I've got some balls...

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Of shad that is. I know why I couldn't find them on the bank the other day though. They were bundled up in the channels and off the points. I guess the mommas were too busy spawning out to have them spread out from there masses. Hopefully I will find them with some fish tending to them next time. And I got a few of some deeper bream beds I hope no one finds. I hope to be able to put Dylan, Tanner, & Carson on them in May for some cane pole action.

[3dkicker]

Were the balls bouncing? To the left and to the right?

Back to the pics.....nice pics of baitfish. Should be a fish or two around them somewhere. Bass, stripers, or crappie should have been on them.

[joedog]

Nice pics.
Just my thoughts but that looks like some fun fishing regardless where they left their balls.

[lilmule]

Agree they are baitfish,or minnows maybe not shad they to are shallow spawning here,my guess a cooler water species like sauger or other species.Water has flipped already at that temp and is even cooler down there by a few degrees not as much as later.3 meters distance now is but say 2 deg.
More important nothing keying on them not even stripers,as saw no larger blips.

[Bubba_Bruiser]

In my .02 the conditions were favorable to have this kind of behavior from the bait fish though. We had 2 low pressure days followed by a maxed out high and a 25 SSW MPH wind to accommodate pushing the fish off. There are no telling how many beds I can across in the shallows without a tender. And the fish we did catch were hunkered on the drop offs and suspended around 8' in tree tops. We got 4 hits and managed 3 fish. They just weren't into it. I was guessing the fish were either staged to move in or had moved out to recoup. A couple of the schools were close to coves and like Mule said, probably preparing for their thing. But quite a few were still in the main lake channel. The fish stock for the lake is LM Bass, catfish, bream, and crappie.

Personally I was just happy to locate the balls and know what they look like. I know when the water starts steaming, the bass aren't going to let them get too far away. Not many of the lakes around the house have this kind of bait supply. I hope these balls keep coming time and time again.

[kennethdaysale]

Looking at those pics "jerks my cork under" anyone who doesn't get a rush from that is jaded. I remember looking at the lttle red lines on an Hbird flasher in the 70's and feeling like the King of the World!

Bubba feel free to post more of those when they're being mauled by fat 5 lber's.

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Ken, they can run but they can't hide. To tell you the truth I probably spend as much time just riding and looking as fishing since I got the unit. I get such a kick out of just riding around and seeing the world down there. I am always marking them though for when I go back. It is like a kid with a new toy right now though I admit. I am still trying to get the 2D dialed in though (lower left box).

[bamabassman]

BAITFISH ORGY !!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!


nice pics garey for real. i hope to one day get something like that.

[kennethdaysale]

Originally Posted by Bubba_Bruiser

. And I got a few of some deeper bream beds I hope no one finds. I hope to be able to put Dylan, Tanner, & Carson on them in May for some cane pole action.

Those brim that decide to bed in 8+ ft of water are usually the outsized giants that make your line sing on a cane pole and give you that permagrin. But back to the bait balls..........I'm sure it's the same over there for yall but down here the brim fry will ball up just like that in HUGE wads for a while..........many's the time I've ripped a crank through them and impaled some on the trebles.

Remind me which unit you bought?

btw way to go on a thread title guaranteed to get lots of hits..........

[Bubba_Bruiser]

These images were taken from an Humminbird 1198.