While we are talking minnows, how deep would you run them? Just bounce them off the bottom? I really would like to figure how to catch them up here rather than running down to 3 Rivers. I caught a limit down there again today, even got into the nice crappie, I just can't figure it out up here at the Guad. It would probably help to be able to troll up and down until I find them but the little toon don't do trolling so well.

I don't fish with live bait. That's cheatin.

My 2 cents...

I'm just guessing how he trolls live minnows, but I've trolled live minnows behind my kayak, bass buggy, and jon boat, using a small #4 aberdeen hook and a small split shot weight about 12-18" above the hook. I just hook the minnow from its bottom lip to the top lip, cast out, and troll slowly. that sucker will stay upright and swim right behind you until a fish likes what they see and grabs it. I use the same technique to cast and reel live minnows like a lure. River minnows seem to live longer than store bought shiners.

I have not fished the rapids in three years but there is one common mistake out there. The whites are in the middle of the river. So, what I would do is go to the first rapids and kill the motor. Then I would let the current push me down the river and drag minnows on the bottom. I would limit every time. I put a split shot 12 to 18 inches from the hook and drop the line until it hit bottom. After it hit the bottom I would raise it a crank or two and let the current do the work.

You need a trolling motor or paddle so you don't hit other boats fishing the river and you can stay in the middle. I would fish from the rapids to the old boat ramp. Sometimes it pays to stop at the sandbar before the boat ramp but it depends where the fish are at.

I still remember the day I was so pissed as I was tied to the river bank and this idiot in a pontoon boat kept passing by me catching fish after fish. So I would cast to every spot he hooked one and never caught one since the bait would flow down current next to the bank.

You live and learn!

And its been my experience that the there are about three or four weeks when you can actually limit. It sounds like there is a week or two left.

any reports? Are they going off in the low water crossing area yet? or have I missed the entire spawn?

Check the Fresh Water Fishing Report Forum, there is a good current thread on Rebecca's creek.

Just got back today and made my first trip up there to the rapids this year, got there around 7:00 and left at 11:00. We caught about 30 but only kept 15, and really had to move around and work for them. we would pull a couple out here and there, and we tried the middle and the banks and caught them about half and half.

I think it's still at the beginning of the run. Fish were there and they would take the bait if it went past them, but it seemed there isn't a lot of fish in there right now.

A couple of days like today and they will be though!

New to posting to the forum, have been reading for a couple weeks. I just finished grad school and am have been able to upgrade from the bank to a 10ft john boat-trolling motor only. I have read about launching from boat ramp #11 then going upriver for whites. How plausible is this for my little boat and how long would it take. Only have 1/2 day Sunday to go (more daylight at least due to time change). Is there a better strategy/use of my time and equipment. I'll be hauling me and my Dad, so its a slow go. Thanks for any help.

can't help TxAg but welcome to the forum and gig em

i think your trolling motor may go dead before you get there fighting the current. Put in at rebecca creek crossing if you can lift your boat easily and get picked up at the launch.

Thanks! Is there a safe place to leave a car around the crossing? We could bring 2 vehicles and leave one at the ramp and then launch at the crossing if we can leave a vehicle there. Also, that looks like a pretty good distance. If we troll the whole way how long would that take?

If you go to the rapids bring live bait! There very picky up there. If I were you Id go to the first bend up river from RC and troll with crank baits i did well there the last two weeks.

they weren't there this morning...