Here’s what you call a fishing hole. I was told more then 20 years ago if you come down under this bridge and throw a cast net or get minnows from a trap, to tie on a hook with a little split shot above. Cast it out there to the left into the mouth of the Osage and before it hits bottom you got you a smallmouth on.
We go by it all the time heading into Berryville. Sometimes this is what it’s about. Very peaceful here – and me without a pole. Oh well, I’ll be back on Beaver Lake Tuesday evening before this report comes out. Hitting the water at 6 p.m. and going for another striper night bite. Then we’re going to Holiday Island to try for some walleye, bass and crappie.
This last week was a little slow for us. Had an outing at Holiday Island and another on Beaver Lake but both were with that N/E wind. I do believe the old saying is true: Wind from the north don’t go forth, wind from the east fish bite the least, wind from the south puts the bait in their mouth, and wind from the west, fish bite the best. It is true.
Both lakes got pretty warm the last two weeks pushing close to 90° but the cooler days since has already dropped water about about 5 degrees, so bait are back getting active. Most stripers are being caught on spoons and live shad down in that 30 – 40 foot water and seem to like hanging around the water running from 38 – 80 deep.
Points, flats, humps and the big creek mouths are where to look, from the dam to Rocky Branch Park.
Here at Holiday Island our deepest water runs closer to 30 ft. deep so look for most warm water fish to be hanging around between 12 and 18 ft. deep. Big minnows and worms are both good baits in the warmer months. Whatever you’ve got that can wiggle on a hook should work.
Big and small jigs tipped or not are also good baits worked slow off the bottom.
Well, I’d better head home now. Seeing a few gar in the shallows here. Might have to just come back again soon with a pole to have some fun with the hard or get me some smallmouth for my dinner. Hang on to that sunscreen for it is still summer, but the fish and me sure do like this cooler weather.
Robert Johnson, fishofexcellence.com (479) 253-2258