Taking tomorrow off heading to The Bend

[samwise2u]

Friday forecast says mostly sunny with a high around 75, Southwest wind at 5 - 10mph. Saturday a 40% chance of rain and thunderstorms before 1. The water level has risen almost a foot since Monday when I was last there.

 

Going to fish the entire water column, top, mid and bottom at a few river bends that have humps with soft plastics, jigs, spinnerbaits, traps and buzz baits. Still looking for that elusive creek channel that runs into the river channel. Have seen some coves and pockets but have not ventured into them, maybe tomorrow. This will be my 5th time trying deep water/structure fishing. The highway from deep to shallow concept makes sense. Finding that highway is a practice in patience. Where is Buck Perry when you need him?

 

Anybody ever use marker buoys while learning an area? Seems to me they would help.

[A-Jay]

Good Luck ~

I use buoys - but mostly as a reference point - to where the spot I want to fish is located, rather than at or on the actual fish holding structure or cover on a structure. Not as a learning tool.  This really comes in handy when done right before sunset of a planned night trip.  By placing the buoy right before dark, chilling out a bit, and then going back.  I can save a lot of time getting back to the spot on the spot - in total darkness - with full confidence I'm where I want to be.   Waypoints & GPS are certainly helpful and get me very close, but the black of night especially can be disorienting.  I might be a little old school too.  Now if I could just get the bass to hang around there all night I'd be styling ..  ..  .. ..  ..

 

I usually refrain from daytime buoy use in the presence of other bass anglers, the few that are up here. (which is a good thing)

So Sneaky. 

btw - Humminbird's Auto Chart Live with it's ability to create richly detailed maps of your favorite fishing spots in real-time has been extremely helpful for helping me learn new water -

 

A-Jay

[samwise2u]

Thanks @A-Jay. Never had the thought that dropping buoys would give away my honey hole. I am concerned about the buoys being in the way of the other boaters. I plan on dropping them near the river channel which is the boat row.

 

Have thought seriously about Hummingbird's Auto Chart Live and Navionics. Think I will pull the trigger soon. Seems to be almost cheating though. Buck Perry trolled with spoonplugs to learn underwater structure. If I trolled in Toledo Bend I would be hitting stumps on a regular basis. My 2013 Xpress Striker 17 already is leaking, don't need to make it bigger or punch another hole in it.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, samwise2u said:

Thanks @A-Jay. Never had the thought that dropping buoys would give away my honey hole. I am concerned about the buoys being in the way of the other boaters. I plan on dropping them near the river channel which is the boat row.

 

Have thought seriously about Hummingbird's Auto Chart Live and Navionics. Think I will pull the trigger soon. Seems to be almost cheating though. Buck Perry trolled with spoonplugs to learn underwater structure. If I trolled in Toledo Bend I would be hitting stumps on a regular basis. My 2013 Xpress Striker 17 already is leaking, don't need to make it bigger or punch another hole in it.

 

The Auto Charting is really just like any other maps or charts we use - except once completed your version will be current and factual of  WHAT'S THERE.  

And the point at which I feel I have the advantage over those sneaking little brown & green fish, happens quite a bit - but once I wake up from the dream reality slaps me in the face and the potential skunking is again back into play . . . . .

A-Jay

[Catt]

@A-Jay & @samwise2u

 

A-Jay spot on with the use of buoys! 

 

When I'm fishing offshore structure two items appear on my front deck, anchor with 25' of rope & a buoy. 

Let's say I'm fishing Community  Flat just off Housen'/Sabine intersection. When I get bit I'll kick a buoy overboard, not as a GPS reference but as general point of reference. Keep in mind this point of reference represents boat position not bass location!

My next plan of attack will be to cast/flip/pitch the immediate area both shallower & deeper. If I get bit again I ask myself, were those 2 bites shallower or deeper than the buoy?

Now is when I  would  probably drop anchor, spending some time fan casting  the area, & depending on how many fish I catch I'll GPS it. 

 

And Sam!  

What kind of boat y'all drive?  

Oh an Xpress, now I'll know all your honey holes! 

Edited January 20, 2017 by Catt

[samwise2u]

Gonna bite the bullet and buy a Hummingbird with Auto Chart Live and down imaging. Tired of this random fishing. The Hook - N - Line map is good but when on the water finding the creek bed off the channel aint easy.

 

This...

deep water

structure

highway from deep to shallow

find the sanctuary

...fishing is kicking my 4$$!

 

I too use an anchor, mostly for those windy days when I want to keep the boat in one place to pick a target apart. The original power pole!

[samwise2u]

@Catt, anytime you are up that way stop by and say hi! I can show you where NOT to fish! LOL. Maybe you can give me some pointers on how to find the leak in my boat. I see no holes in the bottom and the welds have not torn. Thinking now a seal or hose has started leaking. Thinking about taking the boat to a launch, leave the boat tied down and just dip the stern into the water, see what I see.