"BTW down on the river we have been seeing schools of minnows, a lot of those minnows real tiny, on the surface pretty regularly for a while now. That is in one of the barge channels where there is no current except when a boat moves through the locks, not all that different from your marina, except a whole lot less boat traffic, even in summer. Not shoals of them but quite a few schools. IMO more than in previous years, same in the lakes. It looks to me like we are going into winter with a pretty strong forage base this year at least in some of our waters".

Two things keep me going back to the marinas: first are the dock pilings, especially those that drop into 18 to 20 feet or more of water and, sailboat keels. Those keels offer some superb shade on days when the skies are high and the sun is bright. The keels also tend to get that scum and weed growth on them in late summer and the fish love to snoop for bugs in that stuff. I'll go floatless and swing drop a jig right on the shaded side and waterline of a spinach burner at the front of the craft and then stroll to the back so the jig runs right along the keel and deep. I keep a tight line doing this. I sure bang a lot of crappies doing this and many are those 14 and 15 inch mamas.

You should come down and meet me some morning Dutch. Lake City. Nice drive. I'll keep you up to snuff on the bite. If its later in October you might find yourself attached to a super sized walleye too. Last fall I got three that were at or over 10 pounds just fishing crappies.