Got in a little fishing finally. I put a new Humminbird 788ci on the boat over a month ago and yesterday was my first chance to try it out. It performed flawlessly. A major step up from what I had before. Basic and easy to use which was exactly what I wanted.

The conditions out there are still muddy, but clearing in some areas. The lake came up 13ft or so and is at 70% right now. Water temp was 51. There's quite a few trash pockets and flooded brush out in the main lake and probably more in the creeks.

I spent the entire day on outside main lake points and the dam. The entire lake is like natgeo from 35' down past 60. Balls of shad everywhere. Tons and tons of birds catching them in all the likely spots. There is just an abundance of life in that lake right now.

I still found the fishing to be slow. I bounced a 1/2oz hopkins spoon through everything I could find and never got hit on it. First time fishing a spoon. Ever. Drop shot produced a few bites on the east point going into vasquez. Lost one and came back with a scale on another. I also fished a 1/2oz rapala ice jig for the first time. Not sure what that thing is supposed to do? It seemed to just drop like a rock. Is it supposed to glide or spin or something?

I'm hoping to get out again soon and check the shallows. Just was having too much fun with the new toy.

Secret of the ice jig is to rip it and let it fall on totally slack line. I hear stories of jiggling it in one place but I think that's red herring.

Snap it up 6 or 10 feet and let it spiral down. Sometimes it works good, other times it's like kryptonite, they won't bite it all. It's funky. Really depends on mood of the fish. If the water is murky I don't think it will work too good. Better if the fish can see 6 or 10 feet.

Good news is, it's January 12th. By January 15th fish should be starting to bite black/red jigs in wood with large trailers.

Thanks, i'll have to try that. Lopez always seemes to have a bite like that so I thought it'd be fun to get into.