Well, I have a broken ankle that is Finally beginning to heal, and nursing 2 broke ribs, so I havent had my boat in the water for over 3 weeks. It was killing me. My buddy knew it was killing me and invited me to go with him Tuesday am and take my wife for the afternoon.

Great day fishing. We caught 8 in the am in a few hours, then we braved the dang hottest day and went in the afternoon at around 4. It was 98 degrees, a 113 degree real feel and it was HOT. We took our dog that just almost died with us as well and headed out and within 5 minutes we found a GIANT school. We caught 13 stripes in 45 minutes. Hottest bite Ive ever seen.

Best day we've ever had fishing these stripes. Ended up with 23 for the day and she and I both lost one at the boat. We had 2 triples, and 3 double hook ups. It was a blast.

Heres a few pics. It was so hectic we couldnt take many. If you see just a pic of a hand with a fish..it was one my wife caught and I was reeling in another.





















We had a blast even in the heat. My wifes arms are still sore from reeling them in!

Your wife has very hairy arms and muscular hands....

Nice fish
What kind of baits are you trolling?

lol..she wont hold them up unless their connected to the pincher/scale, he or I have to! She just reels them in!

We were releasing them quick to keep them alive too. We did keep a few though.

We werent trolling. We were using live bait and drop lining them down to the schools. Live Shad. They wouldnt last there long and wed have a fish on. fish were 40 to 70 ft deep.

Making the most of it while we can . The New stupid live bait law comes into effect in less then 10 days.

Very nice

Awesome day!

How many did the dog catch?

Lake dogs are better than seaman dogs

Unbelievable Phil. Way to go

Heck yeah!

Looks like a great time !

Thanks Yall..My wife loved it.

We are fishing hard next week..the new bait laws go into effect August 24th I believe and it will be tough getting enough bait. But we are working hard to figure out cast netting shad here at Smith Lake for shad. It is very tough but we might have figured a way.

Sad thing is when you cast, you get blue backed herring, crappie, bream , silver tailed minnows and very few shad or very SMALL shad. And we CANT use herring, or net caught crappie and bream here. Sibuki rig the bream or crappie and I think it is okay. Im still looking it up. Ill do that at night if I have to , to fish in the am.

Is it legal to use caught ( not netted) bream , crappie, silver tailed minnows, Etc?)

It is not very productive but Im going to cast net as much as I can and see if I can round some shad up.

Ive started trying artificial, using down riggers, lead core line and a variety of baits: Umbrella rigs, Buck tail jigs, proven swimmers, and I have caught a couple a day before I hurt myself.

This new law is silly unless they let us use the dang herring here. They are here like crazy...throw a net...herring...but we cant use them for bait? Crazy as heck.

Have to use Native fish only..except herring , Bream and crappie...LOL.

The Fish and Game guys need to take in the reality of the situation. Let us use herring that are here and I wont mind the new law at all. They are HERE..in abundance.

So far Asian Carp arent. Let the guys use herring and no one would ever bring bait here. The stripers like ONE thing more then shad,..and that is Blue Backed Herring! that is what we use in the ocean too.

Yep..hes better then a fish finder. He barks like crazy when we are over fish. i guess it comes from feeding him striper leftovers!

better then a fish finder! Even one of those pan optix. He starts barking like crazy...we all drop lines!

I think I’d just SSS. Never see any type of law on smith anyway

Thanks Justin. I know you get after em hard too. It was a great day of fishing with my wife.

Dang Matt, I should have figured youd say that ..lol. But Ive been checked now 3 times.

State police in their big grey boat and the wardens in that REALLY nice light blue Nautic Star center console. Thing is sweet! Id love to fish from that boat..it is a beast.

And then that one day I fished with a dang Fish and Game guy we both know...lol. That could be...well..awkward!

nice

Congrats!! Great Day on the Water

You weren't kidding when you said you had a good day fishing! Congratulations and enjoy the new place!!