This here’s my sister’s boy, Travis Cox from Alba, Mo. Did not know I’ve been chasing these stripers so many years until I found this pic of him 15 years back, the last time we fished together. Looks like the boy outfished the man.
We went up river and just did an afternoon thing at Point 12 out of Hickory Creek where another guide I work with limited out two days this week. Stripers in the morning running shad, and shiners free-lining with no weight under planer boards and balloons in two to six feet of water. He said had to pull his trolling motor up to keep out of the mud.
From now ‘till May we usually get good bites mornings and afternoons when the water’s cool like this. Have a guy up front casting a big Zara Spook or chugged on top to get them in the boat pretty fast.
Water temp was running 55°. Writing this on Monday, so if this rain comes in before this report is out then it’s really on for fish that want some current to lay those eggs in.
Here at Holiday Island about the same water temp, with walleye still being the fish all seem to be chasing. I’ve heard reports of them still being caught off the flats between here and Beaver, but now also up near Houseman Access as they move on their run upriver. They’re being caught on jigs and minnows, and trolling deep diving crank baits close to the bottom.
White bass are also moving in looking for room to lay their eggs, too. I think with this water warming as fast as it is, March might be the best month for the spawn on all our warm water fish. Bass are already being caught chasing bait all the way to the boat. We’re throwing crankbaits on the flats and when not throwing, using Alabama rigs and jigs off the bluff side.
Crappie have also moved in closer to the shoreline and are being caught in 8 – 12 ft. of water, 6 – 8 feet deep on jigs and minnows on both lakes.
If you’re wanting some trout and fishing the tailwaters from the bank, what always worked for me year ‘round is just put a worm on the shank of a hook with a little orange chartreuse power bait on the tip or a piece of marshmallow. They will hit all three and all three will lift bait off the bottom.
Well, that’s it for this week. We have a walleye trip here at the Island on Friday and a striper trip on Beaver Lake Sunday, so should gave something good for you next week.