Friday at Smithville in the wind

Actually, the wind didn't bother me as much this time. Got out on the water an hour earlier and found some places tucked away from it.

Fished all different spots today, mostly just scouting. First spot had some short fish (and several white bass which you can watch on the livescope and they are WAY more aggressive...flying around your jig before hammering it and running!) But also had a few dandy crappie in that area.


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Then the wind picked up and I left that spot.

Tried another place that I hadn't fished in a while. (Airplane) It held a *bunch* more fish but they weren't as big. I was measuring a few and they were over 9 but under 10 so didn't keep em today. I don't know why?? Normally I would. Just being snobby I guess. But then I was about to throw one back and thought, well...let me measure this first and it was 10"! Guess I was being TOO snobby!?! It went in the box. Also caught a white bass that was probably the biggest one I've caught at Smithville (heck...biggest one I've caught ANYwhere!) in the last several years!


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Then went to check out a spot Bill told me about but the wind was blowing straight into it. There were fish, and I even caught a couple. They *might've* been 9"?? But were likely 8.75" blacks crappie. On a different day I might've kept 'em. Didn't stay there long. Went to a couple spots really close to that area. I'd never fished those areas before but they were VERY out of the wind, so I thought I'd give them a whirl. I guess there's a reason I never fish those areas. Nothing there!! Weird. Cuz it wasn't that far from the place Bill told me to check out.
:dono

Left the lake with five good ones in the box which is fine for me, cuz when I bag them up, I only do 10 fillets per bag anyway, so... If I'd have kept every 9-10" fish, I probably would've left with 10 fish, and if I'd have kept every "Smithville Keeper" I'd have had well over 20, but...I was just kinda scouting. My nephew wants to go out again soon so wanted to refresh my intel...make sure I know some spots that might produce.

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And...I remembered the plug this time!!!:Rofl

Nice! Good job. Thanks for sharing

Nice work Joe!

Good ones Joe. I like it when they are too fat for the measurer. What jig is working for you?

A little 1/16th oz short shank (black head) with a Bobby Garland Baby Shad in Blue Ice. I was using those sliders with the white body and the chartreuse paddle tail that you were talking about, but and that worked better in the dirty water, but...since it's cleared up a bit, the more natural color worked. But I used my last one so I'll have to switch to Monkey Milk or the blue and chartreuse.

I was also tipping with a nibble a couple weeks ago when there were so many short strikes, and just sorta continued to do so out of habit, I guess?? But yesterday and the day before, I kinda quit doing that and they were hitting it just fine. Choking it, actually.

may y'all up in the north country doing great. congrats.