Help Me With My Map Recon Please

[Mumpy]

Some background on me first. About 2 months ago I purchased a new Nitro Z7 and I'm just now getting back into Bass fishing after taking a long break, 10 years to be more specific, from it due to being assigned to Alaska. As soon as I got my boat I started fishing all of the spots that I used to fish back in the day and I guess it's because of the time of the year or what have you but I've been fairly unsuccessful on the water. To make matters worse the spots I used to fish aren't as accessible to me as they used to be. Now I have to drive 45 minutes to the dock and then a 15 minute boat ride. So working until 6pm, going home, hooking the boat up, getting changed, it's a big pain in the ...

Anyway, there is a Lake within 5 miles of my house, I can have the boat launched and pulling away from the marina within 15 minutes of leaving my house. The problem here is I've never caught a bass out of this lake. I know the Bass are there because they hold a Dogfight tournaments out of it every Wednesday evening. So, I told myself, if I'm not going to catch bass, I might as well not catch bass in the lake near by instead of spending all that money on Gas getting to my old spots.

I've decided that I will start at the upper end of the Lake and just start doing Recons of the area on a Map and hit those spots and just keep doing that until I get to know this lake better.

Here are the first areas in the northern part of the Lake that I'm thinking of trying, my question to you is... Do you see spots that I haven't circled that you would try from the map? How do you feel about the spots I've circled? Are those spots something that you would also fish?

Thanks in advance

[Nitrofreak]

It is always good to fish points, points lead to a lot of different doors that open up new and especially uncharted waters for one's self.

For me though I would have to take into consideration the pattern the fish are in right now, as my home lake would be with the wacky winter we have had, they are already in summer patterns in spots and post spawn in others and spawning in others, so that being said, I like the spots you have circled, but there are some other large flat's that look good too !!

I can hardly believe you live so close to this lake and have never fished it, it looks like a lot of fun !!

Me personally I especially like the island areas that have the long runs of sharp ledges leading to deeper pockets, what you have marked would be a good starting point, the first ones I would attempt would be the flooded timber areas, and the long flats.

Let us know how it turns out !!

Good luck and be safe !!!

[Lund Explorer]

So every Wednesday night there's a bunch of bass fishermen out there fishing?

Sounds like you could be taking a boat ride those nights looking at where these anglers were and then relating them to the map. I'm not going to suggest that you pull the seagull routine on them and park right next to them, but it should give you a good idea of the types of water they are fishing.

Find that type of structure and then start looking for similar areas that you can target.

[Mumpy]

@ Nitrofreak - Sorry if I gave the impression that I've never fished this lake, I've never caught a Bass out of this lake, but on that same note, I've only fished it like 3 times so It is new to me. The reason for that is because back when I was seriously into Bass fishing I lived 30 miles from where I live now so I never ventured up this way to fish this small impoundment (2,150 Acre) becuase at the time I only lived a few miles from Lake Eufaula. I really like your comments and will definitely add those spots to my List for this one section.

@ Lund Explorer - I haven't thought of that, since I'm going to go out this week to check out those areas I have marked, maybe I'll go on Wednesday so I can kill two birds with one stone here.

I really appreciate the help guys. As I fish these areas I'll post my findings here and also post new areas of the lake and ask for your help on those as well when I get that deep into it.

[WRB]

Just a quick peek at lake Oliver it looks like a power generation lake with a larger lake above it that looks better to me. This is a riverine lake and current will be a dominate factor, no current than the bass should hold tight to cover. Current than the bass should be more active on current breaks where bait fish tend to passby. The dam end around the golf coarse area with lots of coves and cover looks good during off power generation periods. The points and any benches that intersect the main river bends would be better during the power generation periods. Night; look for any beach area's or rip rap with wood nearby.

Good luck!

Tom

[Mumpy]

Thanks Tom, I can tell you from experience you don't want to fish the Lake above it during Summer Months. It's filled with Recreational boaters and ski-do's more than any lake around here. I'll definitely keep the Current in mind, if they're pulling water then go to the current breaks, if they're not pulling water then stick to tight cover.

[NCbassmaster4Life]

No channel?

