Willow Beach Lake Report, July 12, 2009

Well, I got out on Willow Beach Lake today. Decided to leave LMR for another day when I'm smarter about it, or I'm in more of a mood to learn by trial and error.

I started working the cedars in the northern part of the lake with little to no luck. Put one crappie, one bass and a nickels worth of bream in the cooler.

I noticed that the lake was still high and a bit flooded, so I figured I might see if the Bream were on their beds and sure enough, they were in shadier waters deep in the cotton woods, willows and cedars in about 6 feet of water.

I had to push back in there and "climb" from tree to tree, cussing and untangling all the gear from the branches that kept promising to jerk something out of the boat.

All this seemed to be somewhat worthwhile, as I wound up with 15 keepers. Long Ear, Pumpkin Seeds and Blue Gill.

No pictures, but I knew the boogers were there, I just had to keep trying.

I gave up the effort about 2 P.M. Not a great day, but I didn't get skunked.

I did learn that this lake seems to have zero or almost zero submerged habitat, according to my sonar. I couldn't find a good hump, channel, stump or beer can on the bottom.

If any of you Arkies fish there regularly, or have in the past, let me know a tip or two, as my regular fishing buddy likes that silly lake for some reason, and I'd like to be able to put something more in the boat besides medium bream.

The Bream are bedding on Nimrod Lake with the full moon. Caught a limit of bull gills quickly in small pockets where leaves wash in.