With a trip scheduled for Monday, I wanted to refine the sniping technique that paid off so well at Belton earlier this week. Today presented some of the toughest conditions in wintertime fishing — a damp north wind. Regardless, I caught fish wherever I could find fish on this technique. So, despite the poor fishing (which was expected given the weather) my confidence in the technique was bolstered after seeing how these turned-off fish perked up and responded.

Start Time: 7:45a

End Time: 11:45a

Air Temp: 44F at trip’s start.

Water Surface Temp: 48.1F

Wind: N at ~13 the entire trip.

Skies: Grey cloud cover until 10:15, then slowly clearing from NW to SE.

My goal today was to refine the “sniping” technique that I found would tempt even lethargic white bass. As I used this at Belton earlier in the week, I used ultralight gear with very light 6 pound line. I wanted to rig up with standard medium tackle today so that clients not familiar with fishing by sight (as is required with the very soft action on the UL equipment) would be able to feel bites transmitted in the more sensitive graphite of the traditional tackle. I worked up a good combination of rods, reels, and lures and also figured out a way to keep the ice jigs from creating such a twist in the line. By the time I came off the water I was sure I could hand a rod to a guest and expect they could catch fish right along side me.

I found fish in 3 locations today. There was a bit of shallower action early on between Areas 375 and 390 right on bottom yielding just two white bass. The loons have gotten so common on Stillhouse that the birds have really been ignoring bait pushed by fish and are instead keying on bait pushed by loons. So, the presence of gulls and terns now rarely indicates the presence of gamefish. These loons are definitely on bait, but the bait covers a much wider area than any gamefish keying on them are typically schooled up in, so, there is still a lot of looking left to do with sonar even where b.

The second location was Area 590 in 49-53 feet of water. There were white bass here found solo and in groups of just 2-3 fish. I was able to temple 1 in 4 and caught 2 of every 3 that started at the bait. I landed 7 white bass here, all right at 11 inches.

The third location was Area 569 in 52 feet of water. There were white bass both on bottom here, as well as suspended as high as 18-20 feet, but more typically around 38-42 feet. Again,I was able to temple 1 in 4 and caught 2 of every 3 that started at the bait. I landed 5 fish here including 1 largemouth and 2 short whites off the bottom, and 2 whites suspended.

TALLY = 14 fish, all caught and released

***For a complete listing of gear and lures used, please go to the “About” tab, and click on the “About Your Guide” page on the drop-down menu.