Father and son Steve and Scott Kallenberg from Plymouth, Wis., got a couple nice stripers last Wednesday at Prairie Creek on Beaver Lake. The extended forecast looks like the nights below freezing are a thing of the past now, so water will start warming fast.
It sure was a long drive going to Springdale and Rogers chasing these fish, but we have now found some closer to our end of the lake from Indian Creek near the dam to Rocky Branch.
I have a busy week ahead of me, fishing four on Beaver and one here at the Island with a double on Saturday. I do believe it will be winter again before I put in another cartoon because of no new fish pics.
The stripers are still being caught with no weight or just slightly weighted lines above 20 ft., with shad and big brood shiners being your best bait. Top water baits will also catch them early and late in the day. You should be able to catch a few white bass on the day use side of Beaver Dam throwing anything that looks like a small shad or crawdad.
We always have a lot that seem to go the wrong way. Some go with the current instead of against it and come to a dead end, so they will lay their eggs on the rocks and the pea gravel in white bass cove, which is the day use side of the dam. Guess that’s how it got its name.
Here around the Island you will find your warmest water in the creek arms. Leatherwood Creek right next to the marina is a good place to start. Check from the mouth to as far back as you can go. You should hookup with some whites, a few bass and maybe even a few crappie or a walleye.
Look for spotted bass and largemouth in the shallows 3 – 6 ft. deep with the back of the coves being the warmest. If you are out and it is cool they might move into 20-foot water, but if that sun is shining they’ll be trying to get a tan.
If you’re on the shoreline here there are a few places on both sides of Leatherwood with shoreline access where I have caught many in the past. I’m going to get me some sun now, so will let you go to think about fish. I’m heading out to net a tub of shad myself. Until next week be safe and don’t get heat stroke.