I was lucky enough to spend a long weekend down on pool 4 at Evert’s resort this past weekend. During my 4 day stay I met many new people and saw some old faces once again, it was great seeing and meeting everybody. Also thanks to all who shared the boat with me this past weekend, it was fun!
On the agenda for the weekend was to look for big fish and help Dean out around the resort. I am glad to say, both panned out very well!!!!!!!!!
This time of year on the river there is one thing on my mind, and that is BIG fish. When targeting bigger fish you have to prepare yourself mentally for the day. Realizing that you may only catch 1 to 5 fish the whole day, but it will be the one or ones your looking for. That is tough for some people including myself at times, but the bigger fish more than likely wont be schooled up with eater sized fish.
The areas we targeted this past weekend were any current seams and any SAND. Did I mention SAND!! The flow is up enough right now that there is getting to be a handful of good seams located on the inside corner of the river bends or backwater areas. Most locations like that are silted in with sand on the lower end creating a shallow flat. The depths we targeted were 0′ to 12′ with the majority of our fish coming from roughly 6′ of water.
At this stage in the game the fish are starting to actively feed, and at all times of the day. The water clarity has dropped to less than a foot creating a mid-day bite! With low water clarity, we focused are color selection of blades to mainly brighter colors including fire tiger, red, and white. Although black and gold did put some fish in the boat.
Ringworms and Moxies also put a handful of fish in the boat over the weekend, with firecracker chart tail, and pro blue being the color of choice. I do foresee that changing to brighter colors very soon if it hasn’t already.
Everybody, including myself is keeping a close eye on the river levels at this point. It is coming up fast and changing daily. That doesnt mean there isnt fish to be caught though. Keep in mind with the rapid changes, fish will more than likely move day by day and even hour by hour. Keep reading the water and adjusting accordingly to stay on the fish!
If you have any vacation time left take it now and give yourself a chance at a fish of your lifetime!!!!!
Until next time……………
Great report Eric! Those are some damn nice fish!!
Thanks for the report Eric, good to see some piggy’s getting caught……my turn
A few other pics from the weekend!!!!
Great job on dialing them Big Fish in !!!
I love that blade bait bite you and Dean taught me a bunch of years ago !!!
Oh to have those skills. Someday. Nice job guys.
Nice job! That pic #4 with the fish laying on its side in the net. Wow – what a piggy gut!
-J.
Nice fish Guys!!
Very nice Eric as always.
Very nice fish
Great report and nice fish
Great report and pics.
Wow! Kick a report Eric
Wow eric- Those are some FAT fish
Nice job.
John
Way to go!! Those are some true beauties!!
wow, great fish Eric! How does the i-Pilot hold on the current seams as these waters are rising and the flow picks up? i am taking my new i-pilot on its maiden voyage on Monday and I was wondering its capabilities in current this wild?
Wow! Eric, you and I need to become best friends.
It still works to its capabilities. The only issue I have found with it is if your trying to use it right on the seam. If you drift a little bit into the real fast current it struggles to get you back in the right spot and usually over shoots it once it gets into the slower current. It still works for in that situation just has to adjust a lot more than normal.
I used it all weekend and never lost my spot!!
Great report with some dandy fish, nice work
Beautiful fish Eric
Must have been an awesome time being out there and getting into those big gals 
Great fish…..the belly on that one is awesome!
Thanks for your take on the ipilot in current, much appreciated.
Joel
I have an 2004′ power drive 74#. does anyone know if the I-Pilot will work on this model or is to old ?
too old, need 2007 or newer. i called minnkota on mine that was a 05′ before I sold it.
theres some nice fish
Great report and pix, Eric! Amazing girth on those fish!!
Joel,
I will 2nd Eric’s I-pilot observations. 80% of the time it works just fine on the river-other 20% your still going to drop the hook. Along with sideimaging, it’s one of the BEST things ever put on my boat-sometimes you just have to save up and pay the price of admission as this junk ain’t cheap!
Great Report Eric