President's 100, Distinguished Rifleman, bluesman
Joined:
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GA, USA
Posted: 7/12/2018 10:31:46 PM EDT
[Last Edit: RamblinWreck][Edited]
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I got skunked at a local small reservoir only 25 min from where I live the first time I fished it recently. Nice 350-something acre stocked lake with clear water and lots of timber cover around the shore. Known for lots of small LM and Spots, with a few toads in there, a new impoundment.
I threw a Tx-rigged culprit worm on the bass rod into cover, and also threw a rooster tail on my spinning rig at varying depths while sneaking around in my kayak. I also fished off the points with a lot of timber. Nada. Skunked, but I know they are there. Fish were blowing up on bait, small fry-looking, here and there all around me, and I would quickly cast in there, but no dice. I wanted to throw a fluke at 'em, but had none, as the ones I had were way old and fugly/crusty, and I had tossed 'em. I made a big order of tackle and some new fresh flukes and soft baits. After I called around to my friends, I found one friend of a friend I know who fishes there, and got his number, so I will call and ask him for sure tomorrow. It has been a long time since I fished. I fished all my childhood and into the 20s but gave it up when I went to college and started other hobbies. Since then I've only done a trip or 2 a year with FWB's (friends with boats), so I still should have the mojo. I'm going back at it tomorrow! I've no fish finder/plotter, so what other techniques should I be using? Some suggest trolling a crankbait around, I might do that while I paddle and explore the place. ETA: a pic of the new yak, a NuCanoe F12. 
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The shock of it all makes me feel so fine, lightning crashing up my spine...
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90% of the fish live in 10% of the water. Knowing and understanding seasonal movements/patterns of fish will help you eliminate unproductive water and zero on where the fish are faster. Once you find them, then you need to figure out what they want to eat.
Here is SC this time of year, I know there will be some fish up in shallow water around cover (wood, grass, docks) and there will be some fish out deep on off shore structure. Those "offshore" fish will be relating to bait. Around here that means Blueback Herring. So, I'll use my electronic to find bait and, typically, the fish will be close by. I prefer to look for shallow fish early in the morning and offshore fish once the sun gets high in the sky. Some days, I never have to abandon the shallow fish because they're chewing. Other days I can't get the shallow OR the deep fish to cooperate. That's why they call it "fishing" and not "catching." Bottom line, be versatile and recognize when something isn't working. Too often anglers want to fish a certain way or use a particular bait and anything outside of that isn't in their mind. That'll get you skunked more times than not. |
| being there 1st thing in the morning and seeing where the other early AM guys with boats bee line to ( provided they appear to know what they are doing ). Mark those areas and try your luck using your fav bait or lures and maybe be a little more patient than usual |
We should not forget that the spark which ignited the American Revolution was caused by the British attempt to confiscate the firearms of the colonists.
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350 some odd acre lake, can you find and upload a topographical map of it to show the contours and depths?
I’ve tried to follow this on the color selection. If it’s bright out, use a darker color. If it’s cloudy, use a brighter color lure. Is the sun low, fish high in the water column. If the sun is high, go deep. Since it’s small, how many boat ramps are there? Go farthest away from it, sometimes others don’t want to wait to wet a line. Are there any docks or other manmade structures? Try skipping a wacky rigged worm under them. Crankbaits work very well when they bounce off of something. Isolated stumps, or groups of stumps should be target rich areas. Squarebills will bounce off, stop reeling, then reel. That action should draw a reaction strike. Ever heard of a Ned rig? Think very light finesse. Half of a Senko on a small 1/5oz or lighter mushroom jig head. Fish it similar to a drop shot or shakey head. |
My offensive line can beat up your defensive line.
When gunslingers come to town, sai, things get broken. It's a simple fact of life.
When gunslingers come to town, sai, things get broken. It's a simple fact of life.
President's 100, Distinguished Rifleman, bluesman
Joined:
Dec 2000
Posts:
5207
EE: 100% (15)
GA, USA
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350 some odd acre lake, can you find and upload a topographical map of it to show the contours and depths?
