NWR 2-23 sundsy

Launched at 11: fished till 3:30. Caught 10, kept 5, 1 at 13.5, 1at 11.5 and 3 right at 10, the rest were 8-9". I think I am sunburnt! that is how nice it was, rolled up the pants and took it all off but a tee shirt. Water was ~~stained, about 1 to 2' vis temp was 50 degrees. bite started at 10' but the last 3 were at 7 feet. Widely scattered. I did see a nice 30 lb blue caught on a minnow! I wish I know how to target those big blues. Oh yea I got good and stuck in the yard! I will need to put down some concrete

great to see there here.

Sounds like an onice trip, with dinner to boot! Thanks for the report.

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Originally Posted by Flatwater

Launched at 11: fished till 3:30. Caught 10, kept 5, 1 at 13.5, 1at 11.5 and 3 right at 10, the rest were 8-9". I think I am sunburnt! that is how nice it was, rolled up the pants and took it all off but a tee shirt. Water was ~~stained, about 1 to 2' vis temp was 50 degrees. bite started at 10' but the last 3 were at 7 feet. Widely scattered. I did see a nice 30 lb blue caught on a minnow! I wish I know how to target those big blues. Oh yea I got good and stuck in the yard! I will need to put down some concrete

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I had that happen a couple years back, the more I pulled in and out the yard the muddier it got, If you don't want to concrete, rocks work well also, I used 1/2 scoop from the nursary (about 1/2 ton) put them down in the truck tracks, may be more or less depending on the size of the yard, haven't had ANY problems since even after a rain.

Nice fishing. I've thought about putting out a line with a big chunk of menhaden on it for one of those big blue cats, while fishing for perch and crappie anchored up. I'm going to try it my next trip down there. I caught a 5 lb one on a small jig with a minnow while it was laying still on the bottom. I had set the pole down and forgot about it, while getting another fish in, and that cat almost pulled it out of the boat. Is there a good population of 20 to 30 lb blues in that river?

I started hearing stories last year about big blue cats being caught. I think most were first by accident but a few folks started targeting them and did real well. I have a pole rigged up with 50# braid a 8/0 circle hook on a short Carolina rig. I am afraid those 8-9 inch specks are going to be bait! A lot of folks have not caught a stripper in 2 years and they are chopping at the bit to catch big fish. I always mark a ton of fish in the NWR and catch such a variety of fish. I have heard of flounder and red fish being caught. Kitt I will follow what you did and have one pole rigged to catch cats and just drag it all day. (in a pole holder with drag set soft.) I sure hope they taste good.

Wtg!

Great report!!! I have watched guys Jug fishing for blues in the deeper water. they were doing pretty good.

good report, nice to get out enjoy some sun after this winter