billgator

Ok so I'm gonna be on the lake for the first day of my best annual trip this Friday in north Georgia. It's supposed to be overcast and some fish should still be spawning. I'm gonna have a top water on one of my rigs but not sure which one im going to throw. Should I go with: 1) 130 whopper ploper 2) Kelly J prop bait 3) Pad crasher Frog the first hour will be spent around logs in the shallows, a bank with some scattered rock, and a 45 degree spawning bank without much visible cover. Lots of big fish in this lake... What do you guys think?

Is there an alternative to jerkbaits when targeting those same post spawn fish that are moving out? It's not a technique I have added yet.

Johnny five, Im going to take a stab at giving you some direction, as I am from jacksonville and lived there for 30 years. With that said, take my info with a grain of salt as I left town in 2008 and have mostly fished for bream and saltwater species on my visits home. Ok so bank bass fishing in Jacksonville is all about ponds. There are literally thousands of them in Duval county and many of them hold very big bass. The trick is gaining access to the quality ones or at least not getting kicked out of the ones you aren't supposed to be fishing. Usually that means private property and neighborhood ponds. I would focus on those near J. Turner Butler Blvd on the south side and near the Town Center area. The development in that area over the past few decades has brought a ton of ponds that you can probably fish without drawing too much attention. The ponds in that area tend to be clear, shallow, and very grassy. Bluegill will be the primary forage, although ponds fed by creeks, while rare, will hold golden shiners as well. If you have to fish public waters, the ponds at Hannah Park do hold 10 lb bass. That water is murky, green, and brackish (there are giant blue crabs in that lake), with lots of shoreline cover and some good timber around fish able banks. The pressure is high there, but you might be able to rent a kayak and do some good. Speaking of renting a boat, you need to consider a few other options. First, I know for a fact you can rent a boat at NAS at the marina. They have some nice center consoles which you might be able to drive to doctors inlet. If you can, those docks should yield some fish on buzzbaits and 7.5 inch culprit worms. The worms do pretty well around the reed lines in Doctors inlet too. The second boat rental option to consider is if they have them available at Kingsley Lake south of Middleburg. The lake is 2 miles across with no public access, and military personnel accessing the lake from the adjacent Camp Blanding are some of the only people able to fish it. It is unusually deep for a Florida lake with depths nearing 100 feet and has yielded HUGE bass in recent years with light pressure. If you can find another service member to take you out or if they rent boats (which wouldn't surprise me), try drop shotting Junebug trick worms in 20-30 foot of water with grass over the summer. If the rentals don't work out and you need further options, ask the guys at Arlington Bait and Tackle for suggestions. If all else fails just pick a pond and start slinging until somebody tells you to leave. Oh, and if you don't mind being an outlaw... Google this: "Sheelar Lake Gold Head". its the ultimate high risk high reward. lol As far as lures, I used to like Baby Bass colored Flukes this time of year, although my PB (a 9.5 skinny post spawn fish) came on a Watermelon T-rigged Lizard in the middle of a hot April day. It was a 2 acre pond on the westside so don't overlook the tiny water down there. If you are chasing a trophy and don't mind live bait, try a bluegill under a bobber. Hope this helps and sorry it's dated.

In about 2 weeks the forecast is showing some potential 80 degree, sunshine-filled days around the full moon. If you are going fishing on those days, would the heat and Sunshine be a major consideration? I know fish can hold tighter to cover when the sun is out, but I would expect a top water bite could still be on as the post spawn gets cranking. What do you guys think?

I've read that the O-rings and hooks should be replaced. Does anybody know if that is true of the 130, or just the 90?

More great info! Water clarity notwithstanding, Are those deeper fish typically susceptible to bottom presentations like carolina rigs? I was thinking about dragging a vile craw or zoom speed craw around some deeper rock piles. Also, do you think the full moon on April 22 will be mostly post-spawn fish in north Georgia?

My big annual trip is planned for April 22nd-24th in north Georgia. It's on the full moon weekend, and i anticipate there will still be some fish bedding, but that most will be done.

Thanks for the great info. Is a Keitech fat the best choice for the post spawn?

Are the keitechs, or soft swimbaits in general good during post spawn and the spawn?

Would a C-rig be a good bet at the tail end of the spawn/early post spawn? I've got a big trip planned and im thinking it could be a good option for me. The lake im fishing has a creek channel just off of a good 45 degree spawning bank and some rock piles in 5 to 10 feet of water on the outside of a good shallow cove. What do you guys think?

