The lake level is 1070.27 (.73 feet below full pool) with water temps ranging from 86-88 degrees and the main lake is clear. Water temps have reached their normal summer temps and the lake is definitely setting up a thermocline at the 35-50 foot mark. Most of the stripers have pushed down the lake and are in their normal summer time haunts. South end creek channels like Big, Shoal, Two, Four, Six Mile, and Bald Ridge all have fish in them. In early August there will still be some fish in main lake pockets in 50-70’ of water first thing in the morning. As the sun gets up they will move out to the creek channels and the river channel in 90-120’ of water. The best bet for catching these fish is a down line 30-80’ down, over and in these fish. Make sure you have lively bait on the hook at all times. The herring are finicky this time of year so give them plenty of leader to swim on. We will be using 8-10’ of 10# fluorocarbon leader and a #1 octopus or #2 octopus circle hook this month and changing baits out every 5-7 minutes as well. You will go thru lots of herring this time of year if you want the best bait possible down there. One tip to keep your herring lively is to cool the bait water down that you get from the bait shops. We use juice bottles that are filled with water and then frozen. These blocks last longer and chill the water down better, and also do not contaminate the water with chlorine that bags of ice often have since they are typically made from city water. The power reeling bite will also get better and better this month. A Striper Tackle/ Capt Mack’s Boss Hawg Nickel/Silver Scale spoon or a 2 oz Capt Mack’s Super or Chipmunk jig with a 6” u-tail trailer or one of your dead herring will be the best choices for power reeling. Drop your lure down thru the school and start cranking it back up through the school. This technique is a great way to keep a school of fish fired up under your boat, and be sure to hang on as they try to rip the rod out of your hands. The lead core and down rigger bite has been hot this summer as well. Run your lead core rods 8-9 colors out with a 1.5 or 2 oz White/White or Chartreuse/Chartreuse Glitter CM Super Spin Shad, available at Oakwood Bait and Tackle and Hammonds, at 2.8 to 3.2 mph to get your baits down close to the 30 foot range. Run these lures, or a ST/ CM Jr Hawg spoon in White/ Silver Scale, 60-75 feet behind your downrigger ball that is dropped down 23-29 feet, so that your lure will run 27-33 feet down at the same speeds.
As we go thru life we might be in positions of power, but know that we really do not have control or power over ourselves. Our downfall begins when we focus on our desires and not God’s desires for us. We are tempted to hide our sins in the dark, but forgiveness will only happen in the light when we confess them. King David was arguably one of the greatest leaders ever in this world and he committed adultery and murder. When Nathan calls him out he is horrified and brings it to light. Psalms 51-1-4 is David writing about how sorry he is for his sins. When we bring our shortcomings to God for forgiveness, we become new. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor 5:17.
Call us today at 678-300-4865 to book your Striper Experience!