BigBendFishing.Net

Fishing Report Friday 04/23/04

Man, What a difference a year makes! Last spring we pounded the trout in East Bay; we didn't have any trouble getting limits every time we went, and we didn't think a 100 plus trout day especially spectacular. Not this year. I'm catching trout, but few keepers, and the 100 trout days are still yet to come. Today Rusty Griffin (Tin Can, you'll remember Rusty from our trip to Apalachicola 2 years ago) and I rounded the bases of all our favorite spots and wound up with just 39 trout (3 keepers) and 3 reds. (1 keeper red-{2 almosts} all reds caught on the Norton Bull Minnow-glo with chartreuse tail)

We had a rising tide through the morning with a high around noon, so it fell out during the afternoon. I thought with the moving water the fish would turn on and we'd steady action early and late. It didn't happen. The fish were scattered. We found fish at the usual places but just one or two here and there, then we'd have to crank up and move to another spot. We didn't have much wind this morning, but it blew steady out of the SSE all afternoon and was very frustrating to deal with.

Rusty tried the broke-backed Rebel through much of the day while I stayed with the motor oil and niteglo 1/4 DOA's. The DOA's caught most of the trout. Things can only get better.
od

OD, that's the way it's been for me. No banner days, yet. I've caught a limit of keepers several times this year, but worked my rear end off to get them. We've caught a lot of shorts.

You must have installed the bell on the Key West if Rusty's still fishing with you. Sounds like you rang the bell a lot yesterday.

Hey Old Dog. Good report on the numbers..but not many keepers eh. My experience from yesterday at Aucilla was just the oposite. We caught at least 50 trout with close to 30 keeper size trout (kept only 10)...with two 4 pounders. White and red curlytails...and same color Catch 2000's was our hottest lures.
Where is East Bay? I think maybe west of St Marks..but don't know.

Yeah John, Rusty knows when I say "I think I want to try another spot," and put the rod in the rod holder, that I'm fidn' to head out, and if he wants to go he better sit his azz down.

Fisherman, I bet y'all have more grass over your way? We are just now starting to see the grass budding out, and still have plenty of sandy patches that need some cover. Most of the trout that we caught yesterday were hiding in or close to deep water, or in the few grassy areas.

East Bay is east of Panama City (Callaway area), and includes most of the area north of Tyndal AFB.

How are things in my hometown of Moultrie?

od