We had a great morning. For some catching 10 or so smaller stripes may not their idea of a great day but I took my good friends Ken and his son Levi and we had a ball. Finally had a weekend off and used my new Oxy tank from Oakwood B&T. It worked great.
Started at 6:30, water temp aroung 81.3 about 83 at noon. 1st stop next to channel 70-90' at Chestatee Bay, marked a few fish and caught our first, a big ol' pot-bellied cat. Bait was not lasting long at 30 to 40'.
Checked inside the no-wake bouys next to the sea wall at Lan Mar, marked a few no takers. Was not sure where ya'll were talking about the fish have been in there. Did not find them on the other side of the channel either.
Found the schoolies at mouth of two mile in 80-90' they were hungry going in and out of bait pods and we were more than glad to feed em a box lunch of BB's and 1-0 Owner hooks. Only took 3 dozen which worked perfect, had to be back by noon, caught our last one and the biggest about 5 lbs on the next to last bait. The rain was just begining to fall.
Again fresh bait and getting them down quickly was key, fish were bitting from 25 to 40 a lot of times when moving. Also saw several busting the top.
Bait would not last much longer that 15 minutes or so.
Good luck.

I noticed that the water quality was poor any further North of Flowery Branch today......the choices are narrowing down.

Good job guys!!! Big daddy glad you and your friends caught some fins today. Corey, glad you had a good bite on the leadcore.

I went out today and gave it a whirl, we started in FB and worked our way south running pockets and bays and then river channels. We saw one of the largest school's I have seen all year, but the fish were not that hungry. managed to get 4 out of it, and lost 3 more, all fish ranged from 8 to 15# then the rain came. I saw alot of fish up in the water column today, and thought it was a perfect day to troll leadcore, but my other half does not like to troll, and by then it was raining, so had to call it a day.

Corey did you hit them good today trolling the shadalicious, and what was the size range?

I hear you Corey but like Dan said we were marking and catching fish in 90' deep from 25 down to 50. Even busting the top. This was not a bunch, just a few together at a time and you could see them going through the bait bait pods along with our bait. I wonder do you think the big balls of bait are shad or BB's? can you tell the difference? And the bait fish were up in the column from 30 up to 20'. Thanks Dan, Glad you and and Jan caught some good ones, I'm with Jan on the trolling, especially when it's nice and almost cool like this morning.

Thinking about it maybe the pods were more like 40 to 30' because most of the time our bait would go through the pods and we were from 30 to 40' down.

Biggie- Yes you can tell the difference between the shads and BB's on the fish finder, Shads are the balls of bait, BB's is the thick dark line that runs across your sonar screens hope this help. Correct me if Im wrong GUYS..

I thought the same. The big and small balls being the same we have seen since on our old X-70's and paper graff days before we had BB's in the lake. Thanks Simon.

Nothing big for us...8lbs was the big boy today, but my two sons did the reeling and I'm not sure they could've handled much more on the leadcore (just reeling the leadcore in is a chore for them). Numbers COULD have been big (with the LC), but I got hung up a couple of times right over the fish and had to break off, then the wall of rain came that drove us off the lake. I got a couple of good pictures of the kids that I'll try to put up tomorrow.

I was not pulling leadcore very far south (like I should have been), or it's possible the fish size may have been a little better.

Corey, look forward to seeing the pics of your son pulling in the fish!

This morning we found a school today like I mentioned earlier was the largest I have seen all year, and I am mad at myself for not getting a pic of the screen. The water depth was 90' and had fish from 35' to 80' suspended. The entire screen was lit up literally, and when we made the drop they had to be coaxed by power reeling.

At that time they began to turn on somewhat, and took 7 pull downs in a short order. I am including a pic of co-captain Jan of the first fish from the school, because after this one it got to be a fire drill, thus making me loose my focas and not get the screen picture which I believe was the finest screen I have ever seen. OH WELL!!!

Congratulations Stan. Sounds like you had to put a good search pattern into play to find them yesterday morning.

Dan, what's the story on the picture? I see a white deck in your picture, which I have not seen before?

tom

Yeh Dan, What's the deal? And that must have been a thrill. That will get your blood pumping.
Look foward to the pics Corry, We beat it back too. Pulled in just as the bottom fell out.
Also, how do you determine the oxy level or water qaulity?
Thanks.

Here's my older son doing the reeling and my younger son has the net ready

The outcome


I got to learn how to swirl pictures.....that's a super secret place to fish!!!!LOL

I think one way to establish if the water quality is poor or not is to monitor how long your bait lives when you drop it.

Nice pics Corey, them boys look like they're having fun. Got a pic of your O2 set-up by any chance ?

LOVE IT! Congrat's too all on such geat fishing trips. As always, thanks for the reports.

Shep, you can see it poorly rigged in the bottom picture. I had it tie strapped to a rod holder on my back bait tank. I took it off yesterday and will have it permanently mounted by the time I go out again.

Corey and Dan,
Those are great pictures, wall hangers for sure. I figured as much on the bait, but we still have to put them just above or at the level of what you are marking. We droped some below, they just do not seem to want to swim down on them as much.
Haven't been out in almost 2 weeks and that was south Lake. So south lake has better range of "good water" or (higher D O)? late summer do to the greater areas of deep water and cooler water temps in the water table, I may be slow but I'm catching up, and.... Man can I milk a thread or what? Thanks for the input.

Good job Corey. Great pics of the kids. See you on the lake.

O K some pictures,


And the end result, Ken and levi's
lunch, the only non survivor of the day. All the rest swam away.
Now that's a good day!

Wonderful pics of the young men with there catch!!! Tom and Big Daddy, I thought I would go incognito for a while and run under the radar, but Tom's eagle eye spots a different boat under the wife. LOL

This must be part of the reason that he is such a good captain, paying close attention to detail.

