Fall Fishing A Reservoir With No Shad

[BennyB]

Hi fellow fishermen and fisherwomen,

 

   I have started my bass fishing this summer and have become addicted in pursuit of the lake monsters.  I have found a great reservoir near my house, with a great population of trophy largemouth in it.  There are 10 lb+ bass taken here fairly often.  Anyways, I am trying to figure out exactly where the baitfish can and will be in the early fall, consisting of bluegill, crappie and red ear sunfish.  I have had a rough go my last couple weeks trying to find the fish.  Also, what baits would you recommend, the usual rat-l-traps, spinnerbaits?  Or anything else?  Just curious if you gurus can give me a heads up?  I appreciate it!

     Ben

[mkfriedrich]

if i were you, I would try a jig, Fluke, and spinnerbaits. Depending on water clarity, figure out which color would be best. Darker condition= darker colors, Lighter  conditions= lighter color.

[alexandboi]

I mainly fish a reservoir that does not have shad, and similarly the main forage is bluegill. I fish from the shore the majority of the time though and here's what seems to work for me. I find that the baitfish seem to be more abundant near the boat ramps. So you can maybe start there. For lures I'd say a fluke or some sort of soft jerkabit should be fine. Just make sure you do not get in the way of boaters and stay off to either side of the ramp and start casting. I've been doing very well this year using this method and have caught several 5+lbers in a highly pressured lake. I'm not sure if there is trout stockings where you fish, but I have caught several big girls near the boat ramp too since that is where they release the trout and the big girls get easy meals as the trout are released.

[BennyB]

I mainly fish a reservoir that does not have shad, and similarly the main forage is bluegill. I fish from the shore the majority of the time though and here's what seems to work for me. I find that the baitfish seem to be more abundant near the boat ramps. So you can maybe start there. For lures I'd say a fluke or some sort of soft jerkabit should be fine. Just make sure you do not get in the way of boaters and stay off to either side of the ramp and start casting. I've been doing very well this year using this method and have caught several 5+lbers in a highly pressured lake. I'm not sure if there is trout stockings where you fish, but I have caught several big girls near the boat ramp too since that is where they release the trout and the big girls get easy meals as the trout are released.

 

It is a 540 acre lake holding stained water, with just one dock.  No trout in the lake for feeders.  It's also an electric only lake, so there is no boat traffic.  I think tomorrow I am going to have to hit around the dock quite a bit just to check it out. 

[alexandboi]

Well if there is only one dock then that makes it easier, since you won't have to check more than one haha. The reservoir I fish has become a tiny mud puddle this year and I still do pretty well using what I said earlier. Not sure if it will be the same there but I usually see the bass hitting the baitfish like crazy around the ramps. Or you can just walk around and see if there are any baitfish gathered up around there. Just cast a lure there and hold on. 

[cjam93]

Hey man what is the name of the place you are fishing? Im In Burlington and have been fishing the last year or two, I may have fished the spot you are talking about and be able to help you out some if so.

[cjam93]

Dang man sorry that is one of the few places I actually have not fished around here, have you seen ncangler? Its a fishing forum dedicated to just places in NC, you could maybe get some more specific help there.

[BennyB]

Ya, thanks guys. I will keep working this lake and see what I can learn!!!!

[Raul]

Where I´m at there´s no shad, my favorite most bass catchingest crankbait is a Rapala Shad Rap size 7 SD which means SHAD.

 

There´s a blow to chin to the "match the hatch" school of thought nonsense. 

 

Fish with what you want, most of the times it will work.