Post by mwardncsu on May 31, 2013 9:59:14 GMT -5
Fish are biting at SML!
www.smithmountaineagle.com/boating_fishing_outdoors/article_ceb61180-c8aa-11e2-93c4-001a4bcf887a.html
by Captain Travis Patsell Cats N’ Stripers Guide Service
I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day on the lake, remembering our fallen fighting for our freedom. God Bless our troops.
I also hope everyone was able to do some fishing of some sort. Fishing is still going good this month, not a whole lot has changed in patterns since my last reports. Here’s a refresher and here’s what to look for.
Stripers: The majority of the the stripers can be still be found in the lower lake areas. Craddock Creek, the Dam, Bull Run and the meet of the rivers are your best areas holding numbers of fish. Some fish are still scattered about in the Blackwater and Roanoke river arms but won’t be as heavily concentrated as in the lower lake. Gizzard Shad and Alewives are both taking their number of fish when used along the shoals and points and along the rock walls of Craddock Creek and the dam. Also, the dam pumping can really turn the bite on in that area. Fishing downlines from 15-35 ft. and running flat lines from the stern of the boat is effective. Flat lines consist of simply a light weighted line of 1/8 to 3/8 of an ounce, run 40-100 ft. behind the boat. Running planers and floats with free lines and light lines is also effective, especially over the points and shoals. Gizzard shad have been taking the larger fish and somedays the striper are favoring the gizzards over the alewives. Bottom fishing live and cut bait is also effective. Target bottom fish in or around the water you would target when trolling.
Artificial: The alewives are still spawning, with that the night time bite can be better for artificial fishing. Look for rip rap banks with a lot of activity. Try slowly working the topwater lures parallel with the bank and shallow running plugs. On some of these windy nights try to find areas with minimal wind. If activity cannot be found, try fishing the wind blown areas subsurface and try backing off the bank just a little when targeting stripers. Thundersticks, redfins, f18’s, bombers, yozuri crystal minnows, and smackjacks are good lures to target the stripers. Changing the stock hooks with 2x strong Gamakatsu, mustad or owner is needed when a large striper is hooked to not become disappointed with a straightened hook.
There’s some scattered daytime activity in the lower areas but not often. Keep a fluke, swimbait or swamp monkey ready while fishing and an open eye.
Catfish: Flatheads and Channel cats are both extremely active right now. Since my last report, there has been a few times that I’ve had to move spots due to channel cats crushing my flathead baits. Look for both species in low light hours as well as early morning and late evening. Live bait is your best method for targeting flatheads, but don’t overlook fresh cutbaits as well. For channel cats, fresh cutbait is your best option if you wish to target large size fish. Small livebait is always a good method. Catfish will suspend and surface feed. Lately I’ve been noticing Channel cats cruising just under the surface at my bait light looking for forage fish. Just the other day, I located a school of nice crappie up to 14 inchers under my boat dock, after catching several we had a 25-30 lb. flathead chasing our hooked crappie as we reeled them in. Needless to say, the crappie left the area. So with that said, don’t overlook going towards the top for catfish.
Catfish can also be targeted at night and with shallow running subsurface plugs, F18’s, bombers and yozuri crystal minnows.
With the spawn coming up for catfish, try to release when possible for a successful future. Also release the large catfish.
Crappie: Duane Beaver reports to be looking for crappie around docks and brush in 6-10 ft. of water. Pitching Bobby Garland Shad and twister tail grubs, as well as crappie minnows on slip corks is effective.
LT Burnette of SML Bassmasters and local tournament angler reports on Bass:
Going into June it seems that the bass are in the shallow to deep transition period. The full moon brought another small wave of fish up to finish their spawning but it is not as strong as earlier in May. A few fish are still guarding their fry around shallow docks and laydowns. A lot of fish have moved off the banks during the day and are beginning to move into their summertime locations such as rocky points and submerged brushpiles. Texas rigged worms, football jigs with plastic craw trailers and drop shot worms will be effective at catching the deeper fish. Deep crankbaits can also be a good tool to catch the more active bass on the banks and points. There should be an early topwater bite soon as the water temperatures begining to rise to its summertime average. With the higher temperatures the lake is becoming crowded and the day time bite can be tough so many anglers start fishing at night. The alewive spawn is still going strong but will not start as early as it was a few weeks ago. The storm jointed thunderstick is still the go to bait for the topwater nighttime bite. There will also be a strong plastic bite at night as well. Zoom ol’ monsters and berkley power worms in black or grape colors texas rigged will be a good choice.
Tip of the month: Make sure you have a good flashlight or headlamp before heading out at night. A good headlamp allows your hands to be free to tie knots and unhook fish safely.
Remember to practice selective harvest on large and trophy fish.
