How would you fish it

[fishblitzer]

This is my private 12 acre lake that I built 6 years ago. It is stocked with Florida and Northern Largemouth as well as bluegill, fathead minnows, crayfish, and carp. It is fished by me on average once every two weeks and I am the only one who fishes it. In 2014 I caught a fat 5 1/2 pounder, this year I have caught 3 in the 6-7 pound range. I know there are bigger ones in the lake, however, because I have seen them during the spawn. The water is extremely clear for a lake in Alabama. I would say the water clarity is 6 to 7 feet. Matted grass is from the bank out to the 6 foot range, and there is grass on the bottom of the entire lake. The grass came from nowhere last summer, before then there was not any. The deepest part of the lake is between 17 and 20 feet deep and is two creek channels that run along standing timber in the middle of the lake. The standing timber is very thick and there is much more under the surface from trees that have fallen since we filled the lake. This makes fishing the timber difficult due to it being so deep and with so much limbs under the surface it is near impossible to fish effectively, without hanging up and losing a fish. I've mostly stuck to fishing the outside of the timber and the banks.

My question is, given these pictures, how would you fish this lake and where do you think the big bass are? The grass line is marked with green and creek channels are marked with red.

 

 

[bigbassin']

I'd start with where the creek channels intersect. After fishing that I'd flip the grass line parallel to the creek channel. From there I'd look at where the grass line meets the trees. 

[Hurricane]

Looks awesome.... I would just spend the whole day fishing that....

[Kbral87]

Just out of curiosity, how much did that cost to put in? You don't have to give any details you aren't comfortable with, I've just been curious as to how much it would cost to put in something similar.

[fishblitzer]

12 minutes ago, Kbral87 said:

Just out of curiosity, how much did that cost to put in? You don't have to give any details you aren't comfortable with, I've just been curious as to how much it would cost to put in something similar.

Well we only rented the equipment needed and did the work ourselves. My step-father used to build and manage lakes so he was the mastermind behind it all. If I remember correctly it was between 5-7k and a lot of hours digging in the excavator, cutting trees and hauling them off, or making piles out of them in the creek channels with our tractor.

[Scarborough817]

just going to take a stab at this feel free to tell me if i'm totally wrong because i could be but my thoughts are
1) throw a bladed jig or a reaction bait along the yellow lines, anywhere the creek channel is close to the grass or you see an ambush point
2) throw a frog and flip the circled areas. big fish get big by eating a lot and not moving so anywhere they can hide and eat a lot would be the most likely spot for the big ones to hide
3) big baits catch big fish i know the timber would definitely deter me from throwing them but a big wakebait could be a good idea

 

[buzzed bait]

i would probably invite me down there and tag team it because you know 2 heads are better than 1....  seriously that is one sweet looking setup you got there man!  i'd be fishing a jig til my arms fell off with all the timber in there!

[drc9805]

Looks awesome... please post more pictures of it! I want to build one about this size so bad I can't stand it but I know it would cost a lot more than 5-7K to have someone build it and stock it.

[scaleface]

  Private lake with big bass , standing timber , and vegetation . I think bass would be anywhere and looking at the photos , I would be wearing some buzzbaits out . 

[blckshirt98]

I like that top yellow line area!  I'd think the big bass will hang out in the deep creek channels, and the northern part is the shortest trip from those deep channels to the grass.  i'd think they go shallow to feed in the mornings then as it warms up will go back deep so maybe you can catch them when they transition back before they go into all the heavy timber.  As for what I'd use with all that timber...hopping jigs or slow rolling weedless swimbaits?  If you have a boat how about even jigging a blade/spoon type of bait in some spots clear of the timber?

[fishblitzer]

4 hours ago, Scarborough817 said:

just going to take a stab at this feel free to tell me if i'm totally wrong because i could be but my thoughts are
1) throw a bladed jig or a reaction bait along the yellow lines, anywhere the creek channel is close to the grass or you see an ambush point
2) throw a frog and flip the circled areas. big fish get big by eating a lot and not moving so anywhere they can hide and eat a lot would be the most likely spot for the big ones to hide
3) big baits catch big fish i know the timber would definitely deter me from throwing them but a big wakebait could be a good idea

 

You actually had it pretty well from what I've done in the past. 3 of the 6 places you have circled are where I got my 5-7 pound fish.

[Scarborough817]

Just now, fishblitzer said:

You actually had it pretty well from what I've done in the past. 3 of the 6 places you have circled are where I got my 5-7 pound fish.

which ones were right?

[fishblitzer]

1 minute ago, Scarborough817 said:

which ones were right?

The bottom most circle and the top two circles. Actually my 2 largest came from the bottom most circle, in that same small pocket and within a week of each other, and both on a wacky rig.

