What would you throw in this situation?

[Captain Rhino]

I have been fishing at Laurel River-Lake in Kentucky few times this year, and I found a nice dropoff last time out. I am not sure how to approach it. Here is the scenario: Coming out from shore, the bottom has a slow decline to about 25 feet. At this point, there is an extremely steep drop to 150 feet (I would have never believed it if I hadn't seen it on the depth finder).

I was thinking about using a deep diving crank or spinnerbait over the dropoff. What would you do in this situation?

Thanks,

Rhino

[senile1]

What I would use would depend on where I was marking fish and how active they are. A deep-diving crankbait will only get you down to a depth of 20 feet or so. I would be dropping a spoon on them or using a dropshot for the really deep fish. As you mentioned a slowrolled spinnerbait might work too. Jigs and Little George's come to mind as well.

[Captain Rhino]

How would you fish the jig? Would you swim it? Bounce it? Or let it dead-stick off the edge? I have been really experimenting with jigs lately and would like to give that a shot.

[senile1]

How would you fish the jig? Would you swim it? Bounce it? Or let it dead-stick off the edge? I have been really experimenting with jigs lately and would like to give that a shot.

I would try everything until something works.   Try swimming it parallel to the drop for active fish.  I would also stair step it down a ledge, but the lakes in my immediate vicinity do not have 150 foot dropoffs so I'm not sure how this will work for you.  Depending on how steep the drop is, to bounce the jig down your ledge you may have to disengage the reel on the drop to allow it to fall straight down.  Otherwise, it will swing away from the ledge and may never touch bottom again.   I would also try sitting shallow and fishing the jig from deep-water to shallow, but again, I don't know how steep your ledge is so I don't know how this would play out.  I would try dead-sticking as well though I would shake it on occasion. 

Just as an aside, I found a saddle down at Table Rock that dropped off on one side almost straight down.  It was so steep there was virtually no way to bounce a jig up or down it. 

[bigtimfish]

Basstar Dredger. A crank that dives as deep as you want it to. ***.com

[5bass]

What I would use would depend on where I was marking fish and how active they are. A deep-diving crankbait will only get you down to a depth of 20 feet or so. I would be dropping a spoon on them or using a dropshot for the really deep fish. As you mentioned a slowrolled spinnerbait might work too. Jigs and Little George's come to mind as well.

This sounds like what I'd do as well. Only thing is, (if you're ledge isn't a straight down 90 deg. drop) I'd probably sit on top of the ledge, throw deep and bring it up hill, that way your jig will always be touching the bottom.

Other than that, the spoon will probably be the most logical choice once you see/know that fish are present. I usually wont drop the spoon unless I am 'on' them....it's not a real good search bait.   

[The_Natural]

http://www.***.com/descpageLFS-LFFS.html

The 4" or 5" is what you want.  See Kelly Jordan's come from behind schooling session on Boyd Duckett in Ultimate Match Fishing.  Flutter spoons work.  I've added them to my arsenal.   Fish will hit them on the fall (hence the name), but not all the time.  You've got to really stroke it once it reaches the strike zone.  This is a bait you must have confidence in for sure.

[broncoboxer]

Before reading any other replies (and thus being convinced of better ways of doing this), my gut tells me to fish the following lures:

1.  A lipless crankbait (probably a Red-Eye Shad for its Senko-like wiggle as it drops).

2.  A slow-rolled spinner bait (you could pull out the big boys for this one, like a one-ouncer since it will sink faster and get deeper in a hurry).

3.  Jigs!

4.  T-rigged worms like a Rage Tail Anaconda.

5.  Spoons, baby!  If the drop off is snaggy, you could use a weedless spoon, like a Johnson's Silver Minnow.  If not, you could throw a Kastmaster or a Strike King Sexy Spoon.

[bigfruits]

id try a football jig with rage craw or double tail hula grub.

drag and hop it. let it fall vertically off the ledges by giving it a little bit slack as it descends.

[Catt]

I would want to know a little more information about the surrounding area such as any significant structure & available cover. You can throw all the lures in your tackle box and gain quite a lot of experience at casting or you can find key areas and actually gain experience at catching.

[Al Wolbach]

I would want to know a little more information about the surrounding area such as any significant structure & available cover. You can throw all the lures in your tackle box and gain quite a lot of experience at casting or you can find key areas and actually gain experience at catching.

Or make cover- Drop brush at/or about the 20' mark........Al

[.dsaavedra.]

trolling motor battery.

[ABLE2DISABLE1]

Try a three rig combo;drop-shot, then slide arky jig on it tied like Carolina rig, with 18 inch leader.Three stones, one hit is all it takes.I want to attack something with the most possibilities at one time and little effort in doing so.So I do not waist my time on unproductive waters.