Leaving tonight!

We're pulling out at 2:30 friday morning to hit Blood river. What a difference a year makes. We were there the exact same weekend last year and the water temperature was 70. doesn't look like it's going to break 50 this year. Last year we were catching fish from sheep head ridge all the way back into the back of blood river. I'm hoping the fishing will still be good with the cooler water temps. does anyone know how well the crappie are established into the Blood yet? I'm wondering if they are on the creek channel between Sheep head ridge and wildcat ramp like usual or if they haven't made it that far yet and are still hanging out at the mouth of blood? Any heads ups or PM's would be great. thanks. I'll be sure to give a full report when I return on Monday to let you guys know what did or didn't work for me.

I figure from the 3 inches of rain that Murray got the other night, you will be able to plant corn in Blood River right now.

Putting specific location information on a public forum is not going to make you a lot of friends with the Blood River regulars. General info and PMs are your friends.

Thanks for the useful information. I'll bring a bag of silverqueen with me.

Hope you have a great trip and smoke em

I was hoping this year was not going to be as warm as last year. I was hoping for water temps in the mid 50's. I'm usually down there during the 2nd week of April but this year it will be during the 1st week so it we have a little sun....maybe. I think the fishing will still be good. I looked at the temps for the Ky Lake region and I believe tomorrow is to be near 70. I'm not a fan of cold muddy water but let the sun hit it and then things begin to happen. It seems to me from year to year conditions are always different down @ Ky Lake even though we go the same week every year but that just spring fishing everywhere.
I always start in my normal hot spots and then move either deeper or shallower until I start to catch some fish. Good luck and have a safe trip.

I've found the most common mistake people make in muddy water is they don't adjust and they FISH TOO DEEP!

White crappie like dirty water. When the water gets dingy the particulate matter in the water obsorbes the sunlight and it retains more heat. The light penetration is less also. It will draw those whites and baitfish up high on the brush near that warmer surface water. If the water is rising they might even run to the banks in the backs of the bays. I've seen it time and time again. Blacks will seek the warmer water too, but they prefer clearer water. I have caught NICE crappie in 42 degree muddy water, the first week of May, 3' deep in 5' of water too. Ask Buffalo13! He'll tell ya. We stroked their fanny's for 5 days in a row! Everybody else was fish'n deep and we were clean'n fish and justa smile'n!:biggrin

If I've been catch'n fish 12' deep in 14' of water and we get a hard rain that dirties up the bays I concentrate on the brush piles that come up high in the water column. I'll fish it high. Those fish might be 3' deep in 12' of water. They'll be a little spooky, so don't just run in on'um. Ease up to that pile. Start high and work your way down then go to the next one. If you're spider rig'n... Raise some of those baits up high.

If you're vertical jig'n, use a big profile, dark colored body or some of the Bobby Garland MoGlow bodies on a lighter jig. "Pop" that thing every now and then to make it displace some water and draw some attention. You want something that's gonna "move some water" and put off vibrations when it moves! That's how they find food when they can't see it. You can do the same thing with a slip bobber rig. Lively minners on a light hook also work well.

Remember... The most active fish will be the higher fish.

OK... I've rambled long enough!

Whiskers, you the man. Good post with a lot of info. I will be fishing Big Bear in two weeks, hope the water temp increases.

See you guy soon.

Chuck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wiskers

I've found the most common mistake people make in muddy water is they don't adjust and they FISH TOO DEEP!

White crappie like dirty water. When the water gets dingy the particulate matter in the water obsorbes the sunlight and it retains more heat. The light penetration is less also. It will draw those whites and baitfish up high on the brush near that warmer surface water. If the water is rising they might even run to the banks in the backs of the bays. I've seen it time and time again. Blacks will seek the warmer water too, but they prefer clearer water. I have caught NICE crappie in 42 degree muddy water, the first week of March, 3' deep in 5' of water too. Ask Buffalo13! He'll tell ya. We stroked their fanny's for 5 days in a row! Everybody else was fish'n deep and we were clean'n fish and justa smile'n!:biggrin

If I've been catch'n fish 12' deep in 14' of water and we get a hard rain that dirties up the bays I concentrate on the brush piles that come up high in the water column. I'll fish it high. Those fish might be 3' deep in 12' of water. They'll be a little spooky, so don't just run in on'um. Ease up to that pile. Start high and work your way down then go to the next one. If you're spider rig'n... Raise some of those baits up high.

If you're vertical jig'n, use a big profile, dark colored body or some of the Bobby Garland MoGlow bodies on a lighter jig. "Pop" that thing every now and then to make it displace some water and draw some attention. You want something that's gonna "move some water" and put off vibrations when it moves! That's how they find food when they can't see it. You can do the same thing with a slip bobber rig. Lively minners on a light hook also work well.

Remember... The most active fish will be the higher fish.

OK... I've rambled long enough!

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That was suposed to read March not May!

Ramble like that is always appreciated Whiskers.

Wiskers that was interesting to read . Info from the experts is always welcome an appreciated.i have been spider rigging with some varying luck .may be fishing to deep

Quote:

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Originally Posted by watergate

Wiskers that was interesting to read . Info from the experts is always welcome an appreciated.i have been spider rigging with some varying luck .may be fishing to deep

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Try a little higher. When its dark and cold them fish will move closer to the stove!:biggrin

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wiskers

I've found the most common mistake people make in muddy water is they don't adjust and they FISH TOO DEEP!
Remember... The most active fish will be the higher fish.

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That's pretty much what I find too. Yesterday (fishing in Ohio)water was 43-45 degrees, stained to heavy stain. It didn't matter if we were in 3 or 12 fow. Everything we caught was 1'-2' deep. Never had a hit over 2' deep.

Thanks for the info fellowes .will put it to use this week. How many inches of rain did we have over the weekend

Not enough to make any difference in water color... so far.

Cleaned 12 fish Friday and 14 Saturday. Conditions were rough and the fishing was slow, but not impossible. The wind was horrible on Saturday and the water temp seemed to still be averaging about 48 or so. Fish seemed to be scattered and they were being caught at all depths depending on who you talked too. Friday we caught fish 8' deep in 10 fow, and Saturday it seemed to be better at 13' in 15 fow. The good news is we only caught 2 fish under 10 inches both days. The water was muddy but no more than usual for this time of year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Quackrstackr

Not enough to make any difference in water color... so far.

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Scratch that... it started storming not too long after posting that and has just stopped. The bays are going to look like chocolate milk again for a while.