I was thinking of heading out this afternoon (Monday) to do a little trolling. With the extremely small size of the herring at the bait shops (fished the river yesterday) I was looking to try something different. What do you think would be the best option? I have read that the top water bite has been very sporadic so I am assuming that is not the best plan of attack. I was thinking bucktails around points and humps in 20-30 feet of water but do not fish the lake routinely enough to know if that is my best option. I would think that dragging that small herring around would kill them off rapidly and the aerator on my friends boat is not working properly anyway. Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
I would try casting up onto shallow points/keys/rip rap. The herring are spawning and the striper will be there as well. maybe around bomb, spence, goat, pine or frey key. Buck tails, alabama rigs, swim baits or anything that looks like a herring
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Report?
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Yesterday sucked … that’s my report … 1 Channel Cat … 1 3lbs Large Mouth Bass … and 1 tiny ass Striper (that was so small we didn’t even know we were pulling it) …
I wanna know where the (**()ed fish are too … I can seem to zero in on any numbers, but I know others have sooooooooooooooooooooo … reports??
… it’s my Wife’s fault we HAVE to fish !!!
2005 Sea Pro 2100cc / Yamaha 150hp 4-Stroke
I went out for a little while last night, but not much to report other than 2 small fish…one might have barely been a keeper.
Thought I was too tired to go when I got home, but it was such a beautiful evening I couldn’t stand it, so I dropped the boat in about 8:30. Lots of real small herring pinging on top near the dam/boat ramp, but not the big pods of ripples on top like you normally see over there about this time of year.
Trolled around pulling a couple of deep diving plugs for about 1 1/2
picking up the 2 small fish, then just decided to go looking around, since I haven’t been out a night much yet this year.
I’ve had my current FF over a year, but never really spent any time just playing with all the functions and adjustments so I rode around looking around and messing with it for about an hour before heading in.
First time I really used the “night view” and I really liked it.
Was wishing I had some bait here:
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Today wasn’t any better for us than Rick’s and Tim’s reports. Water temp was 71 in midlake and 73-74 in the creeks. We actually found fish often enough over humps and around points but saw no indications of activity shallow. Utilized planers, corks, and downrods. Unfortunately, with the exception of one small short, the stripers had lockjaw, but there were some gar around. I’ve been trying to identify my “lucky fishing hat”. I’ve gone through 5 so far with no success, but I’ve got several more to put on and try out. So maybe I shouldn’t feel as disappointed as I do since I was able to find them. I guess you can’t make them bite.
I went saturday night with my dad and nephew for about 2 hours along the dam. One short and a gar. I still have bait left so I am going to try out of koon tonight.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Cutbait has been the ticket for us the last month or so. Double anchor on primary and secondary points close to the river and creek channels in 25 to 35 feet of water. Scatter as many baits out as you can, casting deep and shallow. Engage the reels, set the clickers, chum heavy, and wait for it to all break loose… We caught well over 40 fish with 15-18 keepers on Saturday during the tournament cutbaiting. Small bait is not really an issue with this technique. I’m glad I rediscovered anchors:smiley:
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
you know, I’m going to have to figure out how to fish cut bait … just not confident enough in my location choices to devote the time it takes (at LEAST 1.5 - 2 hours) to chum the area and sit … going to have to figure it out though because I think planer season is coming to an end and it looks like the top water bite is going to be weak at best … so it’s either go chasing up river until the spawn is over or sit and wait for them to move back down to the big pool … I hate fishing … LOVE CATCHING, but hate fishing … LOL
… it’s my Wife’s fault we HAVE to fish !!!
2005 Sea Pro 2100cc / Yamaha 150hp 4-Stroke
Though it’s not my favorite way to fish as I’ve said multiple times, I’m for anything that puts fish in the boat. We stayed with it from wire-to-wire and never went more than 45 minutes between runs. When we got a bite, several other rods would go down in short order… Last month, I started getting into the cut bait state of mind when the fish just didn’t seem to want to leave the bottom while I was pulling.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
Went out with striper tom tues. night. we ended up catching 5 plus one decent cat. kept a 26 and a 23 and the cat. that made me 6 nice slab filets. the good thing is that it did not rain. we did not run out of gas; we did not break anything. maybe, just maybe, the coolbreeze curse is close to over. OVER? was it over when the germans bombed pear harbor?