This lake will not beat me (again)!!!!!

[Ratherbfishing]

I've had it!  There is lake not too distant from my house which has bested me so many times that if I catch even three bass, I consider it a minor miracle.  I can go to just about any other lake and more or less hold my own but this lake is just...something else.  I hear stories from other fishermen who have done well there and I either rolled my eyes or gritted my teeth.  When I hear someone mention it, I have to resist the urge to spit on the ground.  What pains me the most is that it is relatively close (much closer than other lakes I go to) and it would be nice to not have to drive so far.  But this year is going to be different!!!!  I am going to study every map I can find, watch my electronics carefully, try different things, and I am not going to let it beat me again!!! (at least not consistently). 

 

Anyone else have a lake which is (or has been) their nemesis?  Did you ever conquer it?  Give up on it?  Or just accept it for what it is (and for what you aren't)?

[Catt]

Mine is Lacassine Wildlife Refuge (16,500 acres), a shallow water marsh (18-24") that is extremely clear with tons of various types of vegetation.

 

The marsh is federally owned & is only open from March 15 through October 15. Opens daily at 30 minutes before sunrise till 30 minutes after sunset. After being decimated by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, & Ike wildlife & fisheries has stocked 50-60,000 Florida bass yearly.

 

This marsh is so fickled the locals call it lack-a-sense because one has to have a lack of sense to fish it!

 

I've fished this marsh on & off since I was 7, I'm now 67! I've been skunked on this marsh more than any place on earth, if it wasn't for the 5 DD bass I've caught there I probably wouldn't fish it.

[A-Jay]

I absolutely do - 

A body of water near me has kicked my butt most days for 7 or 8 years.

I could get a few early & late season (and at night in the summer) but after & before that, it was tough sledding.

In fact my wife labeled it "The Dead Sea" . . .

Hated it - but like a Freak, I kept going, determined to unlock the secret (whatever the heck that means).  

But - and this is a big but - The State opened up C & R bass here All Season - so I can fish at ice out.

Game.  Changer.   Right off the bat, I started fishing areas I had not previously. 

First year out, I found the bass right away and have been able to stay with them most ALL SEASON !  

Turns out, my approach & timing was off quite a bit.

But it's like a whole new lake now & easily one of my favorites.

Best part is two fold, it's close & no one else fishes it because 'the fishing's bad there'.

Keep at it - you'll get it done.

And when you do, your success will be most satisfying.

A-Jay

[Fish the Mitt]

Yes. I have one where my only success has been summer night-time fishing. During that time, in a 2 hour window that I've studied and got to know well, I can haul in 15+. 

 

During the day, the lake makes me question everything about humanity. I'm lucky to catch 1 or 2 all day.

 

I will figure it out this year.

 

**To note, this is a huge sports lake in the area which is why I've often made the excuse that that is why the nighttime fishing is always better. And it may be, but even on continuous days of no boat activity, I still get skunked at times. More often than any other body of water.

[WRB]

My home lake is Casitas and has the reputation of being the Dead Sea. If you don't spend time on the water at Casitas it will kick your butt. Today the bite is on during pre spawn, in a few months it will be a tough bite. Casitas is very low pool, less then 35% with very little cover. I like this lake and know it well but that doesn't guarantee catching bass every outing and have been blanked there many times, also had phenomial days on Casitas.

Tom

[LionHeart]

Don't feel bad.  Lake Ray Roberts is 1 mile from my house, so naturally I fish there 90 percent of the time.  If I catch more than 3 per trip, I'm doing well.

[Ratherbfishing]

I have a young man (12) I take fishing periodically.  I haven't taken him to this particular lake for the aforementioned reasons BUT I think I might bring him here and say, "Okay, buddy!  Tell me what you think?!"  His approach can't be any worse than mine has been.

1 minute ago, LionHeart said:

Don't feel bad.  Lake Ray Roberts is 1 mile from my house, so naturally I fish there 90 percent of the time.  If I catch more than 3 per trip, I'm doing well.

The MOST I've ever caught on this lake is 5 and that was absolutely miraculous.  I should have bought a lottery ticket afterwards.  Most of the time I come away with 1 bass or get skunked completely.  It isn't far but it isn't just a 5 minute drive either so that drive back feels like the "drive of shame." I have a friend who said he USED to do well there but doesn't anymore.  The bass there have changed.

[scaleface]

I have a couple of friends who have caught bunches of big bass at an oxbow lake protected by a levee .Only big fish I have caught there are dogfish .

[WRB]

Bass don't change, their population density may change.

What is your routine when fishing this lake? 

I will assume you are fishing from a boat, do you use your sonar to survey the lake before starting to bass fish?

Knowing where the bass are located, what depth and type of cover or structure saves lots of time and narrows down what lures and presentations to start with.

Tom

[38 Super Fan]

Cherokee Lake. No matter what time of year, and regardless of how much I mix it up, I just can't have a good day on that lake.

[Ratherbfishing]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Bass don't change, their population density may change.

What is your routine when fishing this lake? 

I will assume you are fishing from a boat, do you use your sonar to survey the lake before starting to bass fish?

Knowing where the bass are located, what depth and type of cover or structure saves lots of time and narrows down what lures and presentations to start with.

Tom

I have studied maps and noted such things as where the creek channel is near a shallower flat, etc.  My older fish finder was not much better than distinguishing depth and depth changes but I HAVE tried to take advantage of that (see sentence one).  Time of year has been, theoretically "factored in."  I've tried shallow, deep, in-between, flats, drop offs, creek channels, points, cover, changes in structure, and on and on.  There isn't a lot of vegetation on this lake but where there is, the fish don't seem to be on the edges or in the thick of it.  Obviously I haven't tried everything but in other lakes, I can USUALLY narrow the fish down to a) main lake or back in the coves, etc. and try to adjust accordingly. Perhaps a really adept fisherman could tell me what I'm doing wrong but I've tried an awful lot and even a broken clock works twice a day (unless it is digital).  I know the lake isn't barren but very often it seems that way.

