Help With A Lake

[GADawgs]

I am on vacation at a super clear lake that has lots of milfoil. I caught 4 today in about 3 hours, 2 on a lizard and 2 on a jig. The milfoil can stretch out to depths on over 20 feet. I don't have any electronics on my kayak and want to see if anyone has advice on where to look or what to throw.

Water temp is in the mid 60's

[OroBass]

I'm in California with lots of clear water. Try natural colors like green pumpkin. I'm catching a lot of my bass on points and deeper weed edges. Lots of Texas rigged worms and jigs. Try downsizing your baits. Fluorocarbon line helps. Good luck

[papajoe222]

Two quick questions. How thick are the weeds?  Do the weeds grow to the surface, or is there open water above them? If the weeds are thick and you're not accustomed to getting down into the heavy stuff, stick with the edges both shallow and deep. If there is an abrupt edge, look for irregularities in it and concentrate on those.  If there is a layer of a foot or more of open water above them, a Fluke or Senko are hard to beat when it comes to catching numbers.  For thick or weeds that surface a hollow body frog, or speed worm can draw some explosive strikes. Be sure to pause them over any obvious openings in the weeds and use tackle stout enough to either get them out of the thick stuff, or hold them on until you can go to them.

[GADawgs]

Joe, the weeds are just below the surface or at surface level in the shallows and continue as you go deeper. In the deeper water there can be 10-15 ft of clear water above the weeds.

Thanks for the advice guys, I will be back at it again today!

[WRB]

Water temps in the 60's in July?

Are you catching smallmouth or largemouth bass?

A bluegill colored chatter bait with a bluegill colored 4" to 5" soft plastic small swimbait (Keitech minnow bluegill flash) for a trailer should be good run just above the weed tops.

A 1/4 oz drop shot weight and 6" straight tail worm drop,shotted in the weed pockets should also work.

Tom

[GADawgs]

Tom, the lake is in Vermont and air temps now are in the high 70's. From what I understand the lake still had ice this year until late April. Thanks for the advice!

[WRB]

Tom, the lake is in Vermont and air temps now are in the high 70's. From what I understand the lake still had ice this year until late April. Thanks for the advice!

Your bass could be in the spawning cycle, look at those areas, back of wind protected coves and deeper water next to them, both lures and presentations should work for spawn cycle bass.

Tom

[senile1]

Tom makes a good point.  You could still have a few fish in prespawn, a number doing the dirty thang, and some in post-spawn with those temperatures.