Help me conquer this local lake

[Sharkicane]

Hey all,

 

I wanted to get some feedback on how to fish this lake I found close to me. I can say my fishing excursion earlier today at this lake was frustrating as well as very exciting. However it will probably be one of my all time favorite trips to date. So I am now determined to figure out how to reliably catch fish here.  

 

The excitement comes from 1 small and 1 large hits on a top water frog which I’ve never experienced before. The first one caught me by complete surprise. I was staring off into the sunset on the second one, it was so loud I jumped a little bit. Even though I missed both bites just the experience of it was awesome. Nothing quite like it to be honest. 

 

 

Now the frustration, I’m fishing off the bank in a lot of trees so I don’t have much room to cast. The water is pretty clear, and seems really deep. I could see fish and even a bass (of which I took a video of, figured if I couldn’t catch em I might as well record and photograph them lol) There is tons of grass, limbs, overhanging trees, rocks.  

 

What kind of techniques should I be using here? Where and how should I fish this? While the top water frog may be an option going forward I don’t really know how to use it. I am borrowing a friends tackle box so I’ll be building my own shortly so I’ll have to piece it together over time. 

 

Here are some pictures of the various obstacles I’m up against. Even through in some fish/bait pictures. 

 

https://imgur.com/a/TqELNGT

[Bluebasser86]

Sounds like a great place for a Texas rigged plastic or a swim jig. 

[Bankbeater]

Texas rigged plastic, weightless senko, or a weightless fluke is what I would try.

[Sharkicane]

9 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Sounds like a great place for a Texas rigged plastic or a swim jig. 

Any recommendations on jigs? I’ve watched some videos on them but never used one. 

 

Also, are the trailers for jigs the same soft plastics you would use on the weightless plastic rig? 

3 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

Texas rigged plastic, weightless senko, or a weightless fluke is what I would try.

Senkos are on my list of top things to get, any recommendation on flukes? Brand, color, size? 

[Koz]

The first things I would try would be a t-rigged green pumpkin Yum Dinger (cheaper than Senkos), a spinnerbait, or a frog parallel to the shoreline just along the edge of the aquatic vegetation. I'd even run the frog over that aquatic vegetation.

 

For me, this year has been great for fishing a spinnerbait along the shoreline or casting to the edge of an opposite bank.

[Sharkicane]

16 minutes ago, Koz said:

The first things I would try would be a t-rigged green pumpkin Yum Dinger (cheaper than Senkos), a spinnerbait, or a frog parallel to the shoreline just along the edge of the aquatic vegetation. I'd even run the frog over that aquatic vegetation.

 

For me, this year has been great for fishing a spinnerbait along the shoreline or casting to the edge of an opposite bank.

I will give those a try. Is there anything I should be mindful of when buying a spinner bait? I know there are different type of blades and stuff.

[Koz]

My preference is willow blades and white with silver or grayish skirt for most conditions. If the water is murky I opt for a chartreuse skirt. Another option is a gold color.

 

But if I was forced to pick one, it would be the white with silver or gray. I do not use a trailer hook because those tend to get caught up in weeds if I bring it through aquatic vegetation. And yes, most spinnerbaits are pretty good going through vegetation.

 

I'm pretty sure most of mine are Strike King / KVD and 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz sizes. But I wouldn't get hung up on the brand name. For me the color has been they key. The white/gray has produced in all water conditions for me, from clear to 8 inch visibility.

[A-Jay]

13 hours ago, Sharkicane said:

Hey all,

 

I wanted to get some feedback on how to fish this lake I found close to me. I can say my fishing excursion earlier today at this lake was frustrating as well as very exciting. However it will probably be one of my all time favorite trips to date. So I am now determined to figure out how to reliably catch fish here.  

 

The excitement comes from 1 small and 1 large hits on a top water frog which I’ve never experienced before. The first one caught me by complete surprise. I was staring off into the sunset on the second one, it was so loud I jumped a little bit. Even though I missed both bites just the experience of it was awesome. Nothing quite like it to be honest. 

 

 

Now the frustration, I’m fishing off the bank in a lot of trees so I don’t have much room to cast. The water is pretty clear, and seems really deep. I could see fish and even a bass (of which I took a video of, figured if I couldn’t catch em I might as well record and photograph them lol) There is tons of grass, limbs, overhanging trees, rocks.  

 

What kind of techniques should I be using here? Where and how should I fish this? While the top water frog may be an option going forward I don’t really know how to use it. I am borrowing a friends tackle box so I’ll be building my own shortly so I’ll have to piece it together over time. 

 

Here are some pictures of the various obstacles I’m up against. Even through in some fish/bait pictures. 

 

https://imgur.com/a/TqELNGT

I'd be Flippin & Pitching all that "mess" along the bank - Big Time.

Especially if it has some depth.

Read this & then do it !

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/flipping_pitching_fishing.html

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/flipping-matted-weeds.html

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/jig_bassin.html

 

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

[Sharkicane]

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I'd be Flippin & Pitching all that "mess" along the bank - Big Time.

Especially if it has some depth.

Read this & then do it !

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/flipping_pitching_fishing.html

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/flipping-matted-weeds.html

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/jig_bassin.html

 

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

I was watching some videos on it. I noticed the guy didn’t engage the reel immediately, I guess he put his thumb on the spook and would hop it once or twice, then engage the reel. Or if he felt a bite he would engage the reel, then reel down slowly before setting the hook. 

 

Is that done in both flipping and pitching? Waiting to engage the reel? He was using a creature bait with a weight not sure if that makes a difference or not. 

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, Sharkicane said:

I was watching some videos on it. I noticed the guy didn’t engage the reel immediately, I guess he put his thumb on the spook and would hop it once or twice, then engage the reel. Or if he felt a bite he would engage the reel, then reel down slowly before setting the hook. 

 

Is that done in both flipping and pitching? Waiting to engage the reel? He was using a creature bait with a weight not sure if that makes a difference or not. 

If you're not familiar with the technique - do it for a bit and see what works for you.

Using 'weight' is The Whole Deal - it's needed to plunge through the cover to get to  Big Gooey-Green Goodness below.

A-Jay 

[Choporoz]

I do that sometimes....not always a conscious decision - for me, it is a by-product of intense (for me) concentration.  My focus is so intent on both the 'feel' and watching the line, that I don't want that disturbed by turning the handle and re-engaging the thumb-bar....doesn't seem like much, but to me, it takes my focus away from bite detection.   I find it happens more in very calm, quiet situations.

[J.Vincent]

I would first try parallelling the defined edge of the submerged vegetation, with a 3/8 oz SwimJig and 3.5 inch Paddle Tail Trailer. Next I would present a weightless Senko into the outer edge and openings. Third I would target the heart of the cover with a Heavy Flipping jig or Texas rigged Creature Bait. If none of those methods produced, I would stick with a hollow body frog or hollow body sunfish, and based on how you said those fish were striking , I recommend slowing down your frog presentation with long pauses in the openings. If that don't work, take a nap and enjoy the weather !

[Sharkicane]

40 minutes ago, Active_Outdoors said:

I would first try parallelling the defined edge of the submerged vegetation, with a 3/8 oz SwimJig and 3.5 inch Paddle Tail Trailer. Next I would present a weightless Senko into the outer edge and openings. Third I would target the heart of the cover with a Heavy Flipping jig or Texas rigged Creature Bait. If none of those methods produced, I would stick with a hollow body frog or hollow body sunfish, and based on how you said those fish were striking , I recommend slowing down your frog presentation with long pauses in the openings. If that don't work, take a nap and enjoy the weather !

With your suggestions along with previous suggestions, Can I use mono? I’