Just went down to feel the peace the water brings. Took a pic of Bell giving that “where’s your pole kinda look.”
It’s been a slow week on the water for those going out after stripers and bass with the rise and the lakes turning over, but that’s about over and the water temps are still in the mid 60s for both Beaver and Table Rock.
When we get into the lower 60s, the top water bite should improve for all the bass species. Whopper Poppers and Zara Spooks will work best, and you have a choice of about 3 sizes on both to target the fish you’re after.
We might have some cool air above, but the water is getting close to the temp fish like best. They also give their best fight in the winter months. I do believe Thanksgiving to Christmas can be the best fishing of the year if you can catch one of these days with our night low being in the 40s and that sun bringing the temp up to 60s with a light wind.
The peace alone you get with boat traffic being light is well worth it to just get out of the house. Just dress warm and if you get a bit cold that rod going down will probably warm you up if the sun doesn’t do it first.
OK, back to now. Look for most your stripers on Beaver Lake to be moving closer to Prairie Creek area and Hwy. 12 bridge area to hold out until it’s time to run upriver in March. Look for them off the flats and all the way back into the bigger creek arms.
You will do best now with no weights. I just put about 24 feet of freeline under 2 or 3 balloons and run some rods out between the boat and balloons with one about 120 feet back and the other about 80 feet back. Move about 0.5 mph and turn wide.
Shad, perch and brood shiners will all work now. I also like to run 2 rods up front from 12 to 30 feet deep just in case I start marking fish deeper.
Getting good reports for both lakes on the crappie being caught in the brush 8 to 12 feet deep on both jigs and minnows. White bass are being caught jigging small spoons in 15 to 20 ft. water. Walleye are being caught mostly trolling crankbaits off the bottom on the main points, and slow-moving bottom bouncers, with a night crawler or minnow.
Now is also a very good time to catch the big brown trout in the Beaver tailwaters for it’s their spawn time. Strange how they’re our only fish that spawn in the fall not the spring. Throwing or trolling small crankbaits is best now, for both browns and rainbows, since they’re generating most the daylight hours due to the high water on Beaver.
Well, that’s it for now. Watch that weather. Pick a nice day and just get out and enjoy the peace. If you don’t have time then just throw another log on the fire and dream you’re on the water fighting a big fish or just enjoying the fall colors.