Good Fishing at Hefner 2016

[Bigskyfisherman]

Got out the old float tube yesterday and hit Hefner. Crappie and sandies were both very active. Got them from 25-40 feet and all of them were just off the bottom. Used BG albino shad under a green/white/white hair jig and got 3 sandies and 5 crappie. Switched to a 1/32 orange/peacock herl/pheasant tail over a 1/16 G-Daddy Thunder Dan. It was non-stop hits until I left after sunset.
I have been tube fishing during the winter since the 80's, even when I had to break ice in order to get to open water. And yes, float tubing with these water temps does require numerous relief trips ashore (or a plastic bottle that will fit inside the waders).
The wife may be right about me getting older. Nearly every time I get out, there are young folks asking me if I need help.

[Crappiekey6]

OK so you are the guy I heard float tube Hefner in the winter be careful.a lot of boaters there
Anyways good luck

[catman]

I've seen Big Sky in his float in January in Northern Mo. He is too tough for me.

[Bigskyfisherman]

OK so you are the guy I heard float tube Hefner in the winter be careful.a lot of boaters there
Anyways good luck

That's me. And I appreciate the boaters. The other day, one boat had marked two piles with buoys. Naturally, since this was my first time out in the tube this winter, I headed right for the one they weren't fishing. As they moved over toward me, I thanked them for marking the pile for me. I detected a slight bit of grumpiness from them, until they recognized me and realized I was looking for a rise (we are good friends). Turned out, the fish were scattered everywhere, and all were at the bottom.
Get your tube, send me a pm, and we'll do some "real man" fishing.

[Crappie ciller]

I think float tube fishing in January calls for a little more information SkyKing. Like how in the heck you keep from freezing!

[Bigskyfisherman]

I think float tube fishing in January calls for a little more information SkyKing. Like how in the heck you keep from freezing!

You don't. But you'll be OK if you have a good wife to thaw you out and provide some hot chocolate when you drift to shore. Actually, special socks, Under Armour, and lots of fleece help, and I very seldom get too cold. The worst problem is what happens to the kidneys when you are floating in cold water (you lose a lot of fishing time going back and forth to the bank).
Come on over to OKC with your tube, and we'll go get 'em. You'll catch a lot more fish than you will by slip-corking or cast and crank from the bank.

[Crappie ciller]

You know more ways to catch fish without a boat than anyone out there Eric! If you ever got a boat I would follow you around like a stray dog but until then I'm gonna pass on the winter tube fishing. My wife thinks I am obsessed with it but has backed off since I showed her how YOU go about it! Lol Sky- keep up the good posts.

[Bigskyfisherman]

Took the kids and grandkids out to Hefner the other day. Montanaboy had caught a lot of small crappie from his float tube the previous day, but since we only had three tubes and there were seven of us, we decided to balloon fish for the slimy species. As we got to the lake, there were two guys buried in the mud on the lake bed. Four of us spent about 3 1/2 hours jacking up the truck, placing rocks under the wheels, and shoving with all of their might.
Meanwhile, two of the boys and I put out balloons (my excuse for not pushing the truck was my Grandpa back, and the boys said there wasn't room for more people to push the truck) baited with perch, minnows (left over from a non-successful trip to Carl Blackwell), and worms. All three baits caught fish, all channels.
It is a real blessing whenever I get to fish with the kids, grandkids, or great grandkids, or ANY kids. I thank the good Lord for the opportunity to do so.

[Crappie ciller]

See what you mean about the mud SkyKing. I moved from there 37 years ago and I don't miss that red sticky mud. Way to use your wait time well tho. You are still the master of methods!

[Redge]

I thought them cats had already been soaked in Sriracha sauce!! LOL nice job Big Sky.