I wanted to fish Sprague one more time this summer, later in the afternoon and into the night. I had both the LED green floating lights and the white floating lights with me, as well as a high power 100 plus white LED shot style battery powered light I could shine on the water as necessary. I also wanted to fish for some trout over the springs to see how the fishing would be for my grandkids next weekend. The efforts were not promising.

Let's start from the beginning. I went to the springs and used various colors of power bait, marshmallows and worms, even some lures. Because I have the springs marked on GPS. and because I have a two rod permit, I could cover a lot of options quick. I not only did not get a single bite, the two boats that were near by did not have any fish I saw either. No doubt the 75 degree water did not help.

As the sun started to get low, I started to hit some of my better bass water. I already knew that crankbaits would likely catch super small bass because I talked to a fishermen leaving the water when I got there. I was right, and I do mean super small bass. After about a half dozen 3.5 to 4 inch LMB, I went to buzz baits, spinner baits, and a topwater real image mouse. I got tons of hits, but no hook-ups. Again, they were all too small. I did not get a single bass large enough to take a hook over size 4. As soon as it was dark, I felt it was time to start the lights and try for some crappie and bluegills.

I set the LED green floating light out and noticed that while it seemed bright enough, after an hour there were no bugs in the water at all. On the other hand, the filamentous algae was so thick that I doubt the light made it very deep. I added the floating white light and after another hour, nothing, not a single swimming organism. Finally I started up the big light and shinned it on the water. After a half hour, I finally had swimming bugs, water fleas if you will. An hour later I pulled the plug and gave up because not one singe fish came in. To date, I have yet to catch or even see a single crappie or bluegill after the rehab.

I also set one line out for some time for catfish and did get a hit by something, but it did not hook up.

There is one additional thing that may be of note to someone. After dark there were some fish that were feeding on top. I could not get a hook-up, but I did toss a float with worms on one and maggots on another hook. Whatever was rising did not want it. It could have been crappie, but they were not in schools. It might have been trout, but I would have expected them to take the bait on the floats.

When all is said and done, it was a tough trip, and I finally called the night when the lightning started to get close. I am sure glad my fish finder has a built-in navigation GPS on it.

I have caught several large bass in a couple of trips this year. I have caught sculpin, I have caught tiny bass, I have caught trout early in the season, I have used a hand held spot light to observe these tiny bass and some more streamlined fish about 3" in length that I cannot identify.

I have hopes for the future, but we need gills and crappie or the bass will soon eat themselves out of house and home.

I guess I could say, this is my report, for whatever it is worth.

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