Fishing Report Archives

Hey y'all from the Excel Storm Cat 230.

My healing continues but my first few trips on the lake a couple weeks ago came too early considering the temperatures were well into the high 90s. Having been confined to most of my time at home, none of that prepared me for that oppressive heat and I paid for it.

I made my mind up then I would ease back into my outdoor activities as the temperatures moderated. Thankfully no trips were scheduled after a late August trip that was cancelled by mutual agreement due to the heat. It has been rescheduled for April.

I decided an afternoon trip would be great for both Miss Vicki and me. I had been talking to fishing friends and reading all the social media reports so I felt we would have a good chance to have a good outing.

We got on the lake in early afternoon and put the Pico INT cranks out on 6 rods. Vicki is the Captain of the back of the boat while I manage the trolling motor and landing net when we fish together.

We instantly saw the results of great recent crappie spawns. We literally couldn't go 100 yards without hooking one or more 8-9 inch crappie! Catching fish is why we were there but those weren't what we had in mind.

We went thru dozens of those before we finally caught some keepers over 10". Throw in a nice largemouth and several yellow bass that were very small to the mix. Then it happened!

Did I ever tell you how bad Vicki hates catfish? She doesn't want to catch them, handle them, or eat them. She hooked a nice channel catfish on a new Pico crank that I've been working on while I was healing. That's all I'll say about it until it comes out in Pico's new lineup.

Of course the cat was on a 16 foot ACC Crappie Stix rod (Vicki doesn't care for the long rods either). She did a great job fighting the catfish to the net.

The fish was probably six pounds or so, too big for me to get a good grip on while removing the hooks. As soon as the last hook was removed, the fish flopped and I lost my hold on it.

Its first stop was the outside of my left leg where a spine went thru my cargo pants and deep into my ankle. The intense pain was instant, as was the blood!!

Vicki is no nurse. All our kid's injuries and being sick at their stomachs were left up to me. This time she had no choice. The injury was in a place I could barely reach due to my still somewhat limited mobility.

I showed her where new microfiber towels were kept and she did a great job containing the blood which was now all over the floor of the boat. We got it wrapped and once the flow slowed, a large bandage on it. It was then time to keep fishing. It's always something.

We soaked up the cool breeze for the rest of the afternoon and had a wonderful time.

A trip to the doctor for antibiotics and for x-rays to make sure no spine was left in the wound came the next day. It was all good.

I was surprised at how much the surface temperature had fallen since my last trip. It was in the mid 80s in late afternoon. The cool nights forecast for the next few nights will drop it further.

Dropping temperatures will start the fall migration to shallow water for the baitfish and then gamefish. This signals one of my favorite fishing times of the year.

The crappie will gorge themselves, storing up reserves for winter and the spring spawn. The massive clouds of minnows mean the smorgasbord will be open.

I'm now booking for fall fishing. Fall is one of the best times to troll crankbaits as well as fishing minnows under slip bobbers around cover. I have several dates open in September into November as long as the weather cooperates.

Let's be careful out there. The lake level is down to around 356. I tore up a stainless prop by kicking up gravel loading my boat after our trip. It's always something!

There are fewer boats on the lake and while it make for a nice day on the water, it also means there are fewer chances for rescue if you get into trouble. Be sure to wear your PFDs and carry extra clothes as temperatures continue to drop.

Welcome to our slice of Heaven.