Skinner 8/13/14

[Big-Bob]

Got to the gate around 5:50am behind 2 other boats. There was a light fog but it wasn't on the water. I turned left out I the Marina and saw Striper boiling and drove right over the top of them headed to my first LMB spot.
My game plan was to throw some top water early and then try to pick up some finesse fish. I got to my first spot and on the second cast I had a massive blow up and landed a solid 3 pounder. Very next cast I missed a fish.
I knew the day was going to be epic and I made another long cast. I was fishing in 15 ft of water where I have seen a lot of the bass hanging out on the weed edge. Midway through my retrieval I stopped and got my phone out to text my cousin and tell him to come to the lake if he could. My bait had been sitting for well over a minute when I saw the most vicious attack on a top water bait and my rod almost ripped from between my legs. I tried to wind up the slack and set the hook but saw the lure come out of the fishes mouth as soon as I got the slack in. That fish for sure would have been my Pb top water .
I ended up catching 11 and missing 5 fish. I need to change out my hooks to hopefully get the ones that take the lure under and don't get hooked.
I had all day to fish but after a morning like that, once the fog lifted at 8:30 I headed in. There was no way I could go from a top bite that good to fishing a worm in the heat.
Here are some pics from today. It is hard to get good size pics when you are by yourself.
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k610/RJosephPowell/1A5E9FA8-BD77-437F-9018-65FE1145DCCF_zpsqhlblxjr.jpg (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/RJosephPowell/media/1A5E9FA8-BD77-437F-9018-65FE1145DCCF_zpsqhlblxjr.jpg.html)
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k610/RJosephPowell/A8C58FF9-C187-45E0-BFF9-4AA0D0395A88_zpsxyyeplqe.jpg (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/RJosephPowell/media/A8C58FF9-C187-45E0-BFF9-4AA0D0395A88_zpsxyyeplqe.jpg.html)
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k610/RJosephPowell/9BB4A335-65CF-4CCE-A9C9-F83DA5F8382A_zpsqgillu0e.jpg (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/RJosephPowell/media/9BB4A335-65CF-4CCE-A9C9-F83DA5F8382A_zpsqgillu0e.jpg.html)

This is one my cousin caught a week or two ago on top water.
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k610/RJosephPowell/D3B1599F-B7E4-4C09-B8F0-7BCD7E02BA52_zps55enctsk.jpg (http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/RJosephPowell/media/D3B1599F-B7E4-4C09-B8F0-7BCD7E02BA52_zps55enctsk.jpg.html)

[P.A.W.]

Hey Bob, I was one of those boats in front of you. Funny as I launched I said to the guy ahead of me "Gonna go for the topwater bite?". Guess it was on like Donkey Kong. I just went for striper. That third fish is a real fatty!

[Baja1ab]

11 in the boat and off the water by 8:30? I'd say that's makes for a fun morning - especially considering it doesn't get much better than top water. Nice work!

[Big-Bob]

Hey Bob, I was one of those boats in front of you. Funny as I launched I said to the guy ahead of me "Gonna go for the topwater bite?". Guess it was on like Donkey Kong. I just went for striper. That third fish is a real fatty!

PAW what rig was yours? I am always looking to meet fellow FNN members.
How did you do on the stripers? The fish I saw boiling right out of the gate were definitely a better grade of fish then what I have been seeing.

[Big-Bob]

11 in the boat and off the water by 8:30? I'd say that's makes for a fun morning - especially considering it doesn't get much better than top water. Nice work!

When I showed back up at home the first thing my girlfriend said was "did something happen to the boat." Needless to say she was happy I was home early and did not fish all day.

[P.A.W.]

Bob, I was the Tracker right in front of you. I had a stooopid day. Over 30 fish. I stopped counting. I gave 6 or 7 to a couple of guys in a rental and tossed one to a raccoon on shore. No Kidding he sat up and begged like a pet dog only 10 feet away from me so I gave him one. The rest I just C&R 'd. Maybe it's time I start thinking LMB again.

[Big-Bob]

Thats awesome. Any size to the stripers?
The raccoons make me laugh every time I see them cruising down the shore flipping over the rocks. The wildlife around Skinner always looks very healthy.

I have been going out 3-4 times a week and the grade of LMB is definitely getting better right now. I went out twice this week and struggled but when I got to the lake this morning, I knew those fish that I have been seeing were in for a hurting. Hopefully we get some more weather like today and the topwater bite will be hot.

[Fnguyen5992]

Hey bob I'm going out Friday, and the last time I went I got skunked! Any tips on what to use and where to score some LMB?...any tips would be helpful thanks

[Big-Bob]

Hey bob I'm going out Friday, and the last time I went I got skunked! Any tips on what to use and where to score some LMB?...any tips would be helpful thanks

The thing about Skinner is that it can be wide open one day and completely shut down the next.
Im not sure if you have your own boat or rent, but if you have your own boat and a trolling motor it is crucial to be as stealthy as possible. I will drop my trolling motor 200-300 yards from where I want to be and come in slow.
Make long casts and do not sit right on top of the tullies. Majority of the fish I caught were 10-20ft off the tullies. Another thing is to continue moving. A lot of the time I will fish an area and when I don't catch anything I will be moving through and see 4-5 bass hanging out that are in a negative mood. Jump to the next set and they are on the chew.

[Fnguyen5992]

The thing about Skinner is that it can be wide open one day and completely shut down the next.
Im not sure if you have your own boat or rent, but if you have your own boat and a trolling motor it is crucial to be as stealthy as possible. I will drop my trolling motor 200-300 yards from where I want to be and come in slow.
Make long casts and do not sit right on top of the tullies. Majority of the fish I caught were 10-20ft off the tullies. Another thing is to continue moving. A lot of the time I will fish an area and when I don't catch anything I will be moving through and see 4-5 bass hanging out that are in a negative mood. Jump to the next set and they are on the chew.

Sweet! Yea I have my a camo jon boat w/ trolling motor. So be stealth and stay out of the tules. I heard u say u fished along the edge of the grass, what bait works good there?...top in the morn and plastics when it heats up?

[Fnguyen5992]

Bob, I was the Tracker right in front of you. I had a stooopid day. Over 30 fish. I stopped counting. I gave 6 or 7 to a couple of guys in a rental and tossed one to a raccoon on shore. No Kidding he sat up and begged like a pet dog only 10 feet away from me so I gave him one. The rest I just C&R 'd. Maybe it's time I start thinking LMB again.

Paw what baits good for striper?...30? Dang

[ddoskocil]

Looks great, guys. I'll be out there Sunday for the first time in a while, I want a piece of the stripies and the LMB!