What do you think? (Image from Jordan)

I caught this image last weekend on Jordan in the "S" curves. It looked to me like a large school of bait being stalked by a school of striper. I had no luck that day, but I have seen a LOT of bait and birds. Today there were many birds diving and working the bait fish - not just sitting around. I hope that means that there is an abundance of bait available for "our" predator fish. My wife caught three fish today at Ebenezer (schooled me!) and two were in the 12-13" class. One looked like she was full of eggs, but I suspect it was shad.
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The reason I am asking is I am trying to learn to interpret what I am seeing on this TV. Thanks

Cool!!! Thanks for sharing.

Cool image

Looks great,the fish under the bait looks long because of such slow speed,but are probable stripers,either way a good pic

There are fish at Jordan & Falls that have eggs.

Problem with fish the birds at Jordan is that Jordan is a bait factory. There is so much bait in that lake you can see birds working and there will just be a huge bait ball no larger fish pushing them. That being said it does pay to check out where the birds are because there will be larger fish thee at times. It best to use your electronics and find the feeding fish that way.
Those are nice pictures. I was in the S curves Saturday the 8th and I too saw alot of the bait balls and fish under them. I was in a Kayak an slow trolling for crappie. Didn't get anything there and only caught a few short fish at the bridge at Farrington point. But it was a beautiful day on the lake almost no wind, which in a kayak makes for a good day.

You are right, Yak. I have seen tons of bait with nothing pushing them up. At least to my eyes. The picture I posted is one on three in which that ball eventually forms. It is hard for me to remember that what I am seeing is not a whole screen image, but a record of slices. as Gene pointed out, the speed made for the long streaks. Personally, I haven't seen this type of image since the days of fishing Lake Lanier in Georgia. Sometimes the action would get so hot down there I'd get weak in the knees!

Hey yak, was that you with the sail? I was entering the turns as you were leaving. I was in the pontoon boat.

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Originally Posted by Crewmax42

Hey yak, was that you with the sail? I was entering the turns as you were leaving. I was in the pontoon boat.

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No Sail Crew, and didn't see a pontoon but we left the S turns about 1200 or so and went to try to go to the 64 bridge, but the ramp was closed, and found out today that it will be for two months for repairs.

Hay yak were would be the best place to drop my yak at Jordan I have never been there with my yak. I am looking to go soon..Thanks

I don't kayak anymore ( used to WW kayak), but if I did, I would put in at "Little Jordan" on the other side of Pea ridge rd and down the road from Ebenezer ramp. There is a small parking lot and a reasonable launching area and no jetskis or power boats. I don't know about the fishing, but it looks like a nice body of water to explore peacefully.

Something that is VERY common at Jordan now and has been for at least 20 years is the grouping up of White Catfish in the Winter under bait. They did it when there was Hybrids and when there was Stripers. Judging by the bait, depth, H2O temp, that is almost certainly what you see there. I use shad for bait exclusively and that is the surest way to confirm the species. If you were to drop shad alive or dead down there or probably any catfish bait (like shrimp, cut bream/crappie, etc...) your answer would come in a few seconds. You can catch as many as you can stand to pull up when you see them like that. They are 2-6 pounds and not a terrible way to salvage a tough fishing day.

Thanks for that, Greggo!. Having caught a few white perch last fall and learning how destructive they are, I started keeping a heavy rod and a filet knife to make cut bait. I haven't caught once since!

That would depend we put in at the ramp off of W H Jones rd (its off Pea ridge Rd) and paddle to the s-turns.very deep channel through there. We also put in at the Farrington point ramp and fished the bridge right there for crappie . The 64 bridge is also good but that ramp is closed for 2 months. There is an old ramp at the Information center that we might try to get to the 64 bridge. I haven't fished it much with my Yak but want to fish it more.

any kinda predator fish followin schools of bait like that, in this temp water, are just pickin off the ones that are dyin an fallin out of the school. when the water is this cold the shad are continuously dyin. the big fish don't haveta chase, just wait. and thus, here's a tip for fishin water this cold: kill ya minnow or cut it in half, or use cutbait. I've had some great days this time of yr usin cut crappie for bait.

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Originally Posted by Yak-It-Up

That would depend we put in at the ramp off of W H Jones rd (its off Pea ridge Rd) and paddle to the s-turns.very deep channel through there. We also put in at the Farrington point ramp and fished the bridge right there for crappie . The 64 bridge is also good but that ramp is closed for 2 months. There is an old ramp at the Information center that we might try to get to the 64 bridge. I haven't fished it much with my Yak but want to fish it more.

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Thank you. I would like to hook up with you guys sometime if possible. Let me know of any trips. Thank you again.Attachment 150917

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Originally Posted by TIGMASTER;25 .80451

Thank you. I would like to hook up with you guys sometime if possible. Let me know of any trips. Thank you again.Attachment 150917

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Sure thing TIGMASTER that would be great. I think we are fishing Upchruch or Williamson pond for the afternoon bite on Saturday , that is I can dig my yak out of the snow...lol also going to Roland's Monday Welcome to join us it is Hemi and my self so far.

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Originally Posted by fishdoc

any kinda predator fish followin schools of bait like that, in this temp water, are just pickin off the ones that are dyin an fallin out of the school. when the water is this cold the shad are continuously dyin. the big fish don't haveta chase, just wait. and thus, here's a tip for fishin water this cold: kill ya minnow or cut it in half, or use cutbait. I've had some great days this time of yr usin cut crappie for bait.

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This is valuable information, but would be illegal on Jordan. I read you are not allowed to alter the body ( cutting,cleaning, stretching) of regulated fish. This killed my idea for the "Fish Maximizer Length Enhancement Device" (TM ).

use bream or whiteperch then. or like I said, kill ya minnow. I've been in fishin situation where a freshly killed minnow would out fish a live one 5 to 1.

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Originally Posted by fishdoc

use bream or whiteperch then. or like I said, kill ya minnow. I've been in fishin situation where a freshly killed minnow would out fish a live one 5 to 1.

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I put a cheap filet knife on the boat to do this if/when I catch my next white perch (or bream).

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Originally Posted by greggofish

Something that is VERY common at Jordan now and has been for at least 20 years is the grouping up of White Catfish in the Winter under bait. They did it when there was Hybrids and when there was Stripers. Judging by the bait, depth, H2O temp, that is almost certainly what you see there. I use shad for bait exclusively and that is the surest way to confirm the species. If you were to drop shad alive or dead down there or probably any catfish bait (like shrimp, cut bream/crappie, etc...) your answer would come in a few seconds. You can catch as many as you can stand to pull up when you see them like that. They are 2-6 pounds and not a terrible way to salvage a tough fishing day.

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That is some great info greggo, I could rack up some points in the kayak wars with some white cats, have get my cut bait out.

You can use Crappie for cut bait, or any other fish that has a length limit for that matter. Just make sure that you fillet it and save the carcass with the head and tail attached to the spine. If you are checked, the Wildlife Officer must be able to identify the species (head) and verify the length. It not having any sides makes no difference if it is legal to possess.

Cut Crappie will catch more Crappie than any other cut bait in my experience. White Perch would probably be second.

Thanks for straightening me out on that reg. I was mis-reading that it was illegal to alter the form...period. But, it is only illegal to alter it to make it impossible to ID and measure.

I would like to clean my fish at the lake. Now, I can, as long as I save the carcass.