Fishing Report Archives

Hello from the Excel Storm Cat 230.

My Monday guide trip began with me digging through the piles of gear in the back seat of my F-150 for a sweatshirt. The 54 degree temperature kicked my spirts into high gear. I love fall fishing!

My leg is still healing from the catfish spine puncture. It's going to be a long process. Thank goodness I've been on the lake several times since with no catfish being caught. I'm a little gun shy of those fins right now!

I've written so much about the great numbers of baitfish schools or baitballs. They are now a constant on my Humminbirds and Garmin units. With the increase in food comes bigger, healthier fish.

We are right now catching the largest yellow bass of my career. Not one occasionally but often. I don't particularly target them. They eat minnows and anything that eats minnows will hit a crank bait. This is just one of the signs of a healthy fishery and a glowingly bright future for our lakes. They are also great on the plate.

I have done several main lake trips lately with good results. The crappie seem to be moving toward the bays, following the baitballs. Among our catch have been several good crappie including a 15+ incher that was over 2 pounds. It was well over two inches thick! We also had a 17 inch sauger and several large yellows.

My clients Monday commented several times about the lack of boat traffic. Thursday and Friday were anything but. It still strikes me as odd that pleasure boaters have no problem with running at high speed close enough to a fishing boat to throw a water bottle from one boat to another. The lake is a mile wide. Give us some courtesy and some room!

With the lake temperatures now cooling into the mid seventies, we will soon experience the great fall fishing but also the increased danger of a dunking. Going into the water in temperatures in the 60s and 50s is asking for trouble if you aren't prepared. Keep extra clothes or at least a rain suit in the boat should you get wet. Hypothermia kills several fishermen each year.

The lake level was at 355.5 earlier this week. The gremlins are starting to show their ugly heads. Watch that GPS lake map closely!

Be careful out there! Get out now and enjoy some of the best fishing our lakes will offer for a good while.

Welcome to our slice of Heaven.