Robert Johnson – Clayton Davis from Derby, Kan., got a nice striper this week from Beaver Lake, caught freelining shad off a planer board. Most our fish this week have been off the longest planer boards closest to the bank.
The shad are still spawning off the banks so the planers can get to them better without the boat spooking the fish. Stripers are being caught from the dam area to Rocky Branch area, on the gravel bars, points, humps and cuts in the bank. I call these fish traps, a place for fish to trap the bait.
Throwing a topwater bait early and late in the day and a 1 or 2 oz. bucktail or big shad 4 – 6 inches long are catching some, too, along with trolling umbrella rigs and deep divers.
Here around Holiday Island the crappie are from the shoreline to moving out and suspending in water up to 20 feet deep. Try minnows or jigs in water 4 – 8 foot water, 3 – 6 feet deep. In water 12 to 20 feet deep, try fishing 8 – 10 feet deep. Some walleye are also hanging close to the crappie in the creek channels.
Walleye can also be caught off the flats from the Island to the town of Beaver. Most are being caught in water less then 20 feet deep from 5 – 15 feet deep. A jig and minnow, trolling or throwing crank baits off the flats can also get them.
Bass are near the pea gravel shorelines wanting to spawn. Most are hanging close to the brush and can be caught throwing crankbaits, spinners and spoons. You can also find the perch now hanging out in the shoreline brush with the best bait being a worm. Which can keep the kids happy.
So enjoy the water and take a kid fishing since school’s out now.
Robert Johnson, fishofexcellence.com (479) 253-2258.