Tycoon Lake, 17 FEB 2017

[CybrSlydr]

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day.  Being that it was also a Friday, that means I'm going fishing!  This time, my brother did not join me as he was helping one of his friends do... something.  So I decided I wanted to head back to Tycoon Lake and give it another go. 

 

Quote

Land acquisition for the construction of Tycoon Lake began in 1957 and was completed in 1960. Construction of two earthen dams across an old channel of Raccoon Creek was completed in 1960 and fish were stocked the following year. The lake was constructed for recreational purposes. Tycoon Lake lies within the 684-acre Tycoon Lake Wildlife Area. The area surrounding Tycoon Lake is gently rolling to hilly. Most of the uplands surrounding Tycoon Lake are forested with some brushland/open areas present as well as some wetlands. Tycoon Lake is relatively shallow; maximum depth is 18 feet. There are numerous tree stumps along the north shoreline that attract fish as well as some old fence rows that were present prior to impoundment.

 

 

This time I went with a different phone and thus a different GPS, which took me to a different spot.  Looking at the above map, this would be the parking spot/boat ramp on the south east side.

 

 

 

 

 

I already had a 2.75" stick bait with a 1/8oz Ned Rig Jig tied on so I tossed it out around here for about 15 minutes.  Didn't get any nibbles or such, so I packed my stuff back into the car and made for the actual entrance to the park.  When I got there, I grabbed the gear and made for the fishing pier.

 

 

 

As you can see from the water top, there was a light breeze throughout my time there.  I had all my gear, my brother's gear and 3 Lucky Tackle Boxes as well as a few things I picked up at a local bait shop (some flukes, bullet weights and a couple hooks).  I figured if I was going to catch anything that today would be the day.

 

I started out with the Ned rig and fished it for about 20 minutes or so.  Didn't get anything.  So I swapped out to the flukes I bought from the shop - white with chartreuse forked tails.  No go.  Then I tied on the Storm Arashi Shad from this month's LTB.  After a few minutes of slowly cranking this in, I hear and see surface strikes.  I was honestly surprised by this.  So the next one I saw near me, I cast the squarebill out and reeled it through the area. 

 

This is not exactly what I had in mind when I finally felt something on -

 

I dunno what it is, but a friend of mine says it's a shad.  It's about 6" long.  Here's the fun part - I didn't even hook it in the mouth. Somehow, the treble went behind it's gill and was pointing out its mouth.  Here's the lure -

 

So I figured, if the shad are over here feeding then perhaps the bass will be near.  So I kept throwing the squarebill, nice and slow.  Didn't get any nibbles.  So I pulled out some swimbaits from previous LTBs.  White one, no bites.  Biwaa Tail Gunr, no bites.  Rage Craw, no bites.  Riot Craw, no bites.  Are you noticing a pattern?...

 

So after about 2 hours of trying all these different baits and lures it was around 4:00pm.  Sun was starting to get low in the sky so I figured I'd cut my losses and just head home (hour and a half drive).

 

Another disappointing day at the lake, but I can't be too surprised.  If the bass were active, they were too far out for me to reach anyway as the water is still probably too cold.  Regardless, it was a beautiful day and I had to at least give it a shot.

 

[lonnie g]

nice looking body of water. fishing beats working any day. you cant hit a home run if you don't swing the bat. keep swinging. tight lines my friend.

[TnRiver46]

please tell me you didn't just release that shad!!!!!! You could have greatly increased you odds by strapping him to your ned rig. Thanks for the post 

[IndianaFinesse]

Next time you go out, try the area by the dam on the top right where the 12 foot hole is close to the shoreline, the fish should be stacked up in there.  The other two areas that look good for winter fishing is the spot next to the north sign where the 16 foot hole cuts close to the shoreline, and the other is the 15 foot hole by the lower dam where it is closest to the shoreline.  Use a suspending jerkbait if the water is clear, a blade bait if they're on a clean bottom, half of a zinkerz on a 1/16 ounce mushroom head for shallower water less thyan eight or ten feet deep, or a 1/8 ounce bucktail jig for just about anywhere the bass are in or near the bottom.  

 

And your friend is right, that is a gizzard shad.

[CybrSlydr]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

please tell me you didn't just release that shad!!!!!! You could have greatly increased you odds by strapping him to your ned rig. Thanks for the post 

 

Indeed, I did toss him back.  I didn't see any value in keeping it and figured the bass needed him to get bigger and they weren't going to do that while he was stuck with me.  I didn't have any knives of anything and I've never used any live or cut bait before.

 

 

8 minutes ago, IndianaFinesse said:

Next time you go out, try the area by the dam on the top right where the 12 foot hole is close to the shoreline, the fish should be stacked up in there.  The other two areas that look good for winter fishing is the spot next to the north sign where the 16 foot hole cuts close to the shoreline, and the other is the 15 foot hole by the lower dam where it is closest to the shoreline.  Use a suspending jerkbait if the water is clear, a blade bait if they're on a clean bottom, half of a zinkerz on a 1/16 ounce mushroom head for shallower water less thyan eight or ten feet deep, or a 1/8 ounce bucktail jig for just about anywhere the bass are in or near the bottom.  

 

And your friend is right, that is a gizzard shad.

 

Good news is a friend of mine who fishes might be able to get a Jon boat.  If the weather is too bad up around Cleveland way for the trout tour we may be heading back to Tycoon Lake with him.

 

I'll make sure to let him know about your suggestions.  I've got a KVD 200 jerkbait in sexy shad I belive along with a couple jerkbaits we got recently with LTB.  I'll look into the other stuff as well - thank you!

[TnRiver46]

I have caught bass with cut bait but they much prefer it live and wiggling. No knife required just hook him in the mouth. Even after they die they are still effective on a jighead