I haven't learned the lake and river yet. I assume the rapids you refer to are up past Rebecca Creek Ramp. Also, I saw posts last year where at the beginning people where saying they were getting limits at the river mouth. Sorta as if the whites were staging there awaiting their run up river. Do they do that or am I wasting my time at the mouth and should just go on upriver? This is the first year I've actually lived on the lake and my first year for really pursuing whites. In other words, I'm a novice both for whites and the lake.
I will appreciate any advice you care to offer.
You are correct about the whites staging at the mouth of the river. Usually that starts to happen late January early February depending on how cold it is and how many fronts have come through which can delay the run. The area to concentrate on is from Mystic Shores to where the actual river starts to narrow. Watch for the birds and usually trolling a minnow like lure or even vertical jigging along the channel is going to produce.
As the days begin to warm up as it is now the whites will begin to move up river so trolling the river until you find them and then working that area will put them in the boat.
As the nights warm up you can pretty much bet you will find them all the way up river to where the rapids start which is about five miles up river from boat launch #11. (Rebecca Creek/Cypress Cove launch)
Be cautious running the river because there are some huge cypress stumps that have claimed many a prop and even some lower units.
Light tackle is the name of the game going after those whites. Usually 6 to 8 pound line, no heavier than 10 as they can be line shy depending on the clarity of the water.
Baits of around 3" such as a deep diving Rapala #5 Chrome with black back, and 1/8 to 1/4 oz. roadrunners in white with a white curly tail is about all you'll need.
Ultralight gear is a blast to catch them on so leave the coast rod and reels at home.
Good luck!
