Clear Water Strip Pit Tactics?

[John105]

Recently found a lake that used to be a strip pit in KY. Water is extremely clear with thick grass along the edges (Comes out about 5 feet from bank) and really steep drop-offs from the bank. Basically, that grass comes out 5 feet and then it goes to 30-40 feet deep. I searched and read a lot about punching, but I'm not sure whether it's a good strategy with that little grass. So far, I've used black/blue jigs and caught some small fish, but never along the steep parts of the bank. 

 

I have no experience with fishing this type of lake, clear water especially, so I was hoping someone might have some ideas for an approach to try. 

[papajoe222]

Hopefully you are fishing from a boat as shore fishing really limits your options. Most strip pits have a steep drop a short way from shore, but there are a few areas that have a slope vs a drop to the deeper water. One is at the end of a pit where it either bends or turns and another pot begins. With the clarity of water you'll be able to see this from shore. Some multiple pits have small cuts that join them. When mining these pits there was normally a dump area used for surface soil and when mining was complete, that mound was leveled by pushing the soil back into the pit if they hadn't hit the water table.

All of these are prime feeding/spawning areas Another common feature is a ledge just out from that initial drop at the shoreline. If you do have a boat you can target non aggressive fish that will stage on them.

If you are fishing from shore, minnow baits and top water fished parallel to shore can entice fish. If you can locate one of the other areas I mentioned, a four inch stick worm T-rigged can be a killer.

Keep your baits smaller as well as your line size and you should be okay.

[Th1317]

drop-shotting and senkos along the edge of the weedline

[John105]

I'm fishing from a boat. I've seen a couple of really nice bass trolling along the edge of the steep dropoffs, but I haven't been able to figure out how to get them to bite. Will definitely try the senko idea. 

[indianabasshunter]

As the water starts to cool keep a lipless crank bait handy on a high speed reel.

 

You can thank me later...

[aceman387]

I fish a lot of clear strip pits and i have the best luck with a 4' wacky rigged yum dinger in watermelon color.I would pick up some yamamoto shad shape worm and rig them weightless on a 1/0 ewg hook and toss the around the weeds and let them float down slowly.I like using a 2" or 3" watermelon colored grub on a 1/8 oz jig head and toss them out and swim them back.I have caught numerous bass on black & blue jigs also.I use 10# power pro line in the moss green color for line.

[Crookedneck]

8 to 10 lb mono 5" senko baby bass color. Rigged either wacky or weightless t-rigged. Long casts. A little bit of patience & you'll be reeling em in.

[aceman387]

I forgot to mention the drop shot with either a small robo worm or a shad shape worm.