2 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

I like that top yellow line area!  I'd think the big bass will hang out in the deep creek channels, and the northern part is the shortest trip from those deep channels to the grass.  i'd think they go shallow to feed in the mornings then as it warms up will go back deep so maybe you can catch them when they transition back before they go into all the heavy timber.  As for what I'd use with all that timber...hopping jigs or slow rolling weedless swimbaits?  If you have a boat how about even jigging a blade/spoon type of bait in some spots clear of the timber?

Do fish transition even in small, 12 acre lakes? I'm not doubting you I am just curious.

I have actually never fished it in the morning or sunrise. Most of my outings start at 11 and last the afternoon. I'd be curious to see what the morning bite would be like now that you mentioned them moving up early.

One more question someone may be able to answer.

Is it possible to have a 10 pound or larger bass in 6 years if they were stocked as yearlings?

 

[Scarborough817]

16 minutes ago, fishblitzer said:

The bottom most circle and the top two circles. Actually my 2 largest came from the bottom most circle, in that same small pocket and within a week of each other, and both on a wacky rig.

 

i'm assuming you've flipped craws into the pocket in the bottom left as well

[fishblitzer]

3 minutes ago, Scarborough817 said:

i'm assuming you've flipped craws into the pocket in the bottom left as well

I saw the largest bass I've seen in the lake spawning in that pocket this year. I didn't fish for her though as I want her to pass her genes on.  I've fished it in the winter but right now the only thing I could do is punch the grass because it is so thick. Right around the time the spawn gets over the grass starts to really take it over. I'll have to post pictures of the lake and the grass next time I go out.

[blckshirt98]

Transition might have been the wrong word, but in the local reservoirs here the bass are always active in the shallower water/near the grassline in the mornings but once the sun comes out they mostly get out of dodge and find deeper water/cover and hunker down.  If the bass behave the same way at your pond, once the sun starts beating down overhead look for the bass to move to the deeper parts of the pond where the creek channels are and in the timber.  So in the morning I'd focus more on the grass side, and as it starts approaching 11am-noon start focusing more on the deeper parts.

[soflabasser]

I would fish on and around the creek beds for sure along the areas where there's lots of baitfish. Fishing around that dock might be a good place to fish at nighttime as well.

[Gilgamesh]

Man... I'm incredibly jealous that looks awesome

[bigbassin']

4 hours ago, fishblitzer said:

Is it possible to have a 10 pound or larger bass in 6 years if they were stocked as yearlings?

 

I've heard Florida strain bass only live between 5 and 8 years on average so I would assume it's possible after 6 if the forage, cover, and structure are perfect.

[Kyhokie]

Just my .02, but I'd throw a big creature bait Texas rigged on a 3/8oz swing head jig right into that timber. Work it real slow and you can usually feel it crawl over the wood. Great looking setup man.

[You_Only_Live_Once_Fishing]

this place looks dope! good luck

 

[Robert Riley]

On 6/9/2016 at 9:38 AM, bigbassin' said:

I'd start with where the creek channels intersect. After fishing that I'd flip the grass line parallel to the creek channel. From there I'd look at where the grass line meets the trees. 

Exactly what I'd do. 

[Dreadhead47]

On 6/9/2016 at 11:30 AM, fishblitzer said:

Well we only rented the equipment needed and did the work ourselves. My step-father used to build and manage lakes so he was the mastermind behind it all. If I remember correctly it was between 5-7k and a lot of hours digging in the excavator, cutting trees and hauling them off, or making piles out of them in the creek channels with our tractor.

I know creating a pond/lake is a lot more than digging a hole in the ground, but on top of the excavating done, did you have to dam up the creek(s) you mentioned? I just got a small dozer, and really want to make our small farm pond about this size.

[Jaderose]

On 6/9/2016 at 3:25 PM, fishblitzer said:

The bottom most circle and the top two circles. Actually my 2 largest came from the bottom most circle, in that same small pocket and within a week of each other, and both on a wacky rig.

Do fish transition even in small, 12 acre lakes? I'm not doubting you I am just curious.

I have actually never fished it in the morning or sunrise. Most of my outings start at 11 and last the afternoon. I'd be curious to see what the morning bite would be like now that you mentioned them moving up early.

One more question someone may be able to answer.

Is it possible to have a 10 pound or larger bass in 6 years if they were stocked as yearlings?

 

[Catt]

Around the Y created by the intersection are found multiple forms of structure such as channels, points, ridges, ledges, sharp drop-offs, slow tapering drop-offs, and humps all in one location. 

With my boat positioned inside the Y (usually anchored) and casting from shallow to deep with Texas Rigs, Carolina Rigs, Swim Baits & Jig-N-Craws.