Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Whoever would of thought shoveling snow is part of being a guide, but it is.
Well, we’re kind of at a standstill this week with the water temp slowing most fish down. One good point is the days but are getting longer and the sun is getting higher. We’re on the backside of winter with February just around the corner.
February brings in some of the fattest bass of the year, along with big walleye that are already moving in around the Island and Beaver area with 60s coming this weekend.
With cooler water, think slow. Adding a live minnow to a jig or on its own can be the best thing to do for all fish now. The trout and crappie will hit both a jig or minnow now, too. They like the cooler water.
Striped bass on Beaver Lake are up here near the dam and a bunch are holding in the Hwy. 12 bridge area. This cold front has put them down under 20 ft. deep, so weights are needed. Shad, big creek minnows or shiners are still the best baits, along with spoons and jigs.
On sunny days with the highs above 50° they will still push bait up to the top. Afternoons can pay off good now, too, with the water temp being warmer. That also means looking in the shallows and close to the rock bluffs because rocks hold heat from the sun, and water less than 6 ft. deep can absorb the sun. If there’s a little mud on the shoreline, it holds heat, too.
If you have a GPS or GEO map look for underground springs feeding into the lake, for that water will also be warmer.
Well, guess I better go shovel some snow, ‘til next week stay warm and enjoy this nice weekend coming our way.
Robert Johnson www.fishofexcellence.com (479) 253-2258