Tough Bass, Need Some Help.

[Bair]

Sorry G Blair, would you tell me what jerkbaits do you use?

When I personally can get them, I use Lucky Craft Pointers but otherwise i also use the Rick Clunn RC STX jerkbaits and the Smithwick Rogues. I feel that the STX's and the Rogues are pretty decent for the money.Color wise I really can't help, were just in different places.Suggestion though, is find out the species of baitfish and replicate it as closly as possible. I feel it makes a difference

Id try something they have likely never seen like a big swimbait

 

Try going at night also

X2 on this. Do this if you have the means.

[WRB]

Get a simple swimming pool thermometer, the water temps are critical when trying to figure our the seasonal periods. Check the water temps in the morning.

60 to 65 the bass are close to spawning, over 67 they are more than likely done. Look for beds in the shallower wind protected areas, beds can be anywhere from 1 foot of water to about 8 feet. Beds are usually about 1 1/2' to 2 1/2' in diameter with a smaller male bass sitting near it. If you see lots of smaller 1' diameter beds, those are bluegill beds and the bass are finished spawning.

From shore a T-rigged or C-rigged soft politic worm 6" to 8" long work well. Fan cast the area. Again any points near the spawning coves or any deeper water in those areas should produce results.

Translucent neutral colors like cinnamon with blue neon blood line or purple with blue neon blood line should work good there.

Tom

[Parache]

Ok guys now I have things more clear I will try every suggestion and techniques you said with dedication, I think I am going to the lake on the weekend.

If I could I would go fishing 2 or 3 times a week but I study Civil Engineering and engineering it's not easy.

Any other advise is welcome guys and again thank you all.

[Sam]

Suggestions:

1. Wait until later in the day after the sun rise and heats up the water to fish.

2. Look for rocks and trees in the water that can heat up and hold the heat.

3. Fish the western and northern sides of the lake where the sun heats up the water the fastest.

4. With the water temperatures in the 40s you need to consider using a flat sided crankbait or lipless crankbait. If you have a "stickbait" throw it. A suspending stickbait (red eyes) fished with different cadences until the bass tell you what cadence they want can be productive.

5. With the water being so clear you need to consider using a natural color or something with blue or light blue in it.

6. Have you determined what forage is in the lake? Crawfish? Shad? Bluegills? Bream? Minnows? Minic their color if possible along with the natural colors of other fish in the lake. One day fish for the forage and see what you can catch. Then mimic the forage.

7. Use lighest line your rod will accept. Go down to 8 to 10 pound test.

8. Fish s-l-o-w. Slow retrieves.

9. Throw a jig and pig. Blue/Black and Brown/Orange with a small blue or brown Zoom Super Chunk as your pig. Don't hop it. Just let it sit and make small movements keeping the jig on the bottom. Fish it all over the place but focus on points and structure. You may want to use a hair jig if you have one.

10. Consider a drop shot rig with 6-pound test. Use a Robo worm or other small worm and let the sinker stay on the bottom and allow the lake's current to move the plastic. Return the bait to youself s-l-o-w, letting it just sit there for 30 to 60 seconds before you move it again. Do not hope the jig. Just pull it along the bottom when you move it.

11. Ever heard of dead sticking? Using a Texas-rig and add the worm of your choice and throw it out. Let it sit for one, two or three minutes or longer. Twitch it every so often. Just let it sit there. Warning: you can go nuts doing this but it works in cold water.

 

Fishing in cold water is frustrating. The bass are holding and not expending any energy unless they can move short distances to hit your bait. They will look for warm water so look for them in the shallows.

 

A fast moving bait will be passed up by a bass but they will hit a slow moving bait so fish all baits s-l-o-w.

 

When you catch a bass check it's stomach by gently squeezing the belly. If it is soft then they are eating small prey. If it is crunchy it is probably crawfish. Both crunchy and soft it could be bream or bluegills. "Match the Hatch" meaning change your bait and presentation to try to match what they are eating.

 

Remember to "fan" the bank from left to right and then right to left. ANY FISH YOU CATCH REMEMBER ALL THE DETAILS.

 

This is called "pattering" and if you catch one bass ten feet off the bank then the other bass will be ten feet off the bank. And on and on and on. Keep throwing to the "pattern" until it changes and then find the next pattern.

 

As summer approaches and the water warms the bass and other fish will be come more active and you will have a lot of fun catching them under the hot sun. Have your girlfriend join you wearing her bikini for good luck!!! She can get a nice tan as you fish for those monster bass.

 

Always have a needle nose pliers with you to help remove the hooks.

 

Good luck and be sure to keep us up to date as you progress through the year.

[Parache]

Thank you Sam and of course I will keep you informed about my progress tomorrow I am going to the lake, hope I can catch something I will let you know probably with some pictures if I am lucky enough

Regards!

[rabidsquirrel]

Fish it at night... If guys are harvesting fish mainly during the day, then the bigger bass in that lake are likely feeding at night - especially when there is a full moon. 

[Parache]

Thank You Rabid!

[Parache]

Ok guys, i went to the lake today and i notice that there were plenty bass fingerlings on the shore from sizes about to 3 to 5 inches, so this means that bass are spawning now or they must be done?

 

Also notice today that the bass are more active now, at 12 PM there was a school of bass jumping out of the water so i dicided to tie a topwater on my line and tied up a zara spook jr baby bass, the bass followed the lure without hiting it tried walking the dog slower, stop & pause but nothing happened, as the water in the lake is very clear i switched to a rebel jumping minnow with a silver belly after a few casts i could catch two bass with the jumping minnow but nothing else for the day.

 

There was a guy with a speargun that had a few bass i ask him if i could open one of them to see what they were feeding and found a small fish that i took a picture to show it to you guys bcause i dont know what it is, it seems to me like a silver carp fingerling but that is just my guessing.

 

There is also i picture of the first bass i caught (Both fish i caught were released & let me tell you those guys were looking at me like what the hell is he doing lol)

 

 

 

[PABASS]

That is a fine looking bass, very nice colors.  That's a shad for sure, maybe a thredfin, you could try jerkbaits,crankbaits, spinnerbaits and chatter baits in that color..  Sounds like Post Spawn to me but up here my lakes and such are still frozen so its hard to say, do you see any beds and or bass near the fry?  Many articles on this site for post spawn patterns but I would be matching the hatch.  Top water February lol crazy, anyway you could also try a Rebel Pop-R, I fish a lake where only topwater I can get bite on is a chuger style bait.

[Parache]

Thank You PABASS i need to get some decent jerkbaits because I am short of them only have two floating rebel minnows I think I will buy some smithwick rogues.

As I saw the little fish that the bass ate a shad now that I know what it is, after about an hour without any strikes I switched the lure for a Rapala minnow rap bleeding shad but had no luck, spinnerbait, dropshot 5" senko watermelon seed, no luck neither, but at least I could catch something even if they were just two fishes, I had been on the lake plenty times before without never catching a bass.