This past Saturday evening, 23 April, I fished with Garry Moore, his two sons-in-law, and two grandsons on Stillhouse Hollow targeting white bass with artificial lures.
From left: Garry Moore, Sean Looney, Eric McMaster, and Connor Looney in the foreground. Young Rivers McMaster was a bit camera shy.
Grandpa Garry got the biggest fish at the very last stop, and within 5 minutes of the bite coming to an end. He saved the best for last.
Garry’s son-in-law, Sean Looney, brought his 6-year-old son, Connor Looney; and Garry’s other son-in-law, Eric McMaster, brought his 3-year-old son, Rivers McMaster.
I’m normally a bit reluctant to take younger kids in this still-cool water season because the variety of tactics are limited, thus not allowing for much variety. In the summer months, as sunfish invade the shallows, many more options open up. Regardless, between fishing, snacking, and tending to a variety of chores that tend to be of interest to kids, both boys lasted for the full 4-hour length of the trip in good shape.
After a morning with calm winds and bright skies, this afternoon’s conditions improved with some SSE winds at a manageable speed and some high, thin clouds to take the edge off the bright sun.
After searching 4 areas without success, we checked out a deep ridge and there, at 60 feet on a sloped bottom, was a large school of white bass numbering in the hundreds. And what was even better, these fish were already up off bottom, indicating an active, feeding posture.
We got right down to business working 3/4 oz. white slabs in the midst of the congregation of fish and spent 2.75 hours doing nothing but catching. When the action slowed, I just did a “short hop” a few boatlengths away and we got right back into the fish.
The action finally slacked off right at 7:00p. We cranked up, headed to a similar area sitting in about 40′ of water and kept right on catching until the failing light level finally brought the fishing to an end.
At some point while Garry, Eric, and Sean were regularly encouraging Rivers to try reeling in a fish or two aided by his father, Connor chipped in with his own words of wisdom telling his cousin that, “Fish is what fishing’s all about!” Simple, but true.
When all was said and done today, we’d landed exactly 195 fish, including 5 largemouth bass and 190 white bass.
TALLY: 195 Fish, all caught and released
TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:
Start Time: 3:45p
End Time: 7:45p
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 80F
Water Surface Temp: 71F
Wind Speed & Direction: Winds were steady at SSE7-9
Sky Conditions: Fair skies with increasing white haze forming as sunset approached. ~15% white cloud cover.
Water Level: Water still rising to ~3 feet above full pool.
Other: GT= 125
Wx Snapshot:
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
**Area 1042/1059 – deep easing and smoking with slabs
**Area 803/805- deep easing and smoking with slabs
Bob Maindelle
Owner, Holding the Line Guide Service
254.368.7411 (call or text)
Website: www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com
E-mail: Bob@HoldingTheLineGuideService.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bobmaindelle