As the song goes (Papa's got a brand new bag) well not new, but new to us. My lovely wife has put up with our dinghy for almost 6 years now, and she said it is time to get a different ride, so yes we are riding in a 22' CC and she loves it.

This will go along way for me to keep her going if you guys know what I mean.

Way to go Dan and Jan. Can't wait to see the ride. See you on the water.

Thanks for all the reports guys. Glad to see someone got out this weekend, as i did not.

Stan, the dead water seems to be mixed all over the lake. Some areas nearly as far south as you can get will not keep bait alive for 5 mins. other areas as far north as BB will keep bait alive until you are sick of checking them after the 20th window shopper.

Dan, you can't just give a little detail like 22'CC. We need some more info and pics!!! Now how am i going to spot you out there when you look like most of the other striper boats on the lake? Before all i had to look for was the downrigger and the rod holders.

Congrats Dan & Jan

Thanks guys!!! I was going to be under the wire for a short time, but you guys are pulling me out of hideing LOL here is a shot of the new ride, but I still got some things to change around.

Do you know the specs on the boat? What does that boat draft? Looks good Dan, I'm happy for ya. Put a 50 gallon up front and you're ready for battle (I like using up every inch of floor space!!!).

Dan-- hang on as tight as you can to any wife who complains that any boat is too small!! My God-- I was sure they didn't exist.....
Don't bother playing lotto-- you already won once!

Congrats on the new float-- looks great, and best of luck with maintenance with both of your lovely gals.

Corey, I don't know the specs as of yet I am sure I can look them up, and Thanks!!! Wormboy all you have to do is fish on the weekends on Lanier with your wife in a dinghy for 6 seasons of getting the slop beat out of you, and I am sure your wife will come around. LOL

Congratulations Dan. Thats awesome. I felt for you those days you were cramped up and getting pounded out there. You deserve this and I know you will love that ride. I hope you fill it up with 30 pound stripers. Cant wait to see you out there in it, maybe I can find you without binoculars now lol.

Great pics, Stan, and milk this thread all you want... but... Dan's going to steal it from you! LOL
You got me wanting another fish fry now, too. That looks like some mighty fine fried goodness.

Dan -- WOW! That boat's a real beauty!! Congratulations to you and Jan. You two deserve it.

I could have gone out Friday morning, but let the (torrential) rain keep me away. When we get more smilies, I hope we have one that is kicking himself in the behind, so I can use it next time I stay home when it's pouring rain instead of manning-up and going anyway.

30 pound stripers????? Tell him Dan, BRING ON THE FORTIES!!!! With the occasional 50, of course.

Clay, why do we have to wait for more smilies?

Dan-- if I took my wife out in a dinghy into lanier weekend chop-- i'd get the slop and other crucials kicked out me by my wife. I always tell her that if she was on the Mayflower, we'd all be speaking cherokee....

I do like the lines on your boat. I upgraded to a used 22 ft in april from a used 18 ft cc; the big difference is in the beam, which makes it roomier so we're not getting nailed by swinging lures and weights from stowed rods

Great looking ride Dan. You must be in heaven compared to the tracker (not there was anything wrong with it). I bet the not having to get up and down to drive the boat makes it a lot more fun to fish out of. You make the call and i'll buy the bait.

Thanks Brett, Anytime we can get together on times and its on!!!

Dan the Man and Jan, Congrats big time on the nice CC with a TT (t top), my dream boat. looks great and dito on all of the above, thanks for all the great posts and A+ positive attitude. Got to love it ! Check out "Lady Blue" by Leon Russell great song, might be a good name for her. Good Luck

Dog- gone!!
I just logged off, googled Leon Russel and the name of the song is "Lady Blue". Even better.

OK whew! then I edited the post. OK I'm a bit whacky. So what. BEER

I was thinking I would name it "THE MORON MAGNET" then when everyone wants to hone in on you like a flotilla they would say Huh! I don't want to be the moron. LOL

Dan I will even buy the gas to get a ride in that baby. You could milk this and get gas and bait paid for the rest of the year!!! The only problem is you still don't want it to get dirty.
LOL

...

O K Dan, gas, bait, and a CD with "Chantilly Lace" both versions, Jerry Lee and the Big B.

Big Tiny: Thats funny right thar! Guys this boat is a 2004 it has been plenty dirty, and will probably get there again. LOL

Dan how is the new boat doing

I only got to go out Sunday and it was great! unfortunatley I will not be able to go out until Labor Day, because of work duty at hunting camp. We have to plant all our food plots.

Thanks for asking Dandy Don

Dan, where do you hunt?

Brett, I hunt in Washington County. east of Sandersville, Ga

I hunted there for years until we lost our lease. We had 2300 acres on the river, made for a good bath on work a weekend and loved the hog hunting. I've made that ride down thru Milledgeville so many times i could do it blindfolded. We were on the Oconee and Buffalo Creek. I love swamp hunting! Do you know Glen, if you do, you will know who i am talking about. He works in the Kaoline mines and has a unique appearance.

I do not know Glen, but I am sure I know some like him. LOL
I have had this lease myself for the last 15 years and I know what you mean about running it blidfolded.

I only have 300 acres, but am surrounded by 3600 acres of co-op QDMA manged land and we have been doing this for about 9 years.

We have taken several mid 130 class deer and one mid 140's deer but 2 years ago I lost one in the 160's

If I put in the time fishing that I did hunting I would have a lake recored. LOL

It is unbelievable at the intinsity in which we as hunters put in and endure.

Saw the boat at the New Oakwood Bait and Tackle on Thursday. Great boat. See you on the lake.