Maybe. I may be getting a fishfinder. Since it’s small, how many boat ramps are there? Go farthest away from it, sometimes others don’t want to wait to wet a line. Only one ramp for all. Are there any docks or other manmade structures? Try skipping a wacky rigged worm under them. Nope. Just the dam. Ever heard of a Ned rig? Think very light finesse... Yes, I use those techniques sometimes. Thanks for the suggestions. I did talk to a couple folks who have fished the place as well. Now armed with this info, I plan to go back again in the morning for round 2. 
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The shock of it all makes me feel so fine, lightning crashing up my spine...
President's 100, Distinguished Rifleman, bluesman
Joined:
Dec 2000
Posts:
5209
EE: 100% (15)
GA, USA
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Originally Posted By RamblinWreck:
Dang, you are high maintenance.
Got rained out, so, I slept in, and then went and got a battery for my trolling motor. I hope to go tomorrow, and will take some pics then. |
My offensive line can beat up your defensive line.
When gunslingers come to town, sai, things get broken. It's a simple fact of life.
When gunslingers come to town, sai, things get broken. It's a simple fact of life.
President's 100, Distinguished Rifleman, bluesman
Joined:
Dec 2000
Posts:
5211
EE: 100% (15)
GA, USA
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Well, I went back this morning after last night's rains to fish a half day for round 2. Beautiful blue sky with lots of sun (got a tad sunburned on my legs where I forgot to apply sunscreen), and a bit of wind. I had talked to a guy who fishes there, and went to a few general areas he mentioned. I managed to hook up one small bass on a shallow crankbait I was bumping the timber with, but he shook off the hook before I got him in the boat. I was also throwing a fluke on the finesse rig around the timber. I paddled around and checked the lake out better. I fished some great looking spots, but no more strikes. I did see one nice sized fish following my lure to the boat, so they are there. I'm getting closer, but I really could use a sonar/ff. I saw where other guys were fishing, and what they were doing, so I learned a little more, and think I'm on the right track. Sucks that I still haven't boated a fish in my new 'yak! 
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The shock of it all makes me feel so fine, lightning crashing up my spine...
President's 100, Distinguished Rifleman, bluesman
Joined:
Dec 2000
Posts:
5212
EE: 100% (15)
GA, USA
I fished a different bank today. An old man was coming up as I was leaving and told me he’s caught several where I was fishing. Using a junebug Zoom ribbontail Texas rig, which happened to be what I was throwing. 
Except he would catch them on sunny days, today was very overcast. |
My offensive line can beat up your defensive line.
When gunslingers come to town, sai, things get broken. It's a simple fact of life.
When gunslingers come to town, sai, things get broken. It's a simple fact of life.
| When the sun gets high on blue bird days, the fish tend to pull closer to cover/structure. Docks become good places to target as well as deep water structure. When it's overcast, the fish tend to roam more and they're harder to track down and when/if you find them, they're not going to be grouped up. You'll typically find one here and one here. Stay after'em. |
President's 100, Distinguished Rifleman, bluesman
Joined:
Dec 2000
Posts:
5230
EE: 100% (15)
GA, USA
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Originally Posted By RamblinWreck:
I got skunked at a local small reservoir only 25 min from where I live the first time I fished it recently. Nice 350-something acre stocked lake with clear water and lots of timber cover around the shore. Known for lots of small LM and Spots, with a few toads in there, a new impoundment. I threw a Tx-rigged culprit worm on the bass rod into cover, and also threw a rooster tail on my spinning rig at varying depths while sneaking around in my kayak. I also fished off the points with a lot of timber. Nada. Skunked, but I know they are there. Fish were blowing up on bait, small fry-looking, here and there all around me, and I would quickly cast in there, but no dice. I wanted to throw a fluke at 'em, but had none, as the ones I had were way old and fugly/crusty, and I had tossed 'em. I made a big order of tackle and some new fresh flukes and soft baits. After I called around to my friends, I found one friend of a friend I know who fishes there, and got his number, so I will call and ask him for sure tomorrow. It has been a long time since I fished. I fished all my childhood and into the 20s but gave it up when I went to college and started other hobbies. Since then I've only done a trip or 2 a year with FWB's (friends with boats), so I still should have the mojo. I'm going back at it tomorrow! I've no fish finder/plotter, so what other techniques should I be using? Some suggest trolling a crankbait around, I might do that while I paddle and explore the place. ETA: a pic of the new yak, a NuCanoe F12. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/631/P1020026-605924.jpg |
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Originally Posted By Oldgold:
My favorite searching lure is a small beetlespin on a lightweight spinning outfit. I caught a spotted bass on a 90 Series whopper plopper the other day. Dang thing wasn’t about a pound and a half but fought like a 4 pound largemouth. |
My offensive line can beat up your defensive line.