Be safe, good luck, and good fishing!
www.smithmountaineagle.com/boating_fishing_outdoors/article_ceb61180-c8aa-11e2-93c4-001a4bcf887a.html
by Captain Travis Patsell Cats N’ Stripers Guide Service
I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day on the lake, remembering our fallen fighting for our freedom. God Bless our troops.
I also hope everyone was able to do some fishing of some sort. Fishing is still going good this month, not a whole lot has changed in patterns since my last reports. Here’s a refresher and here’s what to look for.
Stripers: The majority of the the stripers can be still be found in the lower lake areas. Craddock Creek, the Dam, Bull Run and the meet of the rivers are your best areas holding numbers of fish. Some fish are still scattered about in the Blackwater and Roanoke river arms but won’t be as heavily concentrated as in the lower lake. Gizzard Shad and Alewives are both taking their number of fish when used along the shoals and points and along the rock walls of Craddock Creek and the dam. Also, the dam pumping can really turn the bite on in that area. Fishing downlines from 15-35 ft. and running flat lines from the stern of the boat is effective. Flat lines consist of simply a light weighted line of 1/8 to 3/8 of an ounce, run 40-100 ft. behind the boat. Running planers and floats with free lines and light lines is also effective, especially over the points and shoals. Gizzard shad have been taking the larger fish and somedays the striper are favoring the gizzards over the alewives. Bottom fishing live and cut bait is also effective. Target bottom fish in or around the water you would target when trolling.
Artificial: The alewives are still spawning, with that the night time bite can be better for artificial fishing. Look for rip rap banks with a lot of activity. Try slowly working the topwater lures parallel with the bank and shallow running plugs. On some of these windy nights try to find areas with minimal wind. If activity cannot be found, try fishing the wind blown areas subsurface and try backing off the bank just a little when targeting stripers. Thundersticks, redfins, f18’s, bombers, yozuri crystal minnows, and smackjacks are good lures to target the stripers. Changing the stock hooks with 2x strong Gamakatsu, mustad or owner is needed when a large striper is hooked to not become disappointed with a straightened hook.
There’s some scattered daytime activity in the lower areas but not often. Keep a fluke, swimbait or swamp monkey ready while fishing and an open eye.
Catfish: Flatheads and Channel cats are both extremely active right now. Since my last report, there has been a few times that I’ve had to move spots due to channel cats crushing my flathead baits. Look for both species in low light hours as well as early morning and late evening. Live bait is your best method for targeting flatheads, but don’t overlook fresh cutbaits as well. For channel cats, fresh cutbait is your best option if you wish to target large size fish. Small livebait is always a good method. Catfish will suspend and surface feed. Lately I’ve been noticing Channel cats cruising just under the surface at my bait light looking for forage fish. Just the other day, I located a school of nice crappie up to 14 inchers under my boat dock, after catching several we had a 25-30 lb. flathead chasing our hooked crappie as we reeled them in. Needless to say, the crappie left the area. So with that said, don’t overlook going towards the top for catfish.
Catfish can also be targeted at night and with shallow running subsurface plugs, F18’s, bombers and yozuri crystal minnows.
With the spawn coming up for catfish, try to release when possible for a successful future. Also release the large catfish.
Crappie: Duane Beaver reports to be looking for crappie around docks and brush in 6-10 ft. of water. Pitching Bobby Garland Shad and twister tail grubs, as well as crappie minnows on slip corks is effective.
LT Burnette of SML Bassmasters and local tournament angler reports on Bass:
Going into June it seems that the bass are in the shallow to deep transition period. The full moon brought another small wave of fish up to finish their spawning but it is not as strong as earlier in May. A few fish are still guarding their fry around shallow docks and laydowns. A lot of fish have moved off the banks during the day and are beginning to move into their summertime locations such as rocky points and submerged brushpiles. Texas rigged worms, football jigs with plastic craw trailers and drop shot worms will be effective at catching the deeper fish. Deep crankbaits can also be a good tool to catch the more active bass on the banks and points. There should be an early topwater bite soon as the water temperatures begining to rise to its summertime average. With the higher temperatures the lake is becoming crowded and the day time bite can be tough so many anglers start fishing at night. The alewive spawn is still going strong but will not start as early as it was a few weeks ago. The storm jointed thunderstick is still the go to bait for the topwater nighttime bite. There will also be a strong plastic bite at night as well. Zoom ol’ monsters and berkley power worms in black or grape colors texas rigged will be a good choice.
Tip of the month: Make sure you have a good flashlight or headlamp before heading out at night. A good headlamp allows your hands to be free to tie knots and unhook fish safely.
Remember to practice selective harvest on large and trophy fish.
Be safe, good luck, and good fishing!
