I Need Help, This Lake Is Killing Me

[real_horror_show]

so this: https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=34.071325,-80.935837&spn=0.000453,0.00066&t=h&z=21&layer=c&cbll=34.071325,-80.935837&panoid=zpjWzonOoHVrB283xMgq-A&cbp=12,344.99,,1,2.01 is where i have been fishing. I have a boat and I am able to go anywhere in this lake, except for the shallows which are covered in a thick grassy bush kind of like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?start=64&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=677&tbm=isch&tbnid=VVmzyHLEOMitnM:&imgrefurl=http://www.aquatic-experts.com/freshwater_aquatic_plant_11.html&docid=GzGTSzjLnGIt0M&imgurl=http://www.aquatic-experts.com/AQUATIC-EXPERTS%252520IMAGES/FRESHWATER/FRESHWATER%252520PLANTS/FRESHWATER%252520PLANTS%252520APURE/PLANTS%252520CANO%252520MORROCOY/IMG_1996%252520cw.jpg&w=800&h=600&ei=BVFJUIWrAYS89gTg6oG4DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=397&vpy=125&dur=1112&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=184&ty=79&sig=103423582464151819597&page=4&tbnh=148&tbnw=196&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:19,s:64,i:214. The shoreline of this small "lake" is full of everything you would thhink a bass would want. The water is stained, cant see bait past about a foot. The water temp ranges from 80-83. The lake, at its deepest point is 22 feet. The fish are hanging out between 6-10 feet. I have tried everything, and all summer long, the biggest LMB i have caught have been in the 2-3lb range. I have tried everything that I have, live minnows, crickets, worms, cranks, spinners, buzz, plastic worms, plastic lizards...only baits I havent tried are tubes, jigs and craws, mostly because I dont know how to fish them. I have tried drop shotting, c-rigging, t-rigging, cranking....name it, tried it. Does anybody have any advice, what can I do? I have tried the channel, tried the creek beds, tried the flats, tried the drops, tried Fishing through cover, I am just at a lost. Other people I have talked to say they know that the big boys are out there and that they can be caught but nobody is really offering any info on what to use to catch them. I have only been fishing for a year, but just in the last 5 -6 months have I become really serious about it. help a noob out! Attached are a few pics of the lake itself.

[papajoe222]

I'm going to attempt to answer your inquiry as best as I can based on the limited information you've given us and on my limited knowledge. You say the fish are hanging out in 6-10ft of water. Have you caught fish at that depth? If so, what depth was the bottom when you were fishing the 6-10ft. depth? Of the fish you have been catching, are you talking numbers or an occasional fish here or there?

You also state that you've only been fishing for a year and that may be a big factor in why you haven't caught one of the big boys that live there. I'm not saying that you aren't good, you sure are persistant, what I'm saying is that big fish aren't caught every day by just anyone. You hear of guys catching the fish of a lifetime when they're eight years old on a SpiderMan outfit with a bobber and worm, but that doesn't mean that that little guy will continue to catch monster fish all his life even if he targets lakes with monster fish in it.

Check out the PBs of the members on this forum. Your's, for example, is about as large or maybe even larger than mine, and I've been fishing for over fifty years.

Lastly, know that trophy fish, no matter the species, have likely never had a hook in them or very few. That's how they got to trophy size. If you plan on only targeting trophy fish, count on many a fishless day. If you plan on catching fish with an occasional monster now and then, spend your time on the water increasing your catch and hook-up rates. Your knowledge and skill level will increase and I guarantee you'll hook into a big boy often enough to satisfy your appetite.

[real_horror_show]

What I mean by they are hanging at 6-10 feet, they are suspended in the water between 6-10 when the actual depth is between 15-20 feet. I have caught fish here and there...a couple of Largemouth, a couple Crappie, maybe a perch or two...lots of bluegills. I want to catch more largemouth. I go out at least twice a week on my boat, but fish of the dock just about every night. My PB was a lucky one and was out of a different body of water, a farm pond. I guess im just frustrated because the fish are few and far between...I know they are out there, they just are not taking any of what I am offering.

[WRB]

The most important feature any man made reservoir has is the bottom contour. I didn't open the links, but did look at the photos attached and the lake looks to be close to full pool, definitely a positive.