When gunslingers come to town, sai, things get broken. It's a simple fact of life.
When gunslingers come to town, sai, things get broken. It's a simple fact of life.
|
the water around here in the lakes and ponds I fish on are all warm as bathwater. The river is at 5.5ft, which is where the fishing usually gets good. It's the best when I have to drag the boat off of the trailer then down the river another couple hundred feet to get to water that will float and let me drop the motor.
In the bathtubs, it's either top water or senko in shallow water or I'll go to deeper water and throw a crank bait, swim bait or drop shot. I've only been seriously bass fishing for about a year an a half. I started to fall into the same trap most guys do when they're starting out by getting suckered in by colors and fancy pricier baits. Now, I throw two or three different colors of senko, zoom worms and crank baits. If I was on new water, which happens a lot, I fish what I have confidence in depending on water clarity, temps and whether or not a front came through recently. Dock talk is dock talk. A scuppernong or green pumpkin mag II worm catches fish consistently. Sometimes you just have to slow down. |
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Originally Posted By RamblinWreck:
Well, I think I am getting the hang of this impoundment. Only took 9 or 10 visits! Absolutely slayed them today spybaiting. Caught my biggest LM in years, and a personal best spotted bass 4 lbs. 
A few pics: https://i.imgur.com/JN5lVYJ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/koDOYmt.jpg https://i.imgur.com/LxrxMC3.jpg https://i.imgur.com/AlXhn75.jpg https://i.imgur.com/6z9guZx.jpg https://i.imgur.com/BXopaMO.jpg https://i.imgur.com/clwHVK0.jpg https://i.imgur.com/E0cJtio.jpg https://i.imgur.com/RtwPzU4.jpg A buddy of mine also has that boat. Excellent choice. |
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Originally Posted By RamblinWreck:
Well, I think I am getting the hang of this impoundment. Only took 9 or 10 visits! Absolutely slayed them today spybaiting. Caught my biggest LM in years, and a personal best spotted bass 4 lbs.
A few pics: https://i.imgur.com/JN5lVYJ.jpg https://i.imgur.com/koDOYmt.jpg https://i.imgur.com/LxrxMC3.jpg https://i.imgur.com/AlXhn75.jpg https://i.imgur.com/6z9guZx.jpg https://i.imgur.com/BXopaMO.jpg https://i.imgur.com/clwHVK0.jpg https://i.imgur.com/E0cJtio.jpg https://i.imgur.com/RtwPzU4.jpg I'll have to give that place a shot when I get my kayak. |
"You do realize that you are agreeing with Extorris. When it comes to lowest common denominators...he's number 1. Good people ask themselves "What would Extorris do?" then do the opposite"- Dehammer
President's 100, Distinguished Rifleman, bluesman
Joined:
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EE: 100% (15)
GA, USA
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Caught this fatty the other day fishing for bream - on 2 lb test line! Hit a red wiggler, and took me over 5 minutes to boat her. 22" long, est. 4 lbs.
Attached File |
The shock of it all makes me feel so fine, lightning crashing up my spine...
President's 100, Distinguished Rifleman, bluesman
Joined:
Dec 2000
Posts:
5606
EE: 100% (15)
GA, USA