Hi all, . I live in North Georgia and don't get to fish as often as I used to, so I thought I might seek your advice. I've got a trip planned to a small private fishery (also in north Georgia) on the third weekend of April around the new moon and im expecting the bass to be spawning. The lake im fishing is about 20 acres, holds big largemouth, has a good mix of cover/structure (including blow downs and rock piles), and the lake has a lot of crappie in it. I have not seen shad on my previous trips. With this info, could you guys suggest some ways to target bass other than site fishing in these conditions? In the past I have had my best success there in the shallows on 6" Texas rigged zoom lizards. I have also had sporadic success on a spinnerbait, senkos, and a Devils Horse. I have caught several fish in the 3 and 4 lb range but none of the big females I know are in there. What would you guys do? Thanks so much in advance!!! p.s.(the attached picture is of my big fish from last year, caught on a devil's horse on a rainy day)

Hey, most of the retention ponds in Jacksonville have big bass lurking in them. I would try some of the corporate ponds around J. Turner Butler expressway (we call it JTB) on the Southeast side. If you can find one you don't get kicked out of, you'll have a great shot at a good fish. For the beaches area, Hannah Park in Mayport has a freshwater lake with huge bass in it(but they are finicky). I'd be wary of the St. John's river as it can be unelievably tough to fish. If you can't resist the urge, I'd focus on doctor's inlet, just south of town in the orange park area. There are a ton of docks and over the years it has been much more consistent for me than the river itself. If you can get access, the endless number of lakes in the keystone heights area are great producers this time of year, and offer clear water with white sand bottoms, which will aid in bed fishing right now. As far as lures are concerned, I'm a died hard senko fan, but gold bladed spinnerbaits are sometimes good in the river, as are trickworms. If you are trophy hunting, when fishing in ponds you HAVE to toss a live bluegill under a float. NOTHING will give you as good a chance for a big fish. I promise. In the river, a big, wild, golden shiner under a float is a great choice... and there is a difference between the farm raised shiners and the wild ones. Hope that helps!

Hey guys, I heard Tycoon lake in Southeastern Ohio is a pretty decent bass lake. Anybody ever been there or have advice about fishing it?

I'm Bill and I live in proctorville. I'm a Florida transplant and I fish ponds, the Ohio river, and several of the resevoirs in the Huntington WV area. I fish on foot and from a 14 ft. aluminum. Dan, My wife's grandmother lives in Woodsfield and we were just up there for her grandfather's funeral. Do you know the Quails?

in my area there aren't many grassy bottoms. it's more flooded timber and ledges, along with some riprap and rocky shorelines. there are some weedlines along the banks though.

hey guys, im curious as to when to use a wide wobble vs. a tight wobble in the spring. is it just a matter of tight wobble for clear cold water and wide for muddy warm? do you guys switch from one to the other at a certain temp or pre-spawn phase? thanks...

Leo, Regarding the jig, do you mean to slowly hop the jig from the flat to the ledge and off it?

Hey guys, I'm taking on cranking for the first time this spring, and everything I've read or gathered from the locals here in the Huntington, WV area says to focus on ledges between the flats and 8 to 12 feet of water with a red crankbait when the water is between 50 and 60 degrees. Would you guys agree with this? If so, 1) Should I focus on wide wobble or a tight wobble crankbait? 2) Should I be looking for a deep diver that will hit bottom not only as the bait comes off the flat but also in the deeper areas? 3) Do you guys recommend any specific cranks for this application? THANKS!!!

thanks Tom!!

Ok, here's a question for you experienced crankbaiters. Should I use a snap swivel when using a crankbait? Would the action impede or improve when using one? THANKS!!

Hey guys, A guy I ran in to in this area (southern Ohio near West Virginia) said he has a good bit of success fishing texas rigged chigger craws, but that's all the info I got from him. So here's a few questions for you if you dont mind: 1) Do you guys think the 3" or the 4" would be better? Our bass don't usually get over 4 or 5 lbs so I was kinda thinking the 3" might be the way to go. Also, it seems kinda odd to use a 4" crawfish lure since they dont really get that big. 2) Would green pumpkin and black & blue be the way to go color wise for good starter colors? 3) Any other insight on these lures would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!

I have only fished that lake once, in early April of 07. The weather was a little warmer, but I had really good success bank fishing the wooded banks by flipping or pitching a texas rigged red shad worm in any holes in the thicket that I could find. I didnt catch anything huge, but the bites were steady.

Hi guys, This is my first post and I have to say I love the boards here. I'm curious if any of you have any advice for fishing the Upper Mud Lake in West Virginia. I've been hearing great things about the bass fishery there and I'm thinking of making it one of my primary targets this spring. I was born and raised in Florida and only recently moved to southern Ohio, so I feel like I'm starting all over when it comes to bass fishing. Any advice you guys can give is much appreciated. Thanks!