thunderballs Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 Having some difficulty (understandably so I think) catching fish at this new spot. Old quarry, extremely clear 15-20' visibility, goes from shoreline to 30'+ in about 10 yards, no cover to speak of and if there was the top of the tree is 50' under water. The only thing we have caught a couple on in 4 trips is dropshot. Maybe this place is not going to produce numbers, but I'm looking for ideas anyway haha. If you give up on fishing and just go look around you can see big (20"+) maybe bigger as they are 20' away. So it would be nice to catch some of them... Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 Having some difficulty (understandably so I think) catching fish at this new spot. Old quarry, extremely clear 15-20' visibility, goes from shoreline to 30'+ in about 10 yards, no cover to speak of and if there was the top of the tree is 50' under water. The only thing we have caught a couple on in 4 trips is dropshot. Maybe this place is not going to produce numbers, but I'm looking for ideas anyway haha. If you give up on fishing and just go look around you can see big (20"+) maybe bigger as they are 20' away. So it would be nice to catch some of them... Are you fishing from a boat? Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 YeaMy advice would be to continue fishing a drop shot. Maybe experiment with lure size and color. If you have a fishfinder, I would spend some time just idling around the lake, maybe 15-30 minutes, just looking for difference, find something isolated, maybe a channel, drop off, or flat. I'm not the most experienced guy here, but that's my advice. I yield the floor to Deep, AJ, WRB, and Catt. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 During the Dog Days of Summer - night ops is often a good bet. I do it quite a bit late through July and right into September in waters very similar what you've described.. Fish will often move pretty shallow on dark no moon nights. Topwater, spinnerbaits, cranks, jigs and mid-sized swimbaits all produce. If I haven't been out on the water I plan on fishing at night for a bit, some daylight scouting often helps eliminate water during the night trip. Getting there early and finding bait in an area is often key. Then returning to these spots has been good. Of course the presents of crayfish in areas where any weeds meet wood, docks or rocks which is in close proximity to the deeper areas (which where you're fishing is probably everywhere) where you think the fish may be holding (or suspending) during the day) are always a good spot to drag a jig & craw. Good Luck A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 I'd also like to add Sam, and RoLo. I apologize to any other Super-Members that share their hard earned knowledge that I forgot to mention 1 Quote
thunderballs Posted June 30, 2015 Author Posted June 30, 2015 Oh and we caught them on a wacky rigged stick bait fished on the drop shot in baby bass color. Any other ideas on what bait to try? Quote
Super User MickD Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 Try concentrating on very long casts. Sounds like what you're doing is OK if you can keep the fish from seeing you. Night sounds like a good idea, too. If you find a solution, let us know. Very clear waters can be really tough. Quote
Super User buzzed bait Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 i'd throw in a rage tail craw or something similar on the drop shot.... Quote
Super User Catt Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 Super member? Don't know what that is or how I'm qualified! Observation 15-30 minutes aint gonna cut it; hours to days will! As I sit behind the console while my boat is being backed down the ramp & as soon as my outboard prop gets wet I down two things. I start my outboard & turn my depth finder on. While running or idling I'm constantly scanning the depth finder; when the trolling motor is down I'm scanning the bow unit. Every time I catch a bass or multiple bass & before I move locations I idle over & thorougly scan that area. Irregularites Do not look for the normal, instead look for the abnormal; it can be washouts created by runoff, isolated pieces of cover; anything different from the surrounding structure or cover. It does not have to be dramatic differences; subtle differences attract bass like a magnet. 1 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 The less time a bass has to look at a lure will "sometimes" get more bites . Its not always slowing down with finesse baits . Quote
Nice_Bass Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 If you are fishing a strip pit and it does not have any weeds, etc. the first couple of feet off the bank than about all you can do is cover water parallel to the bank as that is the main structure of the lake aside from the extremely deep steps and other structure at the very bottom- most likely not many food sources at that level even with clear water as it is not a very fertile place. Do look for mini "points" "cuts" or possibly where the entrance to the pit was as there will be steps/ramps in that area that would be different. If you can look up what the pits look like prior to filling in with water so you have a good idea and match that to your electronics if using them. I have not fished pits in years but they can be fun once figured out. I would not focus on the baits but rather where the fish are. Quote
