Trophy Country is booked!!

[CKFishin]

I really need to get there

[Revo_Carrot Stix]

Just got back from my first Fall trip to TC late last week with temps ranging from high 40's to low 70's and 20-30 mph winds from sun up to sun down. 40# trolling motors on john boats made it tough to move around. On average we were each catching 25-35 LM and Spots per day, predominately using 5/8oz XCalibur Squarebills XCS200 in crawdad colors. The early mornings and evenings we were able to catch some on topwater (buzzbaits, Sammys, Spooks).

Bass were relatively shallow and grouped along main lake points, but it was next to impossible to stay stationary for any length of time with the wind. Secondary points and coves were productive as long as we found green vegetation 5-6' deep. 75% of the time the vegetation was dead or dying (brown). We could pick off a few away from the wind, but it was sporadic and they were small in the 10-12" range.

I would characterize the fall fishing as quality over quantity. I caught twice as many bass during the dog days of summer, but most were in the 12-14" range. The fall trip, the bass were bigger (and fatter) - mostly in the 14-16" range, with more 17" and 18"ers predominatly Spots which was awesome. They were knocking my Sammy out of the water, hitting it 2 or 3 times. Cavitrons were driving them nuts parallel to the shore at sunrise/sunset. My deep-divers (Koppers Live Target Crawdads 17-20') caught more frisbee-sized crappie than bass.

We tried to fish 2 or 3 pits a day:

Lower Duck - good

Upper Duck - good

The Islands - good

Big Blue - poor

Upper Cedar - average

Trails End - average

I can't wait until Spring already...gonna be a long winter...

[Revo_Carrot Stix]

A group of us had to run to the butcher this week (to pick up our annual beef) and we were 45 minutes away from Trophy Country and decided to make a quick fishing trip. With snow on the strip pit hilltops, we packed up our parkas and gear. We have never been there prior to May. Let me tell you, the water was cold, the wind cut right through you, and the fish were hiding. We fished an afternoon and morning with lows in the 30's and highs in the upper 40's. I managed 14 bass and 4 crappie and never felt one bite. I enjoyed fishing the new SK Jerkbait 4.5" and some new Kopper's Squarebills, but had to fish S-L-O-W which was still too fast for these strip pit bass.

 

The water levels are back to normal after 30" snow this winter. Boat ramps have been moved up on the banks, but the mud and clay made it tough. They've added more boat ramps to a few pits which is better than railroad ties. Sounds like business is picking up. Kurt and Duke mentioned they were booked every weekend in April. I'm glad we tried it this early in the season, but I'm not sure I'd do it again. It was better than organizing my tackle and watching fishing shows. We'll probably plan a trip in another month if we can get out of this cold weather. 

[CKFishin]

Yeah I have a group of buddies going next weekend I opted out due to way too much going on right now...

[TrapperJ]

Just watched Jimmy Houston fish there on his last show, i told me wife.... "i smell a trip coming up!"

[Revo_Carrot Stix]

Just watched Jimmy Houston fish there on his last show, i told me wife.... "i smell a trip coming up!"

 

Cool. I haven't seen that episode, but we were down there May 2012 when he shot that show. I think he was turkey hunting and didn't have much luck. He caught a big bass when he was fishing for crappie on Long Lake. We didn't have a chance to talk to him. He was leaving the day after we got there.