Arthur report 6/15

Those shad are actually alewives.  Different in many ways than the green shad in Wilhelm.  Pretty sure they die after they spawn, at least some of them do.  Maybe that's why I didn't see as many baits as last week.  I know the ones I cut up were full of eggs.  If there's a die off every fish over 10" in the lake is lying on the bottom with a stomach full of them. 

((((   Shortly after sunrise some B**** came by thrashing the water with a lure.  Proceeded to go between us and shore instead of going around with nary a by-your-leave.  THAT is why people don't like bass guys.  Arrogant pricks.  I should have hucked a bluegill at his boat ))))))  Sam that's exactly how I feel when U guy's come in and anchor  ten yards from me and start throwing those STUPID cast nets.  Had some fool anchor 10-15 yards from my boat Sat night   Wonder how he likes the New dent in the side of his boat from that big musky lure crashing into it !!!  HA   Well atleast I removed the hooks some not to scratch  the paint or person LOL Can't wait till next weekend to do it all again. BTW landed 8 stripers and my buddy landed 6  WITH LURES 

For my time on the lake, I've never had an issue with the bass guys.  Besides trying to fish during the closing hour and 50 boats rushing back to the launch, is hard to keep the boat in place.  I've had issues with the pontoon renters that just don't have a clue, also an old duud cutting between me and a weed bed that I was fishing (guessing "his spot").  I have had a few bass guys troll up around me, with a few making casts a little close for my taste, but never cut in front of me or anchor up and crowd out.  The past few years night fishing on a weekend, I almost expect that now...  I can care less about how someone fishes, as long as they aren't in my back pocket.  If pulling up close, anything they do annoys me, and casting a net is the loudest, so definitely ticks me off.  I even cast a net, but never pull within 50 yards of a boat at night.

phishfearmezellie - after 30 years on Arthur, you are clearly experienced there so could you please describe to me what you consider a great day, a good day, an average day and a poor day??

thanks
phish

 
Phish
 
That's an interesting question. And one I think that will change with the person answering. Let me start with a quick list of my goals:
 
1 - A relaxing and fun day on the boat with friends/family
2 - Enough fish for a meal, or two (perch, crappie, catfish the main targets)
3 - Enough action that myself and company aren't bored out of our minds
4 - As few crowds, screaming kids, idiot launch/retrievers as possible
 
With that stated, here goes:
 
GOOD DAY - Got to the lake and in the water with a minimum of hassle. Got on a decent spot and started catching fish soon after getting there. Some of the fish are keepers/good size, and they are hitting everyone's rods. Decent weather where the wind isn't screwing with us. Retrieve the boat without too much idiocy at the ramp, end up with 1-3 dozen fish to clean.
 
GREAT DAY - start with a good day, and add things like bunch of big crappie, or bunch of big perch, or several catfish hookups. Maybe fighting one or two very large fish. Getting in a spot/time/whatever where every time a minnow that hits the water gets crushed, and you barely have time to keep one rod in the water. Only enough wind for a cool breeze. Enough fish that you're not keeping 9" crappie because you've got better ones in the box. That sort of thing makes a great day on Arthur.
 
AVERAGE DAY - An average day for us would be not catching a TON of fish, but steady enough action from smaller fish, bluegills, etc that we had fun. Move the boat around more than we'd like looking for fish, but only catch one or two per spot. We manage to put enough fish in the box for a meal, but aren't exactly stocking up for the long winter. The wind screws with us for some fo the day forcing us to hide in shallower water than we'd prefer just to keep the lines from tangling. Either launch or retrieving is marred by some selfish idiot that either doesn't have a clue what they are doing or does but doesn't care. Dozens of kayakers paddle by close enough to hit with a bobber shouting at the top of their voices about inane wildlife bull**** they saw while paddling around.
 
POOR DAY - So cold that you need more clothes than you brought. Relentless wind. No fish hitting ANYTHING, not even bluegills. Launching and retriving made near-hazardous due to nasty wind and short tempers.
 
Hope that was what you were looking for. Like I said, this will change drastically based on who gives the answer. If we pulled up on a spot with hundreds of dink perch that murdered anything you put in the water, we'd fish there for hours in delight throwing 9/10 or more fish back. Most guys I think would hate that and move quickly. I know muskie guys who put in 8 solid hours thrashing the water with a big plug that are perfectly happy to get a nice swirl behind their lure, and ecstatic to actually hook into one fish. It's all about what makes you happy.
 

