Its Cold!

[Billy Harris]

Yea I am a sissy, it is 45 degrees and I am freezing my butt off. I fished last weekend and the bite was actually pretty good but size was an issue. I caught probably 20 plus bass, 3 smallies, 2 drum, 1 crappie, 2 whites and 1 stripe. The water temps are ranging from 52 degrees down lake to 48 up lake. You can catch allot of fish still shallow on cranks, DT-4's and Secret Weapon Spinnerbaits, 3/16 oz in white or fire tiger. Some fish are showing up on the bluffs and main lake ledges. However a few of us are waiting for the main lake to drop to 49 degrees or less and let me tell you what can happen. These big fish get stupid shallow and can be caught in inches of water on spooks. Last year on Thanksgivign day I caught 2 over 6lbs within 5 minutes of each other and a buddy of mine caught a 7 smallie on a Ghost Spook. I honestly do not know why these fish do this. Maybe due to draw down is near complete and they are up shallow gettting easy meals on crawfish or something. I am just not sure. It will last for about a week or so then it is over.
For the white bass and strip just drive around and look for the birds. Brian Carper of www.briancarper.com guide service caught 30 plus whites and stripe on spoons just following birds around the lake.

Thanksgiving day I am heading out, 52 for the high and I know the water is below 50 so I will see what happens.

[Rich Lindgren]

Nice report, I am planning to go smallie fishing in MN tomorrow, high temp will be 39 degrees for the day

[Billy Harris]

You planning on cutting through the ice? Fish tubes under the ice?

I will most likely start off shallow with a trap and spook to check on my stupid fish. LOL

then I will probably go hunting for some stripe with spoons and such. I have a guide trip schedule on Friday afternoon for anything that bites.

[davidcindrich]

Thanks for the report Billy.
Rich don't forget about your layied off club member sitting at home and doing nothing.

[Rich Lindgren]

Tubes, but not through the ice, we still got a little open water

[Billy Harris]

I am going out Dec. 5th for awhile and see what I can find.
I had a guide trip last Friday that was tough as nails. We had 2 boats and 6 guys out for whatever would bite. My boat caught 1 ky spot and 5 stripes. The other boat zeroed.
We caught our fish with jigging spoons in 45 foot of water.

side note I did have one of those stupid shallow bass blow up on a Spook in 48 degree water about 2ft deep.

[Rich Lindgren]

I ended up catching, 33 or 34 smallies on the 26th, all on tubes or shakey head craws. I also got a carp about 10lbs, need to get my blog updated. Going fishing on your birthday, how special

[davidcindrich]

I thought it was special because you spent it with me.

[Rich Lindgren]

I was actually talking about Billy going fishing today