Not sure how to approach this

[WestMichiganBass]

I wondering how you guys would approach this body of water. I can always locate fish when bass are shallow or suspended but it seems like sometimes (like lately) the bass have been hanging out deep. 

The water is deep, crystal clear and cold. To cold to even swim in the summer. And the bank immediately drops off to about 15 foot all the way around and probably goes out to about 30 foot. There are some giant fish in this lake and I want to try and land a giant during the prespawn/spawn. 

What would you guys be throwing and any other tips.

Here's a picture of the lake but I doubt that will help much 

[Jar11591]

I'm guessing it's an old strip pit? Cold, clear, deep and giant fish sounds like a pit to me. When I fish pits and mines in the early spring, a warm day is usually the best. I've cleaned up in the past on warm spring days throwing T-rigged Rage Craws and jigs really shallow, parallel to the bank. I remember a couple springs ago I caught 4 large bass in about 20 minutes who were all pushed right into the bank, in just a few inches of water. It was a warm sunny spring day and the fishing was HOT! Try waiting for a warm day, and throw a craw really shallow, parallel to the bank. 

[WestMichiganBass]

It's a gravel pit yes. But it's still in current use I just happen to be good buddy's with the owners friend. Catching fish when they are shallow has never been an issue. It's when they are deep that's causing problems. I'm not sure how to target deeper fish 

[buzzed bait]

deep and clear, i would try a drop shot...  roboworm nose hooked to be exact.

[Hurricane]

I would throw some crankbaits... Rapala DT series...

[papajoe222]

Learn techniques that target suspended fish, because once the spawn is over, that is what those bass will be doing if they're not up shallow foraging. Using different Crankbaits that run at various depths, you may be able to find the depth of some fish willing to bite. Generally, on overcast days, they'll be high in the water column and on bright/sunny days deeper. Learn to count down a sinking bait and keep it at that depth and you'll be able to use a larger variety of lures.

Topwater is another option.  In clear water there are times when the bass will come up twenty feet to attack one. Just remember to pause it occasionally. 

 

[FrogFreak]

Don't forget to try some spoons as well. 

[the reel ess]

4 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

I'm guessing it's an old strip pit? Cold, clear, deep and giant fish sounds like a pit to me. When I fish pits and mines in the early spring, a warm day is usually the best. I've cleaned up in the past on warm spring days throwing T-rigged Rage Craws and jigs really shallow, parallel to the bank. I remember a couple springs ago I caught 4 large bass in about 20 minutes who were all pushed right into the bank, in just a few inches of water. It was a warm sunny spring day and the fishing was HOT! Try waiting for a warm day, and throw a craw really shallow, parallel to the bank. 

I do that almost every time I don't know what else to do. In fact, I do it almost every trip. A black/blue T rigged Chigger Craw stays on all the time. I would only take it off for another color. And for crystal clear water, I'd probably go with a more natural color like watermelon or a brown.

Lately, I've had a T-rigged Hula Grub pay off a couple times when they wouldn't bite anything else. I've used them on a jighead a couple times too, but the T rig with 1/8 oz. weight seems to get more bites for me.

[frogflogger]

huddleston deluxe - 68 or 6" or 12"

ned rig

 

[Team9nine]

3 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

Learn techniques that target suspended fish, because once the spawn is over, that is what those bass will be doing if they're not up shallow foraging. Using different Crankbaits that run at various depths, you may be able to find the depth of some fish willing to bite. Generally, on overcast days, they'll be high in the water column and on bright/sunny days deeper. Learn to count down a sinking bait and keep it at that depth and you'll be able to use a larger variety of lures.

Topwater is another option.  In clear water there are times when the bass will come up twenty feet to attack one. Just remember to pause it occasionally. 

 

^^ This is the answer ^^ 

Tracking studies of large bass in these deep, clear strip pit type lakes shows that they suspend a good majority of the time, and stay away from the banks and shallow cover. Topwaters, swimbaits, and anything else you can fish slowly for suspended fish (large wacky Senkos, live bait?) will be the answer.

-T9

[Fishes in trees]

Go back to the basics, i.e. Buck Perry  - "The fish are deep . . .or shallow . . . .or somewhere in-between."   Just start methodically looking.

The suspended fish theory isn't necessarily a bad one.   My experience with pit fishing has been that they always had some reason to suspend where they were, as opposed to somewhere else.   Major depth change, underwater hump, long extended point, something.  Somewhere in that pit there is a ramp that goes from the bottom to the bank, at an angle that they could maneuver machinery in and out of the pit as necessary.   Find that place.

[einscodek]

This time of year for the ones lurking in the deep, I'd go big and small .. since its crystal clear you got the advantage of sight and can get feedback to see what theyre preferrin' and if they are even in the mood

small drop shot

small crawdad jig

spoons vertically jigged & dropped

big huddlestons

Im assuming yer in a boat

[RipzLipz]

In addition to any of the above, an A-rig might be worth a shot if you've got lots of open water and little timber or laydowns.

[WestMichiganBass]

Many people mention throwing spoons, I've actually had decent luck there with spoons I used to throw spoons in their for pike because their are some monster pike in there. I've caught quite a few bass that way. 

I think I really need to drop shotting there I think it could be a deadly technique. I've heard hudlestons but I'm not ready to lose one of those to a big pike lol.

There is no way to get a boat on it without dragging it a considerable way. Without a boat I am unable to really tell any of the bottem structure. Even though it's clear it's hard to tell.

[Eric Montes Polk FL]

Hey bud. Try this. Use a trick worm. Solid color hooked wacky. Use a small hook. No weights. Just throw out. Let it sink naturally. Give it plenty of line so it dont just swing back to the bank. U want it to drop straight down. Watch your line while its falling . You'll see it either sink faster or twitch. Then tighten line and set the hook. If not let it go till it stops falling. Let it set for a second then give it just the lightest of bumps. If you have nearly invisible line and a small enough hook that they cant see you'll usually catch the timid ones. This works best for old sand mine pits like the one in the pic. As far as where to fish? The points of bank that stick out and the choke point between the sand pile and nearest bank is where id be first. Wacky worm is always the best for lakes like this. Try to stay low while casting. Clear water means even if you cant see them they will see you. Low and slow with minimal line and hook visibility is the trick her. Message me with some pics when u get on em. TIGHT LINES

 

[Ski]

Strike King HC6XD-568

@ least 7 foot med heavy rod

12-14lb Fluro

Bait will get down to 20 feet.

Low geared reel lets say 5.1 to 1

Also football head jigs 1/2-3/4 oz.

[Fish the Mitt]

I'd usually recommend steel leaders to ensure a pike doesn't swim away with a $15 crankbait. However, clear water makes it hard to justify a steel leader. Out of curiosity @WestMichiganBass, which gravel pit? Don't worry, I'm a few hours North of you. Not gonna steal your spot

[WestMichiganBass]

It's just outside of lowell michigan. It doesn't have a name so it's hard to tell you which one. It's just southeast of lowell. A buddy's friends family owns it so I'm allowed to fish there 

[blckshirt98]

I'd try a dropshot with a natural looking bait like a Jackall Super Crosstail Shad and let that thing just sit out there, like fishing with bait, barely giving it a twitch every minute or so to let the fish in the area know it's "alive".  But if the dropshot is in an area where you the know the bass are, let that thing marinate for at least a good 5-6 minutes or more before re-casting.

[WestMichiganBass]

Looks like I need to try dropshotting never considered it but seems like a deadly technique in this situation. I've never dropshotted but I understand the basics enough to be able to do it (I think). Tips welcome