BIGHEAD_1caught a Big stripe was yelling about it that's when they moved in.

 
See that right there... that's NEVER okay.  Seriously, learn to fish on your own.  Better yet, wait till the guys who caught the fish move, then check the spot for depth and bottom features so you can find your own spot.  Greedy assclowns, that's why everyone hates everyone.  

great response zellie and thanks.
 
I've never had what I would consider a good day at Authur - seems we could only catch dink fish and it was way too crowded - not just with fishermen.  have not been to the lake in many moons but may give it a shot this season.
 
thanks again,
phish

Fishing for channel cats at dusk can be very rewarding. Been nailing big ones on cut bluegill. I've caught them all over the lake. Huge fun and great eating too!

I cut the bluegill. A smaller one I will cut into two pieces more or less right behind the head. Bigger ones I will divide into head, midsection, and tail.

Nightcrawlers work well for channels too but i get tired of hauling in 25 bluegill for every cat I catch.

Oh...sorry lol. I bleed them first by cutting off the tail. Cut behind the head and fillet like anything else really but don't remove completely by leaving the last little bit attached. Then I cut the fillet off of the skin and remove the ribcage. An electric knife helps.

This method seems better to me because you don't have to deal with the silver skin which seems to make the fillet a little tougher. Also no skinning and no gutting.

With a little practice you can get through a whole pile quickly and works for just about any kind of fish.

It can get knee high mucky in that area, in certain spots.  Other spots it is relatively solid ground.  By mid Summer, the entire area is filled with weed beds, usually only the old creek channel and some other deeper pools are open.  Not sure if it is that thick yet.  It opens up a bit, after it cools down and plants die off.  Be very careful wading that area.  A life vest and wading stick wouldn't be a bad idea on your first time, until you figure out where the more solid ground is. 

so whats the trick to catchin striper in Arthur? also i would like to start trolling there for eyes as well...any help guys??!!
 

thanks man, i know Arthur isnt exactly known for its walleye but I do know there are very respectable eyes in that Lake.  I hear the place turns into a zoo at night for the striper bite too!

Pork I doubt the survival IS NOT that bad, I have caught stripers in the four digit range over the years and I have never seen 1 floating within the time period that I was fishing.  I have fished the same place from numerous nights in a row never seeing a floater. Before you say the wind or chop moved a  floater into the open water the wind 9 out of 10 times blew into the bay I fished. Now I killed two 1 the gill plate was ripped apart and the other was dead upon landing. The floater's I have seen in the past couple years have had leader material/snelled with hook being in the guts and or the gut in their gills. It may be possible that a couple have died and I never seen them do to rough waters. But interesting read though.

H3,
 
It's not that they sink, but they get stuck in the weeds before they get to float.  While wading you can spend more time with 'em & go get the stuck ones out &  start over. Sometimes have to go for a swim to reach 'em. Very hard to do while fishin' from boat. Better off just die & fry or gill & grill, foil & broil or shake'n bacon July - Aug. when boatin' Byrds 20"++ First noticed this in the mid. 80's Cattin' summer nights.
 
Or use 17- 20 lb. test & horse 'em in fast might help.
 
crappy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Tim,
 
  I'll spend some time wading out from shore and baby them 'till I think they have their strength back & they might seem ok.  Then I'll check area with light a min. or two later & 1/2 the time see a belly or side in in a clump ov weed well under the surface. They get disoriented and drown. More than a few times had to take off chest highs & get wet & try to get their strength/balance back.
 
 Like you said most are 24" +++ but some times a 18 - 22"er thinks he is a big boy. Once the water gets warm they don't fight near as hard (many runs) as the spring fish. So figured the boaters with time getting 'em untangled from nets & multiple hooks to get out ov mouth & side of face/gill then take photo & release the odds ov non survival would be higher than what I witness.
 Sometimes I'll spend 5 min. with a fish before it has enough balance/strength "I hope"
 That's when it's quits 'till fall.
 
 Take care,
I could be wrong, wouldn't be 1st or last.
 
crappy