Fished few hours this morning out of Bushypark. I’ve been just putting in my time trying to learn & find fish. Finally found some more fish in a new area today & had a great time. Caught 4 healthy redfish & 2 of them were tagged. Caught a nice flounder & 2 striper. The striper crushed my topwater, those guys are dangerous with a mouth full of treble hooks lol. The rest I caught on grub’s, even got to see one the reds & flounder swim up & grab my bait on the depth finder. All released & left them biting.
Think I’m going to try fishing docks between 526 & Riverfront park on the Cooper next. I used to get trout through there in my kayak years ago. Anyone have much luck through there? Wondering if they will run you off for fishing around there? Appreciate it!
Great job! looks like a fun day. I don’t fish up that way too often, but I don’t get any slack from fishing docks in other places.
@fatrat357 are these the type of tags you use when you’re tagging fish? I don’t know much about that but I got a t-shirt earlier this year for catching one. These were right around the corner from where you saw me fishing last time.
Yes sir they are and the report sheet they send you has who tagged the fish and how long it was tagged.
Very cool! Look forward to seeing the results!
Nice going! Me, FatRat, and Brian Ford have planted a zillion tags in that area! Interesting to hear there are still some stripers around. They usually mostly vacate to spawn (they go 100 mi upriver) in the spring. But maybe did his business and came back 
Yes , that’s the 3rd stripper I’ve caught in that area on top water. I don’t have a lot of experience with striper, but they all seemed long and skinny but it may be just the season. But the redfish seemed thick and definitely put up a good fight. Looking forward to see if they move throughout the summer or the year.
I actually more throwing the top water thinking I would get a trout bite. But I haven’t had one trout bite upriver, but just grateful to find some redfish closer to home versus making the drive and seeing so many people on the wando. I look forward to taking my fiance and son to go sit with some live bait in those areas.
I’m going to head down by 526 next chance I get out and try to focus on fishing some around the docks down to riverfront park. Thinking I may get more trout bites down there too.
I appreciate y’all’s efforts and tagging and conservation! I’ll keep reporting on as I catch em!
Once you make the left turn going a up river towards Nexan your chance of catching Trout will be slim in my experience. Going to the right and start Fishing many of the different creeks you have a better chance of catching trout even with top water. Looks to me like you’re doing a great job of catching as is just keep at it.
I appreciate it! Some of your bushy Park posts, definitely motivated me to keep trying for reds in cooper. Yeah I usually fish yellow house and load up on catfish when I want fish for the table or if I’m taking my son and fiance and want to guarantee they have fun and catch stuff. But yeah I’m going to keep plugging away with the top water down that way!
Down by 526 and Riverfront can be good at certain times of the year, spring in particular. The closer you get to Riverfront that side of the river gets kinda shallow and I haven’t found too much but haven’t spent a ton of time there.
I appreciate the feedback! I work at chemical place attached to old papermill. I used to fish around the hot water mill discharge with topwater and do pretty good sometimes. I’m curious to see how it has changed since there barely any flow coming out now. Hope to get out try that area next week.