Powerplant Lake Trip

[ostate_hayes]

Alright yall I will be goin to Lake Konawa in Oklahoma and I was wanderin if yall have any tips, experience with this lake, or anything to help me. Just in case youre wandrin, I will be in a bass tracker I think 18 feet. This seems like the perfect lake for me (my strongsuit is flippin and pitchin) and the forecast is showin the weather will be nice (although it IS Oklahoma  )! Since its a powerplant lake, the intake side is cooler and the outtake side is warmer and I read some could already be spawnin. Any tips on lures, techniques, where in the lake to fish, etc would help and be greatly appreciated! Thank yall!

[papajoe222]

Well, I'm going to chime in on this one with the little experience I have on power plant lakes up here.  I'm not familiar with the lake you mention, but I assume that the lake is either divided somewhat between the intake and output sides, or there is a considerable distance between them.

That being the case, current flow will play a big part in your approach to catching. You'll want to focus on areas of increased current, or areas that contain obstructions that will redirect the current, especially if you plan to target smallies.

Areas such as between islands, points, shallow bars, are all areas that will increase the flow of water. Deep holes, wider sections of the lake, etc. will slow the flow.The exception, especially for largemouth, would be spawning fish avoiding current. Here again current, or lack of it, plays a big part.

The best advice I can give you is to fish it similar to the way you'd fish a gently flowing river. If you'll be flipping and pitching in current areas, the front side of anything that breaks the current will hold active smallies and the down current sid will hold both neutral smallmouth and active largemouth. 

Check your local fishing reports, as I would think that the smallies have finished spawning and it's also possible that some of the largemouth have too.

[Bluebasser86]

I fish power plant lakes all winter long. For me one of the main keys is usually finding the optimal sized shad. By that I mean those 3-6 inch shad that bass love to eat. If you find those, you'll find the fish. If the plant has been running all winter keeping the water warm, they probably will be in prespawn by then. I've never fished the lake you're going to but moving baits like squarebills, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, traps, swimbaits, and jerkbaits are my favorites at the power plant lakes.

[livetofish28]

They have the potential to be from pre spawn to spawn to post spawn depending on the water temp if people are saying that they see them spawning thhen the big females have probably already spawned 

 

 

   tight lines 

    Andrew

[BigBassBarry]

Make sure you bring Swim baits and spinner baits that is what they have been catching em on at that lake recently.

[flyingmonkie]

One of my new favorite lakes!  Fished it about a half-dozen times this past year and haven't been skunked yet.

 

You can't lose in the outtake channel - I usually start there.  Square bills, lipless cranks, and spinner baits should produce in there.  Second stop would be a hump at the end of a point (marked with a buoy) that's on the north-half of the lake (you'll pass it as you leave the outtake and move clockwise around the lake to the intake).  Shaky head or deep crank usually works there.  I'd make sure and stop by the d**n, as water will still probably be cold.  I was there in January and water temp was mid-40s... power plant wasn't keeping it as warm as I thought.  I've also heard the large cove nearest the south boat ramp is good.

All else fails, the entire shoreline is covered in cattails.  If water is warmer than expected and they are playing shallow, it's a fun lake for flippin.

 

Have fun and lemme know how it goes.

[ATX]

use your confidence baits.  anywhere i go for the first time i keep a  square billed crank, 3/8oz jig and flipping tube ready to go.  then ill adjust my pattern as i learn the lake.  im no pro, but i do my best when i use what has prevailed time and time again for me. 

[ostate_hayes]

One of my new favorite lakes!  Fished it about a half-dozen times this past year and haven't been skunked yet.

 

You can't lose in the outtake channel - I usually start there.  Square bills, lipless cranks, and spinner baits should produce in there.  Second stop would be a hump at the end of a point (marked with a buoy) that's on the north-half of the lake (you'll pass it as you leave the outtake and move clockwise around the lake to the intake).  Shaky head or deep crank usually works there.  I'd make sure and stop by the d**n, as water will still probably be cold.  I was there in January and water temp was mid-40s... power plant wasn't keeping it as warm as I thought.  I've also heard the large cove nearest the south boat ramp is good.

All else fails, the entire shoreline is covered in cattails.  If water is warmer than expected and they are playing shallow, it's a fun lake for flippin.

 

Have fun and lemme know how it goes.

Okay thanks I'll try those!  What boat ramp should I take off from? We should be gettin there before the sun rises.

[flyingmonkie]

I always use the south ramp.

[ostate_hayes]

Alrighty I just left the lake

We launched the boat at the north ramp at 8:15 (kinda got there late) and we went across closer to the discharge channel

We went all around the cattail sand into the channel flippin the cattails and throwin lipless cranks and square bills around the outside of the cattails and the drop offs in the discharge canal.

Then we saw two guys holding two 6-8 pound lmb's and so we went a hundred yards or so west of em where we thought it was about the same depth and we casted a bunch and nothin.

But that whole time we were there the wind was poundin us. Probobly around 30 mph winds with up to 45-50 mph gusts we decided to call it a day.

So not the best trip ever but we are goin to try it again in a month or so when the bass are beddin cuz the cattail were great lookin

[flyingmonkie]

Tough break man... the wind is absolutely HORRIBLE today... it's gusting close to 50 as we speak.

 

Last time I went (January), we battled wind too.  Gusts were probably in the 30-35 range.  Sure does make it rough.  Konawa is a flatland lake too, so there is very little - almost no - protection from the wind.

 

So no luck???  What was the water temp?  Mid 50s?

[ostate_hayes]

Water tip in bay where discharge channel came into was 50.2-50.6 so not quite pre spawn

But ya I'll go back and hammer those cattail cuz those looked magical! Hahaha

[BigBassBarry]

I went today 3-20-14. Water temp was 53-55 in discharge. fished 2 hrs. Blanked.  I went Monticello in texas 2 weeks ago and water temp at discharge was low 70s.  Must not be running the discharge.