This is a 41-in. Brown Trout caught by Tonya Johnson of Berryville at a yard sale. Pretty good catch, especially if the story of being a state record from somewhere up north about 20 years ago is true. We are doing research on it now hoping to get some history on this big fish. For the years, the paint is holding up very well and it is here now for some light fin repair and to be put on driftwood to be resold, so if anyone’s interested they can find how to contact her or just give me a call.
I had a nice pic of some stripers that we caught at the dam last week but with all we keep in these phones it was lost when phone went out, along with a lot more.
So on with the report.
Well, it seems a lot of bass are moving up into the shallows for some cooler water on these cool mornings on the flats and in the back of the coves, as shallow as two feet. About the best thing to throw at them is a flat billed crankbait that won’t go down but a couple feet. Crawdad and shad filers both catching fish. Look for the crappie to be moving up, too, as the water keeps cooling down.
Walleye seem to be being caught by about everyone going out here at the Island, along with some good-sized trout the further you venture up the river toward the tail waters. Shad and crawdad-colored crankbaits seem to work well for both of them, too.
Using the smaller shallow ones up river, and back this way the bigger ones that get down a little more, but the closer you are back this way and around the Island it will be bass you find feeding with the walleye instead of trout.
As for the striped bass on Beaver Lake, they are still on our end of the lake and we are still catching good fish from Starkey’s to the dam with big 5 – 7 in. shad being the best bait, but some are also catching a few on perch and brood shiners.
If you are one roll on top, throw a big spook or top water bait at them, but they are going back down quick so it is also wise to have a hug or spoon tied on to get down to under 20 ft. when most the bait and stripers prefer to hang out now where the water is cooler.
Well that’s it for this week. Take a kid fishing when you can. It is hard to believe, but I am wide open this weekend so if anyone wants to get out just give me a call. Enjoy the holiday but don’t forget what it’s about. JOHNSON GUIDE SERVICE www.fishofexcellence.com (479) 253-2258