FROM OTHERS, GO BIG, GO BIGGER, GO $&@)in' HUGE!

^You find better advice than that and I wanna see it!

StriperJohn, there aren't even any guides on here! Well none that post anymore....

Well - there is one that post occasionally.... not necessarily with reports, but

[Deleted]

Don't ever doubt that 41 number... not going to mention any names, but there are some guys on here who have beat that number silly down there this time of year..... and they ain't no guide.......


striperbinge, the most important thing I have learned from fishing this lake over the years, or any for that matter, is to NOT start doubting yourself.... you will find yourself running all over the lake .......stick with what you know.

[BentRod]

41 is a 2hr trip down there if you hit them right. Most all of them I'm hearing are little though - 20-28"

[striperjohn]

We got 44 in two hours couple years ago, best last year was 30 in hour and half. Agree Bent, they're catching 18-19 inchers right now.

[Deleted]

yep, all males waiting for the ladies to show up....

[striperjohn]

Yep, got new duds on, hair slicked back, cologne on and-well think of a good Bogart movie.

[2013skiff]

yam no guide here...I did manage to go with todd last week and fished Cradock and caught fish...just be patience and wait on the full moon in may....thanks lee

[piper]

Yep. All small for me. As well

[piper]

Go big. Wasn't that 40+ last year caught on an ale? Saw 1 close to 40 caught on a thunder stick...sometimes its just your day

[striperjohn]

90% of citations I have caught over the years have been on ales medium sized ones. In fact the biggest since the kill off a 29lb 14 oz came on a 5 inch alewive cause thats all the bait we could get.