Pop-up storm rodeo
As Jeff predicted, a pop-up thunderstorm hit during the busy Memorial Day weekend, and it was a rodeo: people scrambling for shelter in heavy rain and a little hail. The rain comes so hard you can't see the shoreline, and people get disoriented and lost. Another pop-up hit Shangri-La last night for about 15 minutes. Jeff and Patricia were eating at the docks restaurant when Haydn texted that he'd just made it back from a guide trip as the storm grew right on top of them. In May, June and July these storms don't roll in where you can watch them. They expand and grow overhead, can come from the east or southeast, and often die out fast. If you see a dark cloud growing quickly, don't wait. Head in and let it pass.
White Bass
White Bass fishing is fantastic, with schools of hundreds, if not thousands, of fish. Jeff has fished around Sailboat Bridge and the islands, Governor's Island and Sweetwater, and guys are catching a lot at Goat Island (he passes too many White Bass to get that far). Midday, the fish rest stacked on underwater islands and high spots, then move off to feed, often in the evening and at night.
G3 Sportsman
Scott Turnage of G3 Sportsman TV fished with Jeff yesterday and said, "Jeff, this fishing is just ridiculous right now." They caught White Bass and Crappie up to 14 inches on 2½-inch Swimming Minnows with 1/8 oz Luck E Strike heads in Moonshine (white and chartreuse), Old School (black and chartreuse) and USA (clear with red, white and blue flakes). Bring an extra pack or two of plastics, because White Bass tear them up. Scott also landed a 10-pound Flathead on a black-and-chartreuse Swimming Minnow on 6-pound line.
Bridges for shade, and a wave warning
In the last week Jeff has caught Crappie at the Honey Creek, Sailboat and Bernice bridges, with White Bass at Honey Creek too. Bridges get you out of the midday sun, usually with a breeze. Watch out at Sailboat Bridge, though. Fishing a pier on the south side where the river channel passes under, Jeff barely caught a glimpse of the waves from a big boat that never slowed down under the bridge. Boats are supposed to idle under bridges, but at Sailboat many don't, and their wake can rock your world against the piers even when you never saw the boat. Honey Creek and Bernice aren't too bad.
Crappie
They haven't moved into brush much yet. Haydn is still catching a lot of open-water fish and some around docks. Jeff's are coming off rocky structure and drop-offs, staging on bluffs and rock drop-offs and on top of underwater islands.
Catfish / Bass
Catfishing will probably slow a bit, with Blue and Channel Cats in the rocks. Bass fishing is really good, with lots of nice stringers at the evening jackpot tournaments. Now's the time to come fish Grand Lake.
Luck E Strike / OnGrandTime
Visit LuckEStrike.com for American-made hard baits from Greenwood, soft plastics and Jimmy Houston Redman spinnerbaits. Luck E Strike is ramping up its Bass products over the next few months. For a unique lake gift, check Patricia's OnGrandTime.com: t-shirts, caps, coasters, stickers, blankets and pillows.