Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Got out there around one, water was a foot higher and much more stained than last week. Started out at midlake, the bank had receded into the trees so it was tough to find a clear spot to cast. Finally found a big rock to stand on and hooked up immediately with a real nice chunk. She hit a 3/8oz football jig really hard and took off running across the cove like some kind of bonefish. Finally got her in, well over 3 lbs and couldn't have been more than 15" long. She had really light colors like she had just come up, as did all the other fish I caught today.




Got hung up my next cast, and as I was tugging I slipped off the rock I was standing on and went knee-deep into muddy 50 degree water...grrrrrr. Stepped back on shore to regroup and wring my socks out, moved down a bit and caught another good one on a finesse worm. After a bit, the drizzle let up and fish started busting on topwater. I broke out the sammy and fan-casted around the entire area, but it seemed like I couldn't quite reach the action. Heard a couple fellas shouting in the next cove over, they must've gotten into something big.




After that I packed it up and headed downlake to the dam area. Fished my butt off for 3 hours all around the dam and adjacent feeder creek. Threw everything in the box at em, but couldn't buy a single strike. I must've lost a dozen lures that day-all my jigs, texasrigs, ratltraps, my favorite shadrap(!)-all for nada. Last year at this time, me and B were coming down here and catching 15-20lb limits on the reg. Now that the water's higher, the fish are more spread out and I just couldn't reach those sweet spots casting from shore. It was at this point that, while staring down at my water-soaked swamp shoes, I realized that I needed to get myself a boat Saw a guy on the far side of the dam who said he found a 5lber on a bed. Dude spent over 3 hours on that fish but couldn't get her in. Think he had her on a couple times and lost her, I kept hearing him cursing across the lake. Decided to head back up midlake for one more try before heading home. Found my rock by the feeder creek, and after ensuring that I had solid footing, landed 2 more nice keepers on the powerworm.





Saw some more topwater swirls and tossed the sammy around. Had a really nice fish come completely out of the water after it, but couldn't get those dang hooks in. Finally decided to call it quits around seven, 4 fish total, about 10 lbs. Not a bad day, but not quite as good as I thought it would be. Definitely realized my limitations fishing from shore today, I need to get my act together and buy a kayak/canoe. Until I do, this will probably be my last shot at Beaverdam for awhile. The water's getting too high to find good places to cast from shore, and the ticks will be out in full force pretty soon. Talked to a buddy of mine who made it down to Buggs Island this weekend, he said the water is 54 degrees and the fish are in the bushes, 2 ft of water or less. Hopefully I can talk him into going back down there again in a couple of weeks. If anyone makes it out to Beaverdam and spots B's old jonboat, please let me know. Seems it's about time to get myself afloat

Keep em tight,
Mike