07-01-2006, 10:09 PM
[cool][#0000ff]This has been a different year for kitties. The water levels have really been high so that has made all the "normal" spots different fishing. There is more water, and more structure to attract the cats. Bird Island is no longer the only structure in town. That was always it's big attraction.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Many of the cats that were recently in the tight cover and reeds are through spawning and are coming out and foraging in more open water. But, they are also coming in very shallow at times to slurp up crawdads and the abundant minnows. Baby white bass and carp are in many areas now and are feeding the fish well. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As the water warms, look for the biggest cats to start biting after dark. And, when they do they often come into very shallow water along many shorelines. Sometimes just lobbing a bait out a few feet from the bank after dark can score big fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The current monsoon thing is not helping either. It is calm in the morning and then blows up a storm at night. The waves and turbidity move the cats out of the shallows and stress them. It often takes a couple of days after a big blow to settle the fish down. If it blows every night...well....[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is supposed to settle down after Sunday. Hope to get in a trip or two this week myself, to "prefish" for our gorilla floatilla next Saturday. I'll try to get a better read on what the fish are doing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Traditionally, July and August have been the hot months (literally) around Bird Island. Don't jump off your tackle box yet. You just need a couple of decent days before your next trip and then give them another chance.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Many of the cats that were recently in the tight cover and reeds are through spawning and are coming out and foraging in more open water. But, they are also coming in very shallow at times to slurp up crawdads and the abundant minnows. Baby white bass and carp are in many areas now and are feeding the fish well. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As the water warms, look for the biggest cats to start biting after dark. And, when they do they often come into very shallow water along many shorelines. Sometimes just lobbing a bait out a few feet from the bank after dark can score big fish.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The current monsoon thing is not helping either. It is calm in the morning and then blows up a storm at night. The waves and turbidity move the cats out of the shallows and stress them. It often takes a couple of days after a big blow to settle the fish down. If it blows every night...well....[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It is supposed to settle down after Sunday. Hope to get in a trip or two this week myself, to "prefish" for our gorilla floatilla next Saturday. I'll try to get a better read on what the fish are doing.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Traditionally, July and August have been the hot months (literally) around Bird Island. Don't jump off your tackle box yet. You just need a couple of decent days before your next trip and then give them another chance.[/#0000ff]
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