Question Of Tactics

[Tyson Holman]

I have been trying to plan fishing trips based on the time of year, type of baitfish, and other factors. I want to make sure my tactic is best considering some of the factors. I am planning to go a lake known as selmac in oregon. It has been known to produce some massive bass. I plan to go in april, Which is durring the prespawn stage. There is also going to be a mass stocking of legel sized trout. They stock them pretty regularily throughout the year. So My assumtion is that there is a good opportunuty to catch huge bass that are feeding on the sudden abundance on trout. I plan to use a 8' savage gear 3D trout. What are your thoughs on this? Do you think this is the right tactic for the situation? what is your exerience when fishing right after a stocking?

 

appreiate the help.

[Senko lover]

Not to be smart, but seems to me that it's a "duh" situation: they're eating trout, you're throwing one of the most realistic trout imitations on the market. Win-win! Have fun.

[Tyson Holman]

_{Well thats just it. It should be simple. But in the past It will seem like everything is in place. Yet I cant catch a fish. It seems like I cant bridge the gap between knowledge of fish, and catching fish. Its frustrating when you think you have got it all in place, location, time of year, baitfish, water temp. And still cant catch fish.  Maybe its just me. lol But I still appreciate the help.}

[ABW]

Wouldn't hurt to try.. if it doesn't work out then fish what you have confidence in

[gulfcaptain]

#1 you need to know when they stock.  Fish generally somehow have an idea of when they are going to show up especially if it's a regular occurance.  Depending on the size of the lake and the amount planted can have an effect on the bite.  Smaller bodies of water, normally the week before a plant and the day of the plant are good days. The day after and the week that follows, well not so much as the fish have eaten their fill and are now digesting so aren't really in a feeding mood.  If it's a big lake this isn't going to be an issue.  I wouldn't fish right were they stocked if it was a couple days prior to your arrival and would start outside that area of the lake, fishing swimbaits on points and likely prespawn staging areas.  Just because the fish eat trout doesn't make them a sure bet.  And if you are going to fish a swimbait, I would look into a Line Thru as well.  Sometimes the boot tail 3D trout baits aren't what they want earlier in the season and the more suttle action of a Hudd or Line Thru may produce better. 

[Tyson Holman]

Thank you! I really appreciate it. They stock this lake with trout once in march, april, and may. Im pretty sure they do this every year. So it should be pretty well integrated into the bass to feed on trout in spring. Hope I can catch em. Any advice on retrieving the swimbait? I would assume a slow and steady retreive. But im new to a swimbait.

[papajoe222]

You may be planning your trip for April, but unless it's toward the end of that month don't expect water temps to be much above 55. Also keep in mind that stocked trout, especially immediately after stocking, tend to follow the break lines closest to the stocking site.  Notice I said the break lines. Find the stocking site on a topo map, look for the nearest depth change line and follow it. The bass will be more active and willing to move shallow the warmer the water temp.

I'm not familiar with bass activity levels on lakes that trout are stocked in, so I can't say if a stocking will draw the bass shallow or not. The only reason I mention this is because the stocking of minnows that we do up north is done from shore in very shallow 40-45 degree water so as to give them a chance to disperse as the bass don't move up that shallow until the water temps. are in the 60's

[WRB]

Cold water lake, the LMB are northern strain, would be surprised if anything over 8 lbs would be in Selmac.

You need to determine what size the planted trout are. In April the bass should be pre spawn and eating. I would down size to a 68 Huddleston Delux ROF 12 and and fish in the area they plant the trout and every major point in this same lake, it's only 190 acres.

Swimbait fishing requires dedication to stay with it and retreive slowly and steadily letting the lure do it's thing.

Video's of swimbaits doing tricks look impressive, rarely triggers strikes. Make sure you have good polarized sunglasses and watch your lure for followers.

Tom

[Crank Bait Nut]

If You Have One , 4 to 6 inch Jointed Swim Bait , Slow Cranking It Parallel Along The Shore Line.  In Pre-Spawn Could Be killer.

 

Mike

[RSM789]

...Fish generally somehow have an idea of when they are going to show up ...

 

Most bass have smartphones & can check the trout stocking schedule online.  

 

Often when the bass aren't biting, it is because they are entirely focused playing "Angry Birds" or Candy Crush".