Jmax, Lake Balboa, AR, Bass, Crank Bait time!, 6/23/18, Solo

[Jmax]

This is the time of year at the Chick that the crank bait bite got hot and I was truly missing that. Today here in Arkansas there are fronts moving thru so when I got up this morning with lighting and thunder I thought going fishing would be out of the question. emoRain But as luck would have it the storm moved thru and there was a window to try a little cranking before the next one showed up. Got out at 9 this morning and fished until 2:00 this afternoon.

At first I could not find anything. Hitting points in 15 to 25 foot of water looking for a school to fire up. Did manage one nice bass on a spinner bait slow rolling it and had a big fish load up on a crank only to realize when I got in close it was a large cat that decided it wanted my crank. emoDoh Had to bring it on board to get my crank back. got slimmed! Finally working a main lake point in about 20 to 25 foot I got a couple going burning my crank down and using a stop and go retrieve after it got down. Believe it or not these bass in AR like a crank bait too. emoBigsmile Had a couple just crush it. The point had a drop that went from 15 foot on the top then sharply dropping to the 20 and 25 foot depth. That is where it seemed the better bass wanted to be. Managed eight nice keepers with a couple more getting off by the boat doing this pattern. Best one was 4 and a half. I am not finding any really big bass on Lake Balboa but still enjoy the threes and fours I am finding. Here are a couple pictures of two of my better bass. As usual the pics don't due them justice. emoRolleyes

Would have liked to have been cranking the Chick today for some 8s and 10s but this will have to do. You all count your blessings, your really blessed to have the size you do there. emoToast Jmax

 

[FirstLight]

Thanks for the report Jim. I ALWAYS enjoy reading your reports. It’s cool how the patterns your on there in AR, are similar here.

Dad and I are going to do some cranking tomorrow; although so far this season I have not been able to get any schools going with a CB which is disappointing because I love deep cranking. It’s been all slow movers for me except at night....

 

[Jmax]

FirstLight - 6/23/2018 9:40 PM

Dad and I are going to do some cranking tomorrow; .

How did you do?

emoScratch Jmax

 

[WaterChap]

It’s amusing to me that cats will hit a crank.

 

[FirstLight]

Jmax - 6/24/2018 4:29 PM

FirstLight - 6/23/2018 9:40 PM

Dad and I are going to do some cranking tomorrow; .

How did you do?

emoScratch Jmax

Today was one of those days where we caught fish at almost every stop but never landed on a school. We got an early start to the day. A little before daylight. Started out throwing topwater and caught a few doing that which was cool. They were small but fun anyway. Once that bite slowed we started fishing our deeper stuff. Still couldn’t get a look on my cranks. Gave in and started throwing slower stuff. My big came on a big swimbait (maybe 5 pounds). The rest were on my trusty jig and dad was throwing his trusty Ol monster. We caught 25 or so but the weight was lacking. Best 3 was 9lbs and best 5 was 13lbs.... good to be out. I’m not complaining.