Barrett Lake May 28th report

[Early release]

Got out in the dark with Chuck. Chuck and I headed across the lake and then into the usual places. Air was about 60F and water temp 70F at the surface. Got started on plastics in the dark, third cast was a 3 pounder, so that's a good start to the day. Played with the plastics and the bitsy bugs for a while and then got busy on a proper topwater day. Migrated over to Becky's cove and had some takers on topwater, and some jigs. The x70 jerkbait was a good choice until a decent size fish grabbed and broke my braid, obviously protecting the much lower test weight leader. Switched to #5 Rapala but it mostly found sample size fish. Back along the rocks in Hauser a small jig was working the magic. Met up with Joe and some of his friends and we had a good time all catching fish on jigs. Moved to the back area of the north side of Hauser and just cleaned up on the popper.

Reconnected in the back of Hauser with Joe and his group and the crawler started working for me, while they were holding a seminar on senkos. It was tempting to switch, but I wanted topwater fish or nothing. It was getting late and started to head back. Chuck and I found fish jumping in 17 feet of water over sunken trees that really wanted the whopper plopper (Chuck) or the Pompadour ( Me). We slowly headed back catching fish on topwater the whole way back in Hauser on the North side in the back and the South side as you come out. Left around 1300, air was about 75F and the water was 72F and a pretty good wind.

Good morning.

I like this popper color a lot.

Oh yeah, I fished for these for a while too

And when I caught these guys, it was fun on the ultralight

Certainly a good effort on his part

We were pretty much doubled up the whole way back

[Shawnster]

Great to see the top water action! Thanks for posting.

[MaxZmus]

Fish are getting thinner and thinner every week . Have you guys seen any bait balls on your fish finders at all? The past few years the shad were thick all around the dock and all around the shoreline due to a successful shad spawn.

[SLURP]

Fish are getting thinner and thinner every week . Have you guys seen any bait balls on your fish finders at all? The past few years the shad were thick all around the dock and all around the shoreline due to a successful shad spawn.

I was having the same concern. I do not run with a any electronics so can not confirm myself but did hear of some large bait balls (micro bait) yesterday on the screen from others.

I'm still skeptical though. The lack of visual confirmation and the severe lack of the Western Grebes feeding or nesting has me concerned the shad population took a hit.

[Early release]

I didn't see any shad this week. I split from the group and hit the shallows in Hauser on the north side. Last week there were a bunch of little shad in there, but this week I didn't find them. The bluegill spawn had to be good though, there are so many nests that are still in work that I'm guessing bluegills are going to be the food item this year. I agree with Joe on the lack of surface bird activity. I have not seen the swarms of birds chasing shad yet. I do have Panoptix and didn't think to do some homework. I almost never turn it on. I'll do that on my next trip and look around. I don't know what mechanism would have affected the shad so much.

[objetty]

Fish are getting thinner and thinner every week . Have you guys seen any bait balls on your fish finders at all? The past few years the shad were thick all around the dock and all around the shoreline due to a successful shad spawn.

On the 21st, I was at the submerged point half way up Pine and the treetops were engulfed with new fry. They were about 1/2". There is hope. I hope.

[Kenroe]

A lot of Skinny, unhealthy looking basses

Taking out some 12"-14" fish wouldn't hurt the lake...