By Robert Johnson – Well, it’s walleye time here at Holiday Island and some big ones are being caught hitting the scales at well over 30 inches and weighing more than 12 pounds. We had an afternoon trip out Monday, but just caught spotted bass. Another angler we talked to said that’s all he got since 7 a.m. that day.
We had strong southwest winds with a water temperature of 46°. This was also the first day of the winds bringing in a warm front, so I guess that’s our excuse. But I have always believed that when a warm front comes in and you have two to three days of nice weather, the fishing will be better after the front settles in. The winds usually lay down, too. This can hold true with warm and cold fronts. The fish don’t care about the air temp. We do. It’s the water temp and how long the days are, which relates to the sun, noon and barometer.
We are now into February, which is the start of spring for us and the fish. We will get more warm fronts than cold fronts from here on, and the water temps are now rising.
Most stripers on Beaver Lake are still holding in the mid-lake area within two miles both sides of the Hwy. 12 bridge. The also have the itch to go upriver to spawn.
The walleye spawn is at a colder water temp of all our lake fish, and for now until spring there’s only one way they are going and that’s up river against the current to lay eggs. They are being caught now from here at the Island to Beaver.
Before February is over people will be catching them closer to Houseman Access and Spider Creek. They will go as far as the river will let them to lay on gravel bars on into March then head back this way so the white bass have their room to do the same. If we don’t get out this week I will put in the spawning temp chart again for next week.
We are also keeping out $50 off special on striper trips and $30 off our Holiday Island trips since my Internet kept me from posting in Kansas City, where they seem to love our little town.
Johnson Guide Service (479) 253-2258. Fishofexcellence.com