By Robert Johnson
Just had one trip this week and it was here at Holiday Island. We caught some fat and healthy spotted bass but when we got back everybody headed to the bathroom and didn’t get in the pic before cleaning, so here’s a pic of a fish I just got ready to mount this week. Cris Barr is holding the striper caught by Kasey Barr last year that finally made it on the wall.
The water temp here at the Island has dropped down to 55° which has brought big schools of small shad coming to the top when the wind is calm, especially after sunrise and before sunset. Walleye and crappie love the cooler water, too, and are being caught through the afternoon down close to 12 ft. deep from Beaver to the Missouri line just north of us.
Jigs tipped with a minnow are catching most, and white rooster tails and top water plugs are catching the schooling fish on top.
Beaver Lake water temp is running closer to 65° since it’s so much deeper, and stripers are still feeding very well with fish being caught early and late in the day on top when winds are light. Through mid-day they are hanging down about 30 ft. under big schools of shad between Points 5 and 8.
Find the bait and they will be close behind. Running big 5 – 8-in. shad are the best bet, with throwing top water lures when it’s calm or jigs and spoons when it’s windy. Both will catch them, along with schooling white and spotted bass.
Trolling deep and shallow diving crankbaits will also work. Just decide which by paying attention to the wind and what you see on the graph deep and with your eyes on top when calm. Flats bends, humps and the mouths of the big coves are the best places to search.
Well, better go for now. We have some nicer weather this next week so get out and enjoy or give us a call for some help. Enjoy the fall colors. Robert Johnson, fishofexcellence.com, (479) 253-2258