Quick Fork Trip

[bighed]

I made a short trip to Fork today to do a little scouting for signs of life in the shallows and good hydrilla. Put in at the West 515 public ramp. I don't recommend this if your alone. Since the lake came up you have to put the boat on rocks to park the truck. Anyway, ran up to White Oak and fished the North point. This area has lush grass in warmer weather and I wanted to see what was left of it. Water temp was 54. Not much grass there but did pick up a 15" on about the fourth cast on the red trap. Changed over to my brand new never thrown LC Pointer and hung it on a tree never to be seen again. Bummer! Fished the North shoreline a little ways into the cove and found better grass in front of the first boat house. GPS'd the junction of three creeks and motored over. Threw jigs and worms working the ledges in 16' and channel bottom in 25' of water. NADA. Decided to work back through the very thick timber hugging the shore to see if there was anything shallow. Same as last week, nothing, no bass/perch/shad/gar/or anything else but turtles. Didn't make a cast while doing this but saw another boat pick up an under on a chrome trap and a different boat pick up a slot on a jig I think. There was fair grass from about 8' and shallower in the back of the cove. Decided to run up to Birch to continue scouting. Pulled into the last little creek on the East before the 514 bridge as it holds above average bed fish usually. Again scouted the shallows all the way to the back and nothing. Worked my way back out throwing the Rogue until about 6' and then started with the trap. Noted that some homeowners took advantage of the low lake levels last summer to dredge around their boat houses leaving some interesting new structure. Just about back to the mouth of the cove, tearing the trap out of the grass it got pounded. Fish was hooked for about 10 seconds before coming undone. This would have been a nice one judging from the way the rod was doubled over. Bummer #2. Moved to the first creek on the West past the 154 bridge as it hold good numbers of spawning fish. Didn't spend much time there but found the grass only fair and mixed with snot grass. Nothing shallow. Moved up to the point NE of the power lines and tried to fish the creek channel close to the point but the wind was too much and I was running low on time. Water temp there was 56.6, highest of the day. Wanted to check out the North shore of the island between Little Mustang and Williams because it holds BIG spawners. The wind was kicking pretty good and got soaked on the ride over. The place was already covered with boats trying to get out of the wind so made a few quick casts along that shore and packed it in for the day. If there are no more bad cold fronts the bucks should be making beds in Birch in about two weeks and the females will show up a few days later. I think Glade will be about the same time. big

[bighed]

Sorry for the typo's, was trying to hurry, lol.  Also wanted to say all the water I saw was pretty well stained.  May be due to the wind lately.

[RWHusker.]

Thanks Bighead,

We are coming in the week of the 12th through the 17th.  Just ahead of the group.  I appreciate the post and have sent you a PM.

GO BIG RED

[Cigarlover 1]

Thanks a bunch for the update!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Thanks big, it's like being there now that I know where all these places are.

[roadwarrior]

So, Where are the Share Lunkers holding?

:

[bighed]

I know exactly where the Share-A-Lunkers are.  About 10' out of casting range and staying there, lol.  Those kind of fish just seem to happen.  A guy at work caught one almost 16 lbs.  Still way up on the 50 biggest list.  I was told he was just an average fisherman who got lucky.  Best way to increase your chance of hitting that jackpot is to play often.  I'll add this, the guys who catch the biggest fish during the spawn back off the beds and fish for the females.  The females may be on the beds but usually only for a few minutes at a time.  If your pounding the bed your usually fishing for male (smaller) fish.   The females are near by, sometimes you'll look over your shoulder and they are watching you.  Fish the closest weed bed, timber, or ? to the area the beds are in.  That's where the better fish are IMO.  big

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Best way to increase your chance of hitting that jackpot is to play often.   big

AMEN to that.