Will3369

Losing a floating crank-bait, and being able to cast another one and snag it almost every time. Not sure if this is a super power or just being frugal. Lol

I am always down to fish!!

Thanks for all your info, some of the best I have gotten so far.

So it’s determined by weather/rainfall. Thats understandable I guess being a resivoir. Are there any good natural lakes nearby that offer good year round fishing with minimal to no draw down?

Thanks for your reply. Oh I have the lake app on my phone, last 2 weeks the water came up 15 feet only to have about 10 feet drained back out. I guess my question should be when do they leave the water in. When it fills. ( that is the only time I do ok is when there is water) after the flood when it filled I killed it from shore/bank but when they let all the water out back to slow.

This lake has been a struggle, I have fished this lake for almost 8 months, pretty regularly. 1 to 2 times a week. Granted I am only bank/shore fishing. Compared to most lakes I have fished over the last 40 yrs the fishing is very unpredictable/bad. Granted that may be because I am limited to where I can go from the bank. Prior to fishing Douglas lake it had been 2 yrs since I had been skunked bass fishing. It seems here its every other trip you get skunked. So my questions are as follows, I have searched and searched to find when they start refilling the lake and can not find a def answer anywhere. Also they tell me in the summer they switch to live bait in order to catch bass. ( I have never heard of this on a good bass lake? ) Also the Tackle store in Dandridge TN is only open 1 day a week. How is that possible on what is supposed to be such a great bass lake? I am new to the area and don’t know many people. I struggle with finding the answers to some of these questions. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. And thanks in advance.

I just left WA state, best decision I ever made. Their fishery’s are run poorly. ( at least on the west side of that state.) They make it hard/nearly impossible to get on the water in the off season. ( it almost seems at times they don’t want fisherman there.) Some of the lakes have good to great fishing, except they seem to cater to the wake boats, water skiers and jet skiers. For all the lakes/rivers/ponds I have fished in my 45 yrs of fishing. WA state lakes and fisheries have def been at the bottom of the barrel. ( west side of the state at least).

Welcome!!

I found on the lake I fished, that during the summer heat, Smallies would come shallow to feed, but keeping deep water close by. When the water is warm the lake I fished Smallies would keep deep water close to where they would feed shallow. Deep water meaning first available weed line. 12-15 feet of water. I also observed that unlike largies, who go under logs and docks and boats to get outta the sun, Smallies tend to seek a little deeper water for shade/cool. Now I know this isn’t true everywhere. But was very much in play on the last lake I fished.

For the record, not a fan of FFS, but to each their own. I have read studies of Spawning bass being targeted with FFS and it screwing up/messing with their long time spawning spots. I have fished behind guys using FFS and cleaned up behind them. As stated they were only targeting the big fish. Slip in right behind them and clean up everything they left behind. ( which usually was more then you’d think) I don’t fault anyone for using it. ( their choice) I just choose not too.

I would always have a Tube or two close by for smallies, depending on river current will effect the weight of the tube head you choose.

Hello from TN and welcome!

Any luck finding a local club? I am in Dandridge TN looking for a club myself.

Spro rock-crawlers (9-14ft) several great colors and a green pumpkin tube ( bitsy tube) with an over sized jig head, to give a gobie/bulb-us head look.

I appreciate the help, however if you have any other suggestions I would love to hear. I got off facebook and most of the social media apps about 8 yrs ago now. Was hoping to find another option, but even looking for boats seems FB is a popular option.