[Neal/CO]

Got my *** kicked First skunk of the year!

Eric and I got there at 7:00 AM. We went to our usual area's to spoon and didn't slab up a single Eye. Eric did lose a walleye at the boat and he caught a Bow slabbing. We found tons of shad and marks on the sonar on the south end of the dam towards the marina in 20 to 10 feet of water. We drifted with jigs and crawlers for an hour without a single bite. Finally we trolled cranks for two hours and Eric landed a nice bow. Usually slabbing works real well there this time of year but not today? Maybe the water isn't cold enough (50 degrees) to killl the shad yet? Still beats the hell out of work though!

 

[bergwsu]

What is slabbing if I may ask?

 

[work2fish]

Neal,

Sorry to hear about the skunk but as you point out at least you are getting out there fishing! I've forgotten what it feels like to catch a fish since I haven't gone anywhere for over a month :'(

What is slabbing if I may ask?

Here is a website that describes the technique and gear. Just drop the water temp a bit and add walleye to the species list and you'll get the idea...

Hope this helps.

 

[bergwsu]

Work2Fish- sure that helps, thanks. What names would I be looking for to pick some up at Sportsmans?
I wonder how u guys know all this stuff, any ideas on where to get some learnin over the winter months?

 

[work2fish]

FE,

Jigging spoons such as Hopkins, Buzz Bombs, etc. Here is a link to some of the jigging spoons from Cabela's. Neal also has a whole assortment of these things and I'm sure he can list even more -- I know 'cause I borrowed some of them during our trip to Glendo a while back!

 

[Neal/CO]

Fish Eye's, here are some good ones that work real well.

1. Hopkins Shorty's in hammered chrome in 3/4 oz and 1 oz.
2. Rocker Minnows of any size you can find?
3. Large Swedish pimples.
4. Crippled Herrings in 3/4 oz and 1 oz
5. 1/2 oz and 3/4 oz Kastmasters.

Sometimes a spoon that sinks more slowly and flutters more is the ticket.

1. Large size Silver Prizm Krocadiles work well! Also get some 1/4 oz Silver prizm Krocs for snap jigging across flats and weedlines. These also double up for when you run into schooling White bass or Wipers.

Blade baits like Cicada's, Sonars and Silver buddies are excellent vertical baits also.

The best outfit for slabbing is at least a 6 1/2' medium to medium heavy action trigger stick and a baitcast reel with a flipping switch. Every time you lose contact with the bottom you press the thumb bar to release line, then you can press the flipping switch to reengage. Use 10 or 12lb mono. I prefer mono because the extra line diameter will help you spoon flutter more! It also helps you break off of snags easier! Hope this helps.

 

[racer]

I had to take advantage of the weather Tuesday afternoon so I headed down to the spillway. Caught a bunch of dink largemouth bass on CD 2 rapalas and even a very scrawny 9" brown trout. No walleye action at all......even tried a worm or two. Went back up to the lake and fished the `point` at the north boat ramp and had fun catching 12" rainbows. All caught on castmasters. The bite was on from 4 to 4:45. Shad were surfacing everywhere and the gulls were busy scooping up 3 "ers.

I`ve never fished the spill way before. I`m assuming the water outlet from the dam is the `spill way`. The overflow `spillway`the dry one, has a pond of water just on the down side.............. I was tempted to walk down there but figured since there really hasn`t been an over flow that I can remember.........does it actually have fish in it??................ is it deep enough to keep fish?? anybody know??

As to the `dog ponds`............do they offer any activity?? I do recommend bringing a dog bisquit or two with ya if you go there ;D.......... and watch out for the `steamers`. Jeff

 

[MacGyver-O-Fishin]

Hey Racer,

There used to be fish in the flood overflow "square" pond but I have not fished it for over 25 years. I only caught blue gills when I fished it then ... I kind of suspect that any fish in there may have been killed off during some of the hard freezes we had in the mid 1980's.

Mac

 

[bergwsu]

Gosh, thanks for all the detailed help!

 

[Guest]

you can't fish that separted overflow lake. It has no trespassing signs all over it.

 

[MacGyver-O-Fishin]

FG,
That's good to know that it is now posted... I haven't been down there for years and in all likelyhood I would go there after dark and might miss the signs. Anyway, thanks for the heads up.
Mac

 

[racer]

.............which means it`s definately FULL of 20lb walleyes!

 

[Neal/CO]

Have any of you guys fished the river below the dam? I never have and have been thinking about trying it.

 

[Guest]

the harder the water flows the better the fishing is. You can still pull out good numbers fish. I was there a while back and caught a 23 inch walleyes and lots of little smallies.

 

[Neal/CO]

Thanks, I will have to try it out!