Thread: Magic number, 55 degrees?

Originally Posted by ChrisCarter

Good info P4P. I didn't fish today, but i did go out to some major lakes and watch folks fish and enjoy the weather. One thing i did notice, nobody was catching anything. Didn't matter what bait, where it was, or what they were fishing for. Lots of folks where fishing for bass and catfish at Walnut Creek, no luck. Lots of folks fishing for walleye and crappie out at Wehrspann, no luck. Stop by Offutt Lake, weren't too many people out there, but they had the classic worm and bobber setup with no such luck at all. It dawned upon me, it may feel like late April, but its still too early.

Talked to a Vietnam vet who was here when Offutt Lake was constructed for the new runway at the base. Told me how they were electro-fishing last week said they pulled up a lot of carp ranging from 30 - 60 lbs and a couple that were 90 lbs. Said they also pulled up a lot big bass and some monster crappie, he said some were 15 - 16" long. Guess they had a very good spawn with those high water levels back in May. He told me in spring time if folks are catching fish and you aren't, you are doing something wrong, but if no one is catching anything, the fish aren't there.

So for now, my bait will stay in the fridge and my tackle will stay in the car until the right time.

I did have a little action yesterday, but i quickly found that it was not a fish that was trying to eat the worm, but rather a frog.

Wow, 15"-16" crappie, boy I sure hope you catch a couple this year and give some pics...those would be dandies. Seems like that Offutt lake is pretty good, do you fish there much? I don't have much experience east of Lincoln, except for Iowa. The way gas is I prolly won't even get to Lincoln this year.

Take care

Chris, on Wehrspan the Crappie spawn back in the long cove that feeds the lake. On the back side of the bridge. Not many spawn out on the main lake. Park in the parking lot above the bridge and walk down to the lake. EB

Originally Posted by Passion4Pomoxis

Wow, 15"-16" crappie, boy I sure hope you catch a couple this year and give some pics...those would be dandies. Seems like that Offutt lake is pretty good, do you fish there much? I don't have much experience east of Lincoln, except for Iowa. The way gas is I prolly won't even get to Lincoln this year.

Take care

I think it did good because of the spring and summer flooding along the river. They said the water was 12 feet above normal, so a lot fish got to enjoy submerged forage and what not to feast and gorge themselves on. Offutt Lake is somewhat good, they have a lot of carp and gar out there, but i'm told they got rid of quite a few gar when electro-fishing. Zebra mussels have been a problem out there as well.

Offutt Lake is like a childhood lake to me, i've been fishing out there since i was 4 or 5 years old. I'm very familiar with it, i know the underwater structure and where the fish will be at the right time (at least during the summer and fall).

EB - I think i know what area you are talking about. I've been down there a few times, past the boat dock. I didn't know the water fed into the lake from the south. I guess it makes sense, since the dam is on the north side. Walnut Creek feeds from the south too then. Well i definitely learned a few things today.

Originally Posted by Passion4Pomoxis

Uh....Doc, did you mean Cold water sinks?

Nope, water is it's heaviest around 39* and it's lightest at 32*. It's these opposing forces that create the turn-over. My local lake turned already about 2 weeks ago. Actually, I believe it's turned a couple times this year, or some form of it. This weird weather sure seemed to turn the shallows back in Feb. It's the opposite in the fall. For us here in KS we get a true turn-over a couple times/decade. The water temps fall to slow or gradual to force the abrupt change. 3 years ago temps went from 50* to froze in days and when we ventured onto the ice and cut holes the water was dirty from the turn-over.

Originally Posted by crappiedoc

Nope, water is it's heaviest around 39* and it's lightest at 32*. It's these opposing forces that create the turn-over. My local lake turned already about 2 weeks ago. Actually, I believe it's turned a couple times this year, or some form of it. This weird weather sure seemed to turn the shallows back in Feb. It's the opposite in the fall. For us here in KS we get a true turn-over a couple times/decade. The water temps fall to slow or gradual to force the abrupt change. 3 years ago temps went from 50* to froze in days and when we ventured onto the ice and cut holes the water was dirty from the turn-over.

Oh ya, gottcha ya…I guess I had fall turnover on the brain. Here in NE on the lakes and reservoirs I have done research on, including DO and temperature profiles, the surface water temperatures in the spring never mix all the way to the hpolimnion except in the extreme shallow depths. In general, after ice out the warming water, driven by wind, only mixes with the middle and upper third until the entire water column is a homogeneous 39 degrees. Of course, thereafter, the warmer water lies in the epilimnion. Rarely have I personally documented a complete spring turnover.
Also, NE really only has a few bodies of water that exhibit a true thermocline or stratification during the summer months. It can be a fairly productive time to fish if a person can find that magical depth. Now in the fall we do experience a complete turnover, which I might add is a difficult time, specifically for me, to catch fish.
Anyhow, good limnology chat…lol.

I have been out a couple time to the Fremont lakes and I have caught bass and crappie. Not to active but they are biting.

Took another trip out to Offutt Lake today, just to see the activity on the water. Lots and lots of frogs along the banks, most likely pigging out on the bugs that seem to be everywhere now. I took a walk over to the shallow section on the southwest side and i could hear a lot of splashing going on between 6 and 8pm. Though when i got closer, it seem to stop. The water was very still, like glass. As soon as i walked away, i could hear it again. I kept wondering, is it fish feeding on the frogs, or frogs feeding on the bugs? I did see a few fish swimming around the shallow rocks, looked like small bluegill, didn't see any big fish roaming around.

But you know, i wonder, what should my retrieve be like when i start using the jigs?

Made it out last night, was trying for walleye with a flicker shad and ended up with 6 big crappie and a bull blue gill. Saw other guys catching crappies also, they where using little jigs with white twister tails.