It was one of those nites.....

Went out yesterday PM and did some scouting near Nevins Creek. Found a coupla spots that seemed to fill the bill for the current bite, Main channel cove with lots of fish marked. Since the freezer is well stocked with fillets I decided to try one of those new spots. The wind was from the NW and I thought it would be good practice to try a place sheltered from that wind for use this winter. Got set up by dark. After 30 mins with no action I was gettin alittle worried but realized that it often takes time to get the bite started. Nearly an hour was gone and I was feelin uncomfortable with my choice of spot when one of the rod tips dove toward the water. Landed a real nice 14" slab. As I was bringin it in I stepped back only to discover that the hinge from the motor cover had worked loose and was layin flat on the deck with a 1" screw pointing straight up. I stepped on the screw and drove it up into the sole of my foot. It hurt. Still, I was happy knowing the bite had started and was lookin forward to a big nite of big fish. Time marched on with no action. Started thinkin about my sandwich. More time elapsed. Ate my sandwich. Stared at the rod tips awhile longer. Wished I'd brought another sandwich. Finally got another solid bite. Grabbed the rod and the line started screaming off the reel. It was one of those moments when you know ya got a catfish on but think to yourself "What if it IS a crappie pullin like this" then it makes a run toward the bottom and ya know its a catfish. And it was. At least is was a pretty big one...5lbs..and only did small damage to the tackle. 4 hours after settin up I landed the second crappie, a 11" lifter. Caught 3 more cats--2 of em in the 5lb range--A small crappie and a alewife foul hooked in the gill. Finally gave it up and went home with a sore foot and damaged pride. I shoulda known it would be a bad nite. Right after settin the anchors I realized that I hadn't been payin attention and I had the boat pointed the wrong way. Its pretty bad when ya gotta fish out the "wrong side" of your own boat.

Kunes you're not making me feel good about sat. night.I've already been having foul luck , even when you guys were doing good.Now I'm, really in for it I guess.Hope your foot heals up quick.Eric. ;)

At sundown the water temp where I was sat at 90.7 degrees. I'm thinkin that didn't help.

Yeah , I guess not.Do you have the type on depth finder that will show you the thermocline?All I can get is the surface temp , but it seems that all the fish I pull up from deep are very warm to the touch.

I have a Eagle Fishmark 320 'cause it was cheap and it does all I need it to. It might show a radical thermocline if ya messed with the sensitivity but I doubt there is much of a themocline in a shallow fast moving lake like Wylie. Where I've fished deep lakes with a pronounced thermocline ya can tell where it is by observing where the fish are being marked. And I agree..the fish caught deep still feel warmer than I expect. With clear skies there should be alot of cooling tonite so I'm hoping to get up real early and try to drift the main lake if the wind isn't too bad. Took my daughters down to the dock and caught a bunch of brim (my 3 year old caught her 1st fish...pics to follow) that I'm gonna rig for catfish and I got some minnows left to try for crappies or whatever.

Good luck , I'll be out there somewhere.I just dont know where yet.I guess Ill do what my gut says when the time comes.I have a three year old son who I take to the broad river near my house to fish for bluegills and pumkinseeds.he loves the canepole action.The boat makes him a little uneasy just yet , so we bank fish mostly.Hope the big fish theory holds true tomorrow night cause its probably the only trip this week for me.Eric.