Report- Arkansas River at Toadsuck Sept 29
Encouraged by the chance to win a prize!
I fished the wing dike below Toadsuck dam for a while this afternoon with a buddy. We had a good time and got a few bites but only caught two little crappie on 1/16 oz jigs. I tried 1/4 oz for a bit but didn't have any luck with it.
When I switched to 1/8 oz, I hung a HUGE gar on the first cast that I fought for a good five minutes before it turned downstream and peeled off 100 yards of line in about three seconds! I realized that the fish was going to spool me and I'd have to go to the truck to get another pole out, so I held the spool so it would break off. It was pretty cool when the fish sailed out of the water a couple of times. It looked like it was as big around as a bowling ball! It sure stirred the water up! I doubt I'd have got it in on that #6 line anyway.
I said we only caught two crappie, but I caught 8 nice white bass and a couple of small black bass. There were also a couple of small (tiny?) ones caught, too. I won't mention the drum, but my buddy caught more of those than I did- I think he had 5 or 6. He also caught a pan-sized channel cat.
I caught most of mine using a single 1/8 oz pink head. They seemed to like red sparkle/chartreuse Southern Pro Hot Grub for me, I think it is the one they call KY Lake Killer. Buddy mostly used two 1/16's and seemed to do best with shad color. I also caught a nice big drum using a homemade red/chrome casting spoon I fashioned out of a stainless steel spoon's handle.
Saw a few other white bass caught. A couple of catfishers seemed to leave empty-handed.
*** The reason I was trying the spoon is I caught a 4 or 5 pound striper on a 1/32 jig (red/chartreuse micro tube) the day before. It was the only thing I caught yesterday morning.
PS- There must have been a snake den beneath the rocks I stood on. I saw AT LEAST five water snakes come from the middle of the river straight to the bank at my feet at different times. Some were big and some were little so it wasn't the same one over and over. Just thought I'd mention this little tidbit in case someone wants to stand on my rock!
