200racing Posted June 19, 2012 Posted June 19, 2012 so saturday i went out on the alabama river. while out we were checked by the game warden. in the chit-chat he said others where doing good throwing cranks on points, near creeks. as said in the title all the points are a soft mud bottom with no structure in murky water. since there is nothing to bang the bait into. what would be a good strategy gringing it against the bottom? burn it ? use a silent bait to sneak up on them and get a reaction bite?or just shut-up and fish? Quote
Super User Bassn Blvd Posted June 19, 2012 Super User Posted June 19, 2012 just shut-up and fish. Quote
senko_77 Posted June 19, 2012 Posted June 19, 2012 There are plenty of times when the bass will position themselves on bare bottom structure. In my experience, this happens when there is bait in the area. The bait acts in a way like structure, drawing the bass in and getting them to position nearby, kind of like how bass will congregate near a stump, tree, or grass. They may also be on those bare, shallow points due to the current, since you said you were fishing a river. I would suggest trying the techniques you mentioned along with trying a super slow retrieve. Between burning your bait, using a silent version and a loud rattling version, and trying a crawling retrieve, you should be able to dial into what the fish on those shallow points want from your crankbait. Another thing I would suggest is to make sure your bait is digging the bottom, like you said in your original post. Most of the time this is real important, especially since you mentioned there was little to no cover present. The bait grinding on the bottom will cause it to bounce erratically, similar to if your crankbait were to hit a piece of wood or other cover. As far as color goes, I would start with some sort of craw color. Maybe something with a red or orange or yellow in it. If that doesn't work, try your normal shad colors and bright colors like chartreuse/blue back. If there is current present, I would mainly concentrate on positioning your boat on the down current side of the point and retrieve it with the current. This should be the direction the bass are facing, since current brings food their way. if they won't eat the crank, don't hesitate to throw some sort of spinnerbait or chatterbait, then follow that up with a jig or soft plastic. Good luck, my man! Quote
Hyrule Bass Posted June 19, 2012 Posted June 19, 2012 i thought the points were the structure... Quote
M-D Posted June 19, 2012 Posted June 19, 2012 I like to use a crank that really digs in and bounces around and especially if a mud line develops due to wind / boat traffic. Quote
senko_77 Posted June 19, 2012 Posted June 19, 2012 i thought the points were the structure... Thanks for catching the mistake. You could say the bait is another form of structure or a form of cover on that structure. I will try to be more specific in what I post next time. Lol. What is your suggestion for the OP, Red Earth?? Quote
Hyrule Bass Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 Thanks for catching the mistake. You could say the bait is another form of structure or a form of cover on that structure. I will try to be more specific in what I post next time. Lol. What is your suggestion for the OP, Red Earth?? in the OPs own words, just shut up and fish lol. really though, it wouldnt hurt to try the game wardens advice. just throw cranks on points. a crank doesnt have to bang off of anything to be effective, though at times it is what draws the strike. ive caught fish on cranks that come in contact with nothing but the water im fishing though. but the OP wont really know a true pattern without actually going to said points and cranking them, from there he can find out if the crank scraping the bottom is drawing the strike or if it some other variance of retrieval. there are several variables here. one being scraping the bottom may or may not produce fish as opposed to say a retrieve in the middle of the water column. another could be scraping the bottom draws strikes from the bigger fish and not scrapping it could draw smaller fish or vice versa... 1 Quote
Chattahoochee Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 I came in 4th in a tournament on Lake Eufuala last saturday fishing a single sandy\muddy point. The fish were supsended about 12 feet in 18 feet of water. I worked a 5xd almost like a jerkbait. Lots of starting / stopping. Worked like a charm even though i was never diggin into the bottom. I guess the stopping is much like the hitting a rock and stopping. Quote
Kyle Mahaffey Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 A crawdad colored crank, that will make sure that its burning against the floor. Quote
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