[Mumpy]

I know right? There isn't a defined one that's for sure.

[robdob]

the down-river side of the islands would be something you might want to check out.

[Mumpy]

So, I'm going out tonight after work and give it all a go. Quick question. If you look at the first Picture you see where #2 is marked. To the left of that point you can see a small brown mark, that is also a little point, I seen it on Google Earth. How would you fish / approach these two points? The water flows from the bottom of the picture towards the boat you see, North to South.

[Nitrofreak]

The boat would be bow toward the point, throwing a small spinner bait, covering the whole point first, then I would work my way parallel toward the outside of the shoreline, staying with the spinner, or small medum depth crank bait.

As you pass over the timber I would switch to a deep diving crank or a jig, or even a larger spinner and bounce it off the flooded timber.

The shoreline has a significant sharp drop, I would stay parallel 10 to 20 yards offshore and run a medium depth crank.

[Mumpy]

Nitro - I moved the boat in the below photo, is this where you would begin? Placing the boat down stream of the point and casting across the point and bring it up and over the extended point?

[Nitrofreak]

No, I would begin with the bow of the boat pointing straight to the point, turn the boat 180 and about 20 to 40 yards out from the point.

I start deeper than most maybe, but 40 yards out from the point lets me know if they are holding to deeper structure or are they moving up for the shallow evening bite as I work my way in to the point.

It looks like a pretty good break on the right side of the island where the boat is now, that's why I suggested going to that side along with the flooded timber.

[Mumpy]

Ok, got it, wish me luck, Leaving for the lake in 30 minutes!

I'll update you on how everything went.

[Nitrofreak]

oops, I ment the main point, I did not clearify, sorry.

The water depth there is around 6 feet and drops to about 11 feet pretty quickly, fish that whole area before you move to the other point where the boat is now.

[Nitrofreak]

Yep Good luck and be safe !!!

[Mumpy]

Well, last night was uneventful as far as Catching Bass was concerned. There was a Catfisherman parked on that Main point and didn't leave. Even at dark when I left, he was still there. So, I never got to fish that point. I did fish the other point and positioned the boat as such

and cast Jigs and Carolina Rigs on both sides and down the center. I got three bites and never hooked any of them. I'm thinking they were smaller Spots. One bite was on a 12" Junebug worm, The other bite was on a Black and Blue Senko Carolina Rigged and the third bite was on a Black and Blue Senko Weightless Wacky rigged. (Can't believe I missed that bite) but, that's why they call it fishing and not catching.

[Nitrofreak]

How long was the leader?

Were you using a brass colored C-rig ? the fish may have been picking up the weight and not the bait, if that was happening I normally tie a drop shot hook just above the weight to catch those LOL.

[Mumpy]

The leader I felt was too long, it was about 3', I shortened it. The C-Rig was using a 1oz Brass weight with a Glass Bead and I'm positive they were hitting the worm because on the hit that I got on the senko I only got back half the Senko!

All in all though I'm happy with that area, I like the point I was fishing, Although I didn't get to fish the Original Main point, I got to see it in person and I liked the looks of it. The Dock that was near by looks to be outstanding and shad were moving in that area like MAD right before dark so I just have a good feeling about that area during day break.

[Mumpy]

Ok, so I think I've got it.

One side will say Old Memories

The Other side I would like to say:

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~Clarence Budington Kelland

What ever Font you choose will be fine, as long as it is all the same.

Man I can't wait to see this thing finished!

[Nitrofreak]

The leader I felt was too long, it was about 3', I shortened it. The C-Rig was using a 1oz Brass weight with a Glass Bead and I'm positive they were hitting the worm because on the hit that I got on the senko I only got back half the Senko!

All in all though I'm happy with that area, I like the point I was fishing, Although I didn't get to fish the Original Main point, I got to see it in person and I liked the looks of it. The Dock that was near by looks to be outstanding and shad were moving in that area like MAD right before dark so I just have a good feeling about that area during day break.

Try cutting back to about 18 inch's on the C-rig.

At the dock, if you saw shad, I would try a small crank bait or a small spinner first, don't be afraid to fish the spinner like a jig if the bite is slow.

Good luck and be safe !!!