JPP With Billy Flatt
 

Been fishing about twenty minutes, caught three hybrids, one white and one striper. The whites are in the jumps big time. Fishing out of seven points.

That's a great start. What r u catching them on?

Umbrella rigs.

Where was my invite?

Awesome! Good day for it, cloud cover, slight breeze. Bite should last a while! Sounds like fall patterns are starting early on the striped fish too!

I have been out there many time and have tried everything to catch them but I have not yet had any luck!! It's kind of dissapointing actually. But I have not tried an umbrella rig yet. Were you drifting or trolling or what!??

Trolling large customized umbrella rigs.
The bite was off as soon as it started today.
A couple here and there after the initial hookups
with the large coming in around 7lb.much later in the morning.

Jimmy, you said you couldn't make a weekday trip due to work until October. We didn't want to wait that long.

Marc was a last minute (and I mean hours before we went) addition. Alex and I are off during the week with him being busy on the weekends and Billy had weekdays open, hence our trip occurred during the work week.

We can do it again in the fall if you want.

Who is Billy Flatt?

A Percy priest striper guide.

Did you try the parachutes that I made for you behind the umbrella rigs...............WOODY

Weedy, we took nothing with us but sandwiches and drinks. The guide would not have appreciated us bringing baits for him to try.

What "parachutes". I still haven't tried the big swimbaits you gave us at the gathering, haven't been fishing since then.

Post or send a pictures of the parachute, maybe jog my memory.

So did you learn a lot?

Ageless, what type of boat does Billy Flatt use?

Aero, he uses a 21 ft Sea Ark with a Suzuki motor on the back, didn't notice what size.

This is an 8' beam flat bottom aluminum boat. He has a big Bimini cover that stays rolled up most of the time. There are a bunch of rodholders on the top of the Bimini rack.

Definitely have seen that rig out before. I figured it was a crappie guide.

He guides for crappie too. He's fished the lake since he was a
kid.

I see him on the lake quite often. They troll with umbrella rigs with down riggers. Seem to move from place to place; I see them catch a lot of fish!

dumb question...
 

I hate to ask this, but when someone says "the jumps," what does that mean?

It means the fish are busting on the surface, usually chasing bait.

It's a term the locals use and don't worry, I didn't know what it meant at first either since I'm from out of state! When you see the "jumps" you'll know. You'll see a bunch of splashing at the surface and baitfish being chased out of the water. Usually it means one of the three striped fish (if not all three) are present. Sometimes bass get involved in the mix as well.

Hey Merv and Marc...I had a blast. Let's get out and do it again sometime.

I went back out yesterday morning and found them in the jumps in the same spot. Pulled a bucktail with slider grub through them and picked up one small hybrid. And just like that it was over... Gonna try again when I get back in town next week.

-Alex

Alex,

Absolutely, I had a good time and learned a bit.
the fish could have been a bit more cooperative that day but overall
it was enjoyable and a new experience.

"In the jumps". Use a popping cork with a small slow sinking type lure about 18" behind. One hook for ease of release. Deadly.

jaycee....what size popping corks do you use? I am looking for some small ones.



Regards

Ditto on the popping cork and lure. DEADLY on skipjack and whites below OH dam.

What kind of slow falling lure? Trout mag?

-Alex

I normally use a big weighted size used in salt water to cast further and make lots of noise. I also cut the small oblong cm floats in half and use the flat end to make noise to attract shallow crappie. I will look for some small poppers while in Mississippi. I have had fish strike at the poppers.

Have also fashioned wine bottle corks. They work great but were not heavy enough for the heavy line.

Thanks John....going to get some new ones this weekend.



Regards