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Fall fishing sure does seem to be progressing slowly. Im REALLY wanting the bass to be moving back in the creeks and eating better than they are. I know that Im not fishing often enough to be really dialed in, but dang its tough. I am catching a few fish, but it is a terrible mix of junk fishing catching one on this and one on that AND no concentrations of fish anywhere. I plan on fishing pretty hard on this coming Thursday. Hopefully, I can do a little better. Has any one been doing much good on Bull Shoals the last couple of weeks? Im just asking for some general info about what the fish seem to be doing now not every detail. PM me if youre willing to help a little, but would rather it not be permanent and public. Thanks, Ham
Its the same way here…. Its like nothing has changed yet.13 PIV w/ 200 MercIG: WarriorRiverCustomRods
Ham , youre fishing the dead sea right now . — Havent heard a GOOD report for about a month . — Too many shad in the lake , and the better fish are becoming pelagic in nature . — The fish SHOULD be back in the creeks already , but ……………………………….. — The problem is that the fish havent read the book about what theyre SUPPOSED to be doing . — Are you fishing the lower end , or further up ?? — Ive been fishing Norfork lately , and the shallow crankbait bite has been great , until this past weekend . — Had to work all day Sunday to scratch out 10 fish , mainly due to no wind I believe . —– I just talked to the owner of Black Oak resort , and he said hes been getting them on tubes on the channel banks . — Seems a bit early for that , but hey , like I said , they didnt read the book . — I live in Gassville , and more often than not I have an empty seat in the boat . — P/M me if you feel like fishing sometime . — Mark
Agree with the dead sea comment been on Bull a few times lately tough tough .Wanted to make a crank bite work the other day after 5 hours conceded and pulled a couple with a tubeI feel responsible I bought my first boat last year Bull has been finicky ever since.The bank bite is almost nonexistant on bull these days seems as though its all off shore and I need new electronics.(Still Learning)
Ive fished The Bull since 1985 , and believe me , it can humble you more often than not . — Im going this weekend , and will go to the Sugarloaf / Lead Hill area to go crankbaiting . — Rick P. showed me some good stuff up near Bear Creek many years ago which has good potential this time of year . — Couple of good spoon holes near longbottom too . — I really HATE spooning , but if it puts fish in the boat ……………………………… Then theres always the tube jig ………………………………. — Bassatack , same thing goes for you about fishing sometime . — Im always looking for more people to fish with . — Mark
I live closer to Norfork, but I love Bull Shoals. I fish for too many different kinds of fish (White River Trout , crappie, river smallmouth, fly fishing) to do as well as I would like. Im sorry to hear its been tough for most, but glad to hear Im not the only one.My most recent trip was to the Leadhill area. Really odd football jig bite on the main lake was the best thing we had going. I think we caught 23, but that includes some really small fish on squarebills.I basically fish from a few miles above Tucker Hollow to the Dam. I seen almost every creek at one time or another, but definitely have some places I love to fish more than others.Im going to put a FULL Day in up at Pontiac on Thursday. Ill be in my 09 Cougar with a 250 Pro XS. White Hull with silver cap and yellow bolt and accents. Ill plan on fishing cranks, blades, jerk baits, football jigs, and likely drop a spoon from time to time.Ill fish until the water hits 40 or I zero a couple of trips in a row. I can usually scratch out a few fish.Id love to fish together sometime Mark. Ill shoot you a PM when I get a good chance to goHam
Not cold enough for creeks yet- at least for my trips at Oauchita last 2 weeks.Also I am more and more convinced a ton of good fish could care less about those creeks regardless of temp this time of year.I caught about 40 or so at Ouachita Monday. Shallowest fish were 12. Most were 18-25Good Big fish schools I know of were at 30-35.Use your electronics on those channel swing points- find bait and you will find your fish.C.O.D. Jr. III
Ill sure give that a try, but I really dont like pulling fish up from deeper than 35 foot of water. Im not gonna fizz them and I dont want to take a chance on killing them. There isnt always a big group of fish every time you find bait, but theres always bait when you find a large group of fish. Ill be looking hard for baitfish.
I launched the boat in a brisk 27 sunny morning. Not much wind at first so I threw a FB on a bluff. I got a few short SMB. I had more funky bites. The wind picked up and I went to slinging a blade. It was a lot of work, but ended up being the best thing I could get going. I had more missed bites than fish to be sure, but by running wind blown points I was able to get bit. No jerkbait fish. Only one squarebill fish. I ended up with about 15 bass. I lost the best fish I had hooked. It was a LMB that Im guessing was > 3 lb. Long fight back to the boat, but then it jumped and slung it at the boat. I had a few legal keepers, but mostly shorts. I had a few spots, mostly LMB, and a few Smallies. I love my Cougar. I got her up to 70 (gps) with throttle to spare, but she gets light with just me. I got off the water right at dark. Im not thrilled with changes to the courtesy dock at Pontiac, but it is what it is.
Been here for about a week now been pretty tough best bite a I ve found has been jigs on the bluffs. was really tough today with 20 mph winds finally called it quits around 3:00 had on brownie weighed 4.7 and 2 largemouth keepers and to pretty good kentuckies
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