| Week of 7/2/2003 #200 |
Question: You are fishing a river 1 mile wide. The
area you launch is 5 miles above a power generation dam. Three miles up
river are a few large islands with a large rock area stretching the width of
the river just above the islands. The river runs shallow 2-6 ft. above the
rocks with some deeper holes. Coontail beds are scattered around mud flats
but mostly submerged. Towards the dam the banks drop off with rocky shore
lines. The river holds a majority of smallies with some scattered
largemouths. Three days prior to your visit, 2 inches of rain fell, making
water levels rise 3 feet above normal and mud stained. Where would you look
for fish and what lures would you try?
|
Winning Answer:
I am going to assume we are fishing
present day, which would make it post spawn in lower Michigan (were I
live). Taking that into consideration I would target clean water near
and or around the deeper sections of the rocks near the islands or any
deep points with rock or grass up the river that has some current on
them. Up river because that is the part of the river that the water is
going to clear up the fastest . Being post spawn fish are going to move
into deeper water and place themselves on structure (rocks, grass, and
deep points). The lure selection I would use would consist of
Carolina
rigging and weightless Texas rigging senko or plastic craw and a jig
head with a tube. Because the water is still going to be slightly
stained the color selection I would choose would be darker (green with
purple flake and black with red flake). If the wind is blowing I also
would throw a white and chartreuse spinner bait with painted or gold
blades. Thank-you Tadd Davis
|
| Week of 7/9/2003 #201 |
Question: You are fishing a lake
that you never fished before. The lake is man made, dam at one end, creek
fed on the other with several shallow coves. The lake is only 340 acres,
electric motors only. Its mid May water is clear, temp 63 degrees, weather:
cloudy with a chance of showers 65 degrees. Predominately largemouth with
some perch, walleyes and some smallies. The lake has no structure what so
ever, like fishing a cereal bowl. Although 30% of the lake is full of
hydrilla grass in depths from 6 to 2 ft. Bass are in pre-spawn, spawn and
post-spawn modes. What would be your best approach for the largemouth?
|
Winning Answer:
I believe the
first thing I would consider would be the color, size and of course
presence of any baitfish and match you lure of choice likewise. And
since the lake appears not to have any cover besides the hydrilla grass,
a plastic curly-tail worm would be my first attempt at finding the
largemouth hangout. Since the weather is a little cool I would start my
search on a shallow level, possibly running spinnerbaits and buzzbaits
over the grassy areas and throwing to the shallow coves. I also
understand that the water is clear and know that I must use a quiet and
smooth approach because if you spook the fish then most likely you will
go home with NO fish smell on your hands. Thanks! Randy Vernon
|
| Week of 7/16/2003 #202 |
Question: You are fishing a northern lake, one-week
after the ice has cleared. The lake is approximately 1500 acres with 2
bridges, a dam, roadbeds, creek channels and shallow coves. Water temp 35-40
degrees and clear. Weather: clear, air temp 45 degrees. You have been
attempting to find fish in the shallows with no luck. Your locator indicates
fish in deep water suspended in the 15- 20 ft range. The lake holds
largemouth and smallies. What will you do to get fish in the boat?
|
Winning Answer: Well,
obviously the fish are not going to be very active in this temperature
so I would have no choice but to head out to where they are and throw
lures that would cause the fish to attack on impulse. I believe I would
start out with a very bright spinnerbait alternating speeds with it and
using a jerky motion. Another approach would be using a buzzbait which I
love to use often and have had very good luck with them. The key to
getting them in the boat is to get where they are and irritate them into
hammering your lure! Randy Vernon
|
| Week of 7/23/2003 #203 |
Question: One day you decide to fish
your favorite lake. It's early May and you are fishing in South
Carolina. Your favorite spot is in a cove with flooded trees and bushes.
The weather is overcast, temperature is 70 degrees at daybreak, and
water temp is 68 degrees and slightly stained. You decide to use
topwater. First thing you tie on is a buzz bait, running it from shore,
past trees. You get a strike, set the hook and lose the fish. Several
casts later, the same thing happens. Part 1 of this question is what
would you do at this point?
Later you decide to fish a spook. Fish are really hammering it but you
cannot hook them (but it is fun to watch). After several missed fish, a
Monster comes up and just eats your bait. Reluctant to set the hook you
wait too long, set it, and you see your lure coming up from deep water.
What has been going on and what have you done wrong?
|
Winning Answer: 1)They
are biting short. They are tentative. I would switch to a Carolina rig
(plastic worm or tube) 2)The fish are hitting it and spitting it out
before you set the hook. You should be line watching and also I would
switch to a small jig.
|
Week of 7/29/2003 #204
You are fishing a lake in the Southeast. Its mid August, air temperature
reaches 95 hot and humid at mid-day. Water temperature is 85 and tea
stained. Bass are lethargic and schooled in deeper water. The lake has
flooded timber, and many points with drop-offs. What would be your
approach for catching these boiling bass?
|
Winning Answer: I would
use a 1/8 ounce jig and pig. The color would be something somewhat loud
like red or orange. If they were suspended I would use a very slow
rolling willow leaf tandem spinnerbait. The color would be silver with a
hint of blue or black in it.
|
