Help!!!

[Josh Flynn]

I fish the tournaments at Lake Lotawana and I can't seem to get the big bass to bite. I am using the biggest Senkos I can find, but I can't get a bass bigger than 1.7 lbs. I have also been using Jigs, 10.5" worms, spooks, and buzzbaits. Everyone shows up to the weigh-ins with 5 and 6 lb bass and I have no idea how they do it. I have another tournament this Saturday and need some help before this. Here are some stats on the lake to help you out.

 

Water Temp: 80 

Weather: 73-90 Partly Cloudy

Depth Min: 6"

Depth Max: 30'

Docks: Yes. Approx: 500

 

 

Thanks!

[Bluebasser86]

They're probably fishing jigs dragging slowly along the bottom or fishing offshore. I've never fished there bit I'd be willing to help you find them

[Josh Flynn]

Thanks. Would they be fishing crankbaits offshore or what?

[Fishes in trees]

This time of the year, I'd start with fishing the deepest edge of the weed line on points.  If that intersects a little bit above the thermocline, so much the better.  Option B might be to find the brush off the docks.   I'd start by assuming that every dock has brush, probably not directly underneath it, but an easy cast away from it.

[Josh Flynn]

There are a lot of weeds coming up from the bottom and around the docks. They are very thick weeds so it is hard to get through them, 

[Fishes in trees]

I wouldn't waste a lot of time trying to punch through the weeds.  I'd concentrate on the deep weed line.  I'd probably throw a kinda  heavy jika rig, half or 5/8 oz, in that range.   I'd probably throw a lizard or a creature bait first - probably some variation of green pumpkin in color, for starters.

 

Hard to get through them?  Hard to get your boat through them or hard to get your lure through them?

 

You could always drive up to Rogers in Liberty and ask those guys.  I find that they try hard to give good advice.

[mcipinkie]

How do you get on Lotawana?  I thought they had closed that lake to outsiders because of zebra mussels.

 

I live on Tapawingo and understand it very well.  If I could get on Lotawana, bet I could figure it out.  We're closed to outsiders because of the zebra mussels here also.

 

Here, during the summer, I catch all my better fish (4 and over)  suspended under docks on jigs.  Here at least, the fish are not on the bottom.  I come down the lake like a bat out of hell, throwing a jig at corners of the docks, lifts, posts, and most of all, ladders.  Big bass love to suspend around ladders.  Pitch that jig out, let it sink 4 feet, wind it in and go again.  I'm looking for hot fish.  Not wasting time on fish that don't want to bite.  I generally fish here one or two afternoons a week.  Almost always get a fish or two over 4 in a couple hours.

 

If the tournament is early in AM.  I'd throw a Super Spook along the floats and dock corners for an hour or so. Big black one.

 

Think big.  No spinner baits, no chatter baits, no crank baits.  Jig and big worm.  Buzz bait maybe if cloudy, but live (or die) with the jig.  Remember, think big.  I usually throw a 3/4 oz. jig, big trailer to slow it down a little, but hunting hot fish that will reflex bite.   If you really want to be a hero or zero, put a 10" worm on the back of jig.  You won't get many bites, maybe none, but you'll like it if you do. Heavy up.  I use 50# braid, 25 lb fluorocarbon leader.  You won't spook the fish you want to catch.

 

Alternate idea, at least here:  wing that big jig into the water willows.  I assume Lotawana has them.

[Bluebasser86]

Thanks. Would they be fishing crankbaits offshore or what?

Crankbait, C-rig, football jig, stuff of that nature.