Todays Fishing Trip

[stk44]

Would someone please view the attached map and tell me what I could've done better. I am attaching a lake depth map that I've located and updated it in paint: my route is in red, the areas I fished with a red circle, and the fish I caught at particular areas with blue numbers. I only caught three....i know.

 

**I was unable to locate the map prior to fishing.

 

• The first 3 spots on my route I caught the first fish using a 1/2oz white spinnerbait. The skirt fell off eventually and I didn't have a replacement (I'm fishing with not many duplicate lures from a kayak.)
• After the first 3 spots I switched to a 3/4 oz lipless sebile seeker and a jig with craw trailer. Caught nothing until I made it to the deepest end of the lake.
• Switched to a 3" swimbait and a drop shot with 3" senko. Caught a 1lb bass on swimbait labeled "2" in blue.
• After fishing another 30 minutes in the general area, switched swimbait out for red lipless crank. Caught bass number 3 on drop shot rig 3" senko.
• Switched to DT10, DT16- nothing
• Switched to 5 inch hellgramite on dropshot nothing.

Specs: Rainy, Cloudy, water temperature on sonar 74 degrees, 5-7 mph winds.

 

Please let me know if you need any more info.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Steve

 

keystonefloat1.pdf

[stk44]

***ALSO: I have 3 rods that I take with me to the lake and 2 of them make it into my kayak.

I have a 7 ft MHF with 30 lb braid with 7.1:1 revo mgx

6.5 ft medium spinning 6 lb braid

7'4 crankin rod MM revo sx 6.4:1

Which should I take with me and what should I tie on?

Should I be fishing like its summer or fishing like its fall?

I know these are a lot of questions but I'm trying to take as much trial and error out as possible.

[Dave Jakes]

Looks like depth was a key factor for you today. In all three places you caught fish, there was some sort of structure at 10 feet. All other places, the structure in that area was at 5 feet with the exception of you deep area. If you had a fishfinder, I bet you'd see clouds of baitfish in the 10 ish feet deep area. Bass will stay at the same depth as the baitfish and hide in the cover at that depth waiting for them to come strolling by.

For the most part, I'd say you were fishing too shallow. Seems to me like summer tactics are still your best bet. I'd stick with dropshot and 10 to 15 foot cranks.

[stk44]

I have a garmin echo 150 portable fish finder. I have a really hard time figuring out what's what. I don't see arches like I see on youtube videos of nice fice finders. I see blobs, and I struggle with staying on a spot and marking it when I drift off...

Looks like depth was a key factor for you today. In all three places you caught fish, there was some sort of structure at 10 feet. All other places, the structure in that area was at 5 feet with the exception of you deep area. If you had a fishfinder, I bet you'd see clouds of baitfish in the 10 ish feet deep area. Bass will stay at the same depth as the baitfish and hide in the cover at that depth waiting for them to come strolling by.

For the most part, I'd say you were fishing too shallow. Seems to me like summer tactics are still your best bet. I'd stick with dropshot and 10 to 15 foot cranks.

[MidwestF1sh]

The spit where you caught number 2 looks good to me! I like how close it is to deep water and it looks like it has a nice point in the 10-15ft range. It's hadd to say what to do withoutknowing the weeds in the lake. I would almost pick apart spot two especially after you caught one there. A 5" t rigged senko with a quarter ounce bullet wait would be on the spinning rod and then on your mhf I'd have a jig, spinnerbait, and maybe a top water like a frog.

[ClackerBuzz]

I only caught three....i know.

 

 

be happy my friend, it can get a lot worse.  

i'll feel bad for ya after you've had 4 outings in a row eating skunk pie

[stk44]

I was hoping to get a little more input from people .....lol

[ClackerBuzz]

a lot of tournament guys use the saying "never leave fish to find fish".

sounds like you found at least 3 different locations with fish.  this knowledge in itself is gold. 

i'm super happy if i get get a bite or blow up b/c that fish gave away the secret location where there are more fish.

as soon as you catch a fish or even miss a fish toss a marker buoy over board or mark a way point on ur electronics.  you've just found a fish zone.  back off the buoy and cast different lures from many different angles.  often slowing down to a bottom dragging technique like jig, drop shot, shaky head, T rig, C rig etc will start to land you larger fish.  as long as that location is producing fish i won't move to 'find' more fish.

if you caught a dink on a spot keep working it till you figure out what it takes to catch mama.

Also if I catch 20 dinks in a row on a spot I usually just move perpendicular to shore into deeper water to find better fish. Same thing with bait fish. If I'm catching or seeing a ton of crappie or bluegill near weeds or structure I'll work the immediate area but have a tendency to start catching bass once I move deeper.

Overall it sounds like you did a great job locating bass with reaction/search baits. Once a dink gives away a location I would stay there and go slow n' low with bottom contact lures to try and upgrade to better quality fish.

Edited September 15, 2015 by ClackerBuzz

[stk44]

I have a tendency to fish and once I locate a fish, I forget where exactly I was at, what retrieve or technique I used. Any advice for that lol?