Stillhouse Fishing Guide Report – 15 October 2009 – 26 Fish (PM Trip)






I was expectant tonight as I got on the water for a quick “stay in touch with the fish” trip for just a while before, during and after sunset. When these dry fronts come through, each one seems to spur white bass, hybrid striper, and crappie activity, while having just the opposite impact on sunfish and largemouth. I was targeting white bass on Stillhouse tonight.

Matching forage size is key all year long. This lineup accounts for 99% of my vertical jigging: the 1/8 oz. Rattle Snakie, the 1/4 oz. Rattle Snakie, the 3/8 oz. TNT 180, and the 1/2 oz. TNT 180.


Start Time: 4:35p

End Time: 7:05pm

Air Temp: 66F at trip’s start.

Water Surface Temp: ~71.3F

Wind: Winds were driven by an approaching dry cold front and came from the NNW at about 16-17mph.

Skies: Skies were clear and bright.



I looked over Area 033 with sonar and saw little so kept right on going over to Area 037. On the NW (wind impacted) side of this feature, game fish arches appeared on sonar both on bottom and suspended off the slope. I fished the 21-27 foot segment of the slope and steadily caught fish, putting 11 whites and 1 largemouth in the boat. With it now established that the fish were using this area, and while they were still biting here, I intentionally left them to seek out other areas holding active fish. This turned out to be a good bet, as I also found fish at Area 035 in 21-23 feet, putting 7 fish in the boat, and I found active fish at Area 110 in 14-17 feet and put 6 fish in the boat here. The fish started to go soft while I was here. I did attempt one last area, Area 034, just as the sun was setting, and did catch one just-legal largemouth out of a bit of random brush on the bottom here, but the fish were done by now and I packed in in.


The early fall is a period of transition. Often times when I’m not fishing with guests, I’ll leave biting fish to find other biting fish. This is one of the most successful means of finding new, productive areas to fish. Fish only have limited times of activity over the course of a given day. If you stay on one spot and fish it during the entire window of activity, then go hunting fish once the window shuts down, you’re not likely to find active fish, and thus are not likely to gain confidence in new areas. On the other hand, if you keep track of areas that are good prospects, and fish them during the heart of an activity period, you’ll eventually encounter fish and can then add that area to your collection of areas you do have confidence in.

TALLY = 26 FISH, All caught and released








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