Grain Fed

 Wheeler Lake - Decatur

Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Air Temperature: 36 - 62 degrees during trip
Water Temperature: 46 degrees
Lake Level: 552.59 - Strong Current.

Weather Conditions: Clear and Sunny. Winds variable 5-9 MPH

I decided to get in a catfish trip before crappie season started.  I headed over to the grain barges in Decatur.  They were loading/unloading grain pretty rapidly and moving barges, so I back up a bit and anchored.  Current was very strong and it was all I could do to sit still, but I managed.

I used some frozen skipjack and casted behind the barges and fished bottom.  I've recently installed some new rod holders and acquired some new Abu Garcia reels and Ugly Stik Catfish Special rods.  This was a good time to try both of them out.

Almost immediately, I hooked a decent cat, but things got slow after that.  I managed to pull in two more, but wrapped up the day early before lunch.  Nothing spectacular to report, but never a bad day on the water.

Grain Dust

Wheeler Lake - Decatur Barges

Time: 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Air Temperature: 75 - 84 degrees during trip
Water Temperature: 
Lake Level: 555.3
Weather Conditions: Partly Cloudy. Wind NW 8 MPH

James Harris and I set out for catfish this morning under the grain barges in Decatur.  We had a mix of skipjack and chicken soaked in Kool-Aid for bait.  We planned on a 1/2 day trip.

I started my day wet as I slipped on the Hard Dock boat ramp and busted my ass.  

There was quite a bit of boat traffic in the area.  We set up right behind the barges and started bumping bottom, but there was a lot of traffic and not much room.  We eventually tied off and casted tight lines.

We had a good morning and caught 9 cats and one buffalo.  They were biting the chicken very well.  It was an easy trip and we had a great time.  Looking forward to the next trip already.