Flats report 4/11

[SafetyDog]

Launched out of Milard Tydings Park yesterday and fished from 9:30 until 4.
Saw some marks on the fishfinder in 8-12 feet of colder water East of the launch. Caught 1 channel cat and my friend lost a nice Largemouth at the side of the boat in that area.
Saw some birds diving back to the West so we backtracked and fished the bird area but didn't get action or see anything remarkable on the fishfinder.
Went back East again, paddling past the cold area we fished before looking for warmer water. Strangely (to me) the water was warmer on the west side the whole morning. Maybe because the tide was coming in? Not sure. Our paddling effort was not rewarded and we only saw carp sounding. Tried to target them with shad darts and twister tails but no carp action. Didn't have corn or any bait to try.
From there, paddled straight North over the very skinny water and headed West back to the launch.
Tried trolling a storm shad, rattle trap, and twister tail at various points throughout the day without success.
Lots of paddling and not a lot of catching but a nice day on the water all in all. The word was obviously out about the poor fishing up there lately because we almost had the water to ourselves in the afternoon. Hopefully one of these days (years?) I'll get a nice striper up there during the Spring.

[HJS]

Dang... when the Flats slows down it doesn't mess around. Seems guys are catching more lmbass this spring then I remember in previous years. Last mid-April on the Flats, fishermen were catching stripers by the dozens. Guess we will see what the next several days brings. At least the weather is leveling off nicely. Just wish the wind would give us a break.

[Memory Maker]

From the DNR "Location: Deer Creek

River Herring were thick in Deer Creek this week. The sudden wave of warm weather prompted fish that were staging in the river to make a quick dash for their spawning grounds. I also noticed a mix of Alewife, Blueback Herring and a few Hickory Shad. The majority of the Shad action was from the mouth of Deer Creek down to Lapidum, but a few fly anglers saw action. I'm thinking that today's rain will raise water levels and prompt more fish to make the upstream push"

When the herring are in thick .......... the game fish (bass and stripers) gorge on them .......... might try very large baits w/bunker smelly jelly .......

[Yak Fish]

I couldn't even find the schools of small males that you can find from time to time when I was up on Wed.
This year is definitely the year of the large mouth. I can't believe how many are being caught this year compared to years past.
Last year if you guys remember was exceptionally warm and everyone was wondering where the stripers were, blaming the weather...this year is no different in that there are dry times. I wouldn't get too worried. Last year was one of the best years I can remember.

[sparky1423]

Barely any perch in the Susky during February and no action on the flats. It's a conspiracy!

[SteveM]

I believe they are up river.