Summer LMB have a lot of prey choices, it is up to you to determine what the preferred prey choice is at the time you are fishing. Summer is transitioning to fall, so things will change quickly.

The key to catching bass consistantly is to locate active bass. The suspended fish you may have metered on your sonar unit (?) are inactive fish, I have no idea if they are bass or not!

Few questions; describe your fishing tackle and boat. Do you know if this lake has a thread fin shad population? Do you have a topographic map that shows bottom contour in 1 or 2 foot elevations?

Depending on your tackle, let's choose a few lures that should work and stay with those for a few months.

Tom

[Hattrick7]

You've already found where the fish are and that's huge. My question is what is your retrieve like? Is it the same every time or are you mixing it up? When using worms are you fishing it the same way or varying? When using cranks try mixing it up (colors and retrieve). Retrieve, stop, retrieve at various speeds. If using worms fish it slow or with more action. Try using different colored worms and different sizes. If the lake is stained I would use a darker color worm with either blue or red flakes and wacky rig it. If you haven't tried a jig I would try one. That might be the one they're waiting for. There's lots of videos on youtube to learn how to fish them. Good luck!

[roadwarrior]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass/

[Nitrofreak]

Frustration leads to thinking way too much sometimes, slow down and be really patient and give yourself a chance, you have already said you have tried everything, trust me you have not tried everything yet, if the water is stained and you are having trouble, think about this, if you are in a dark room that you have been in 100 times, how long does it take you to find the door?

Usually we will wait for our eyes to adjust and look for a light or something to guide us to some part of that room we want to go, think about a fish in dark or stained water, the first thing those stuborn fish will do is listen for something familure using their sensory along their sides, once they pick up the noise or vibration they move to investigate the sound until they can use their eyes and lock onto a target.

SLOW DOWN and don't get frustrated, find something that will peak their interest, something with a SMALL clicking sound will get their attention, the big ones are silent, slow moving, stealthy machines, they have figured out what others have not, silence is golden.

If you throw top water use long pauses and let the bait sit on top, move it ever so slightly with one, maybe two quick twitches, and let it sit again, and keep repeating and playing with the cadience until you get the right one.

Anything under the surface would make just enough noise to attract attention with small movements so the fish won't have to keep looking for it, give them a chance to find the bait and hone in, a small clicker on a worm rig or a swim jig with a very small clicker swimming by the suspended ones would be my suggestion and things of that nature in colors that will match the forage of that lake.

[sprirobass]

If you have an iphone, download Bill Dance app. There is a video that discuss that technique that you need to go after the suspending bass. The video title is "video tips when fishin gets tough". The technique involves carolina rig and a giant slip bobber and a bobber stopper marked at the depth that you need.

It looks way too cumbersome for me to try but it might be just what you need. Good luck!

[Jesse Ours]

This is just a suggestion and a little unorthodox. But, if they are suspended and inactive alot of times I'll throw on a lipless crank and cast it as far as I can past them, then burn it right threw the middle of them jokers and sometimes they'll just slam it. It doesn't work all the time, I wouldn't even say most of the time, but i have caught several that way. Throwing it past em gives them time to hear it coming. Its what I like to call a "Fingers Crossed Last Resort" technique that I use alot when things get boring. It can sometimes entice the reaction strike.

[NBR]

Suspended anything is tough. Two things I try are a slip bobber and a plastic standard worm or a Senko and a Carolina rig with a minnow bait like a Rapala or a Bomber Long A. The c- helps keep the lure at the desired level. A Bomber Long A or a standard Rapala won't dive to much deeper than the sinker. I use leaders of various lenths or use a carolina keeper to easily vary the leader length.

[mikey5string]

If you're catching bluegill try upsizing your bait. Get some 3/8 oz bullet weights, 4 and 5/0 EWG worm hooks, punch stops and some 10" worms, rage tail lobsters or brush hogs.

Peg the weight near the hook and throw that thing at any cover you see. Let it fall straight down and hop it back in.

Get some 5.5" hollow body swimbaits and some 6/0 keel weighted swimbait hooks. Throw it around cover, over submerged weeds, downed trees etc.

Smaller male bass travel in schools and often suspend to chase baitfish. The big girls are loners. They tuck up in cover and wait for a nice big easy meal.