Fishing Report Archives

Hello from the Excel Storm Cat 230. Fall weather is finally headed our way. I'm ready to see the surface temperatures lower than 78 degrees at 7am. Our seasonal surface temps should be in the high 60s or so. The 40 degree nights will really help.

I've been fishing the deep areas just inside the mouths of the bays with good results. The baitfish are slowly moving toward shallower areas inside the bays. Lower surface temperatures will speed that migration up.

It is times like these that show the value of good electronics and lake maps. I spend a lot of my time during guide trips explaining how I use my Humminbirds, what I am looking for, and why we are fishing a particular area. Find the bait, find the gamefish.

We are still trolling crankbaits. Today the Pico Beachball was hot. Yesterday and Sunday it was Blue Boogie.

I try to run a variety of colors to start a trip and let the crappie tell me what works. Sunlight penetration, cloud cover, wave action, or stained water after rain all can change what colors will work on any particular day.

The crankbait bite normally will be good until the surface temps drop to 60 or so. I will then change over to pulling roadrunner-type jigs with curly tail plastics.

As the crappie and bait move toward shallow cover, I may also pull out my casting rods and slip bobbers with minnows. This is where Livescope becomes most valuable to me. Eliminating cover with no crappie is very important as a time saver.

I still have several dates open during the last two weeks of October and much of November. It will be nice to be comfortable in hoodies and heavier clothes. I'm ready to put the summer clothes in the closet. Colors are starting to change and fall is a glorious time to be on the lake.

Be careful out there. The lake levels are headed below 355 and lots of gremlins are showing up in shallow coves and on banks. One must be at attention when motoring the lakes now until spring. PFDs are a must in cold weather.

Welcome to our beautiful slice of Heaven.