Well it was great to be back on my favorite lake with a great fishing partner VSKT. I am glad he knows the lake the way he does as he teaches me stuff every trip out. More importantly than the fishing it was good to see and meet new friends while down there at the Six Old Geezer Fish Fry. It was a great time.

The fishing, well it has been tough down there due to the warm weather. Just really inconsistent from everyone we talked to. Really need a good cold snap and it will fire off good.

Friday we figured to fish a bit to see what the fish were doing since we were going to fish the tourney again. We caught 7 overs 23-25in in about 30 minutes at sun up. They were caught in shallow water with deep water nearby in water that was 6-12 inches deep on topwater. We could not get any fish hitting the slabs we looked for a bit went in and took care of some things. Went out that evening and it was equally tough. We only looked for big fish didnt even slab the evening, I think we may have caught one box fish on top.

Saturday we knew the tourney would be won in the first 15-30 minutes based on what we heard. We went right back to the same spot. Well in only lasted about 10-15 minutes. But we managed 2 nice fish in the hole. Both on topwater,pencil poppers. I was pretty pumped as it was my first 10lb+ fish on topwater. It went 10lb 2oz. We played around looking for a bit. Then went in to the weigh in at 1030. I think we weighed in between 13-14lbs. Luckily it stood to finish in the lead.

Sunday. Well you guessed it, went right back to the same hole. We pulled 4 between 4-6lbs. On topwater again. We had decided to call it a day,since we havent been able to get anything else going. We then found some birds working. This was the first good group of birds we found working. I figure we pulled around 100 slabbing. There would be 1-2 decent fish for every ten we caught. Many dinks, few box fish. Van managed to pull a nice one about 6lbs on his Sooner Slabs. I of course was using the TNT line of baits. I got to do some testing with the new lure TNT ***. (TNT 180) It worked fine. I used lures from 1-2oz. The stripers seem to like holographics too.

Many thanks to Van for a great weekend of showing and teaching me some new tactics on the lake. Great seeing everyone at the fish fry. Looking forward to next year.

Nice report, crongrats on the 10 lbr on top-water.

We are heading up there tomorrow morning. Hoping the weather that's rolling in will stir them up. Would love to catch a 10+ on top. Any suggestions?

Good job Bryon, I know you guys had a fun time.
Would really like to go up there but it is hard
to pull myself away from the easy times here,
not as many or as big but still on the fun side.

Thanks guys it was fun.

Matty, I am no expert on this. But I will suggest a couple things some I mentioned in my report. Fish shallow water near deep water. Wind blown banks. Pencil Popper or Chug Bug whatever your liking. If your not in your general area when the sun starts to break out, you may be to late. I hear if it is overcast etc nasty weather that they may hold in these areas longer. I am new to this style of fishing,but that is my 2 cents.

The outside corners at Little Mineral have been holding top water fish. Watch the wind and fish the windiest one. Chug Bugs are good. Be there before light. At sun up they are gone. Then you can usually move out near the river channel in 36' of water and catch some nice fish on slabs and bait. They are moving around so be patient. You shouldn't have to go much further that that.

Bryon,

I had a blast also. I learn something every time I fish that lake. Just glad our plan worked out like we hoped it would.

Havent had much time to even post a report since I have been back. Dont think there is anything I can add to yours.

Van

THOSE ARE NICE FISH AND A 1O LBR ON A TOP WATER IS GREAT. CONGRATS

thanks for the report, bryon. Had a family camping trip up there last weekend in the Big Mineral arm. Tried to get some fishing in Sat morning, but by the time I got the hook extracted from the dog, it was time to start breakfast already. Amazing how a big old hound will just sit there calmly with a pencil popper hanging from his back foot. Sunday morning found a big school of mostly dinks, they love that TNT magnet spoon.