BassTravis Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 A 3/4 oz Red Eye Shad in a natural color would probably work pretty good as well once you locate the fish. I often have my best luck with the yo-yo technique with this bait, especially in deeper water. Quote
Super User Fishes in trees Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 Unless they left all their machines in the pit when they were finished, there has to be some sort or ramp somewhere in that pit where they got their gear out. That is your primary shallow to deep transition zone. It is most likely there somewhere, just got to find it. It is unlikely that all the walls of the pit are perfectly steep, there are some shelves here and there. Back when I fished pits often, my primary search bait was a shad rap, fished on spinning gear and 8 lb test and I would parallel the banks until I found something interesting. If there is any vegetation, that would indicate a bottom softer than rock and I'd spend time looking there. 1 Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 Unless they left all their machines in the pit when they were finished, there has to be some sort or ramp somewhere in that pit where they got their gear out.If they left their machines in their I'm tho king that they would hold fish! Quote
Super User Senko lover Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 I would be throwing a jig, texas rig, or shakeyhead. Might even try deep-cranking, too. Good luck! Quote
thunderballs Posted June 30, 2015 Author Posted June 30, 2015 I will take the advice guys thanks! Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted June 30, 2015 Super User Posted June 30, 2015 I can only say what worked for me...once...20 years ago. Live bait. Actually dead. People said there were no bass in this quarry but there were catfish, so i caught a bream and cut into small pieces. I dropped the bait down maybe 30' deep and BAM! Bass, release, repeat. And there were people swimming in there at the time. So, maybe lower some live bait to the right depth. Or maybe a jigging spoon. Quote
thunderballs Posted June 30, 2015 Author Posted June 30, 2015 I think the only love bait you can use is worms. Definitely no minnows, and I don't know about cut bait. Worth checking into though. 1 Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted July 1, 2015 Super User Posted July 1, 2015 I think the only love bait you can use is worms. Definitely no minnows, and I don't know about cut bait. Worth checking into though. You can't use a small live bream? Is that illegal where you are? Quote
thunderballs Posted July 1, 2015 Author Posted July 1, 2015 It is in this lake. Its owned by a town and they have some weird rules. No minnows No night fishing 17' maximum Electric only 55lb max ( one of the rules is no reckless driving, like you can do that in an outfitted fishing boat with 2 people and a 55lb thrust motor) Must wear life jacket at all times Some others, so they take an already difficult lake and make it harder haha Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted July 1, 2015 Super User Posted July 1, 2015 Sounds like it's suffering from extremely clear water as most quarries are. I watched Jimmy Houston using 1/8 oz RoadRunners on a quarry for crappie and he kept catching bass. I took his advice and used some on a friend's small pond and caught a lot bass-all smaller, but that's what his pond has. If the dropshot idea works, downsizing probably is the trick. Maybe even crappie jigs. The thing about RRs is you need to fish it very slow. The downside I find is in using thin mono. It stretches so much you will miss the hookset on some fish. The live nightcrawler is still on the table too. Quote
Adleyfishes Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 I have a similar situation but my quarry is a little murkier and has a high blue gill population. The bass are decent sized during the day but in late afternoon and night they get larger. But there is one problem. The bass are kinda scarce, can I do something about this? Quote
thunderballs Posted July 2, 2015 Author Posted July 2, 2015 Yea I forgot to mention that too. If you downsize the baits, the gills bother you. Quote
thunderballs Posted July 4, 2015 Author Posted July 4, 2015 Went today and didn't catch a thing. Wacky senko on drop shot Nose hooked senko on drop shot Nose hooked trick worm on drop shot Powerbait minnow on drop shot Owner minnow in drop shot Natural colored deep cranks Couple rattle traps Texas rigged rage craw Texas rigged senko Texas rigged pit chunk Various jigs and trailers Spinnerbaits Paddle tail swim bait Couple short strikes but no hook ups Maybe today was an off day, but I'm getting pretty close to giving up on it. Had to buy an out of state fishing license so I can't give up easy haha. Quote
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