Labor Day Weekend Fishing Report


by Valerie Aubrey
9-1-2022
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Okeedokee weekend fishing warriors! Please note the update to the ramp post below. It's doable but take it easy! Fishing has been good. Location has mattered for trolling depth. For us: Off pikes pt Jay fair toplines & hot orange & tui chub trolling flies (small #8 Jay fair 3 pack), gold 1/6oz Thomas buoyant, copper later, orange rainbow runners. 10/12ft deep & some 18-20. West side. 1/6oz copper (ruled the day) Thomas buoyant, gold #2 & 4M rainbow trout flickershad. 8/12ft deep (1.7-1.9mph for TB). Fish came into shallower at 8:30am. 12-18ft & less chasing the minnows being chased by the pelicans & grebes. There is very little temperature change between deep or shallow water. If it has oxygen & food, trout are moving in and out & up & down. Watch the birds. Watch the surface activity & it was mid morning before it really lit up. East side: buddy Bob camped at Merrill doing well at 20ft on watermelon grubs. Said today "they like the big ones today" lol. Yep & tomorrow it can change. Had a good bag going! west side fish appeared a bit leaner than east side fish. But feisty they were! There was also a significant amount of trout rolling out in the middle off the ramp when I dropped by temp gauge down late this morning. Even good size jumpers 20-30ft from the boat. I didn't fish it but it looked like good water with fish in it! A back up plan is always a good thing. Surface was pretty good in all locations...a few weeds here and there. Changes can happen & it's going to be a warm weekend. For me it's been more about smaller spoons/lures/stick baits over larger. That started about 2.5weeks ago. Water column temps 70-71.3F above 35ft 68F at 40, 63.9 at 80ft near Eagle’s Nest. Just tenths of degrees per 5 ft drop. DFW catch & keep recommendation signage remains. At the fish cleaning sinks, ramp area & campgrounds. This is a yearly recommendation & it is removed when temps cool down for fall. Please help us preserve our fishery, it may be September but we still have august water temps. It all eats good! Come & get it!