[WRB]

So....how deep are the bass?

Tom

[Hawkeye21]

Mississippi River can be that way.  Always catch fish but focusing on bass can be hard.

[Ratherbfishing]

38 minutes ago, WRB said:

So....how deep are the bass?

Tom

Finding them is 3/4's of the battle.  I don't know how deep they are.  I suppose that depends on time of year, etc.

[N Florida Mike]

Mine is a small lake we call Green hole  with a 2 acre pond across the road between the water bodies. Its about 3 miles away from me and is stocked by fwc. The lake was even drawn down and refurbished by them and restocked about 10 years ago.

The most I ever caught in one trip ( with my son along ) was 5, in the pond. In the lake, ( with a friend,) was 3-4. All one pound size. Most of the time, I catch 0 or maybe 1. Biggest fish caught there was a 3.5 pounder in the lake. Had a huge fish break off in the pond.

You can fish slow, fast , all kind of methods and baits and never get bit.

( Not even on shiners ) I KNOW there are 10 + fish in it and I have seen huge bass beds in 8 feet of water.( back when it was somewhat clearer )

I think part of the problem is that it is one of the few water bodies that have murky water. My go to colors just don't work there.

I have caught a few on blue worms there.

You would think they would at least bite the shiners there but it's very slow with them too.

Its very mysterious, esp. since its stocked and maintained by fwc.

[WRB]

18 minutes ago, Ratherbfishing said:

Finding them is 3/4's of the battle.  I don't know how deep they are.  I suppose that depends on time of year, etc.

Determining how deep to fish is the 1st step to locating them. Largemouth bass tend to be cover oriented if cover is readily available. Where I bass fish cover is very sparse until the warm water periods following the spawn cycle when aquatic plant growth starts to develop. Where are the bass located...somewhere in the lake, they can't leave!

Understanding what the bass are feeding on, they must eat, helps to eliminate water.

Your sonar unit is your eyes underwater if you can't see the bottom. We can eliminate young of the year baitfish during the cold water period and pre spawn, nearly every specie of fish spawn after the bass with the exception of crappie. 

Most bass lakes have crawdads that are the primary source of prey during the cold water periods and pre spawn. Crawdads remain a prey source throughout the year.

I check long major points to determine how deep bass are located because they hold bass year around, except during the spawn. Start there.

Tom

 

[JustJames]

Mine is right here where I live, canyon lake CA. Before I moved here I was afraid bass would be too easy to catch according to all myth about "SoCal bass heaven" and I would get tired of it too quick. I moved here a little more than a year and I can tell you i got skunked so many times or only 1 or two catch each trip. I mostly fish visual structures, I know it is not the best way but it the best I can do as of now.

I like it though since I can fish whenever I want and still find it challenge enough. There are many spots that I can bank fish without getting tired of it. The best part is I get to try many new lures that I collected over the years and catch some fish on it. And this lake is loaded with 4-5 lbs bass.

[TnRiver46]

6 hours ago, 38 Super Fan said:

Cherokee Lake. No matter what time of year, and regardless of how much I mix it up, I just can't have a good day on that lake.

Let me know next time you come! I have only fished it 4-5 times and a nice smallmouth always seems to show up. Most action is before lunch though. Disclaimer: I have only fished Cherokee when it’s super cold outside 

[slonezp]

7 hours ago, Ratherbfishing said:

I have a young man (12) I take fishing periodically.  I haven't taken him to this particular lake for the aforementioned reasons BUT I think I might bring him here and say, "Okay, buddy!  Tell me what you think?!"  His approach can't be any worse than mine has been.

 

If you're trying to get him excited about fishing, maybe this isn't the place to go.

 

Maybe the way to approach this is to not waste your time here and just go somewhere else...AND...get out of your comfort zone. We get hung up on fishing the same baits in the same spots and expect different results. Maybe it's not the lake and it's just YOU. Case in point. I never fished a jerkbait consistently on my home water. It was never conducive. I always settled back into a jig. So, the last 2 years I've been expanding my horizons and fishing new lakes. New lakes have different structure,different cover, water clarity, vegetation, etc and require different approaches. Spent a lot of time trying to master the jerkbait on offshore structure. Gave me confidence to bring that technique back to my soupbowl mudhole lake I call home. I tell you what, for #'s of fish, the jerkbait was my #1 producer last year. Jig still had it for size. Had I not got out of my comfort zone and never brought the jerkbait home, I know for a fact I would have been less successful.  

[geo g]

I would suggest, slow down and down size!

[Catt]

@WRB 

 

OK Tom what do you do with Lacassine?

 

Depth: 18-24"

 

Cover: various types of vegetation 

 

Structure: bottom contour is pretty much nonexistent 

 

 

[teamhillbilly2012]

Push pole and buzzword are needed

[WRB]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

@WRB 

 

OK Tom what do you do with Lacassine?

 

Depth: 18-24"

 

Cover: various types of vegetation 

 

Structure: bottom contour is pretty much nonexistent 

 

 

Practice my frog and weedless spoon casting

 

[TnRiver46]

@Catt, let me guess, a lot of bass have fallen victim to a purple plastic worm in that swamp 

[Catt]

2 minutes ago, WRB said:

Practice my frog and weedless spoon casting

 

That's the problem with Lacassine ya get a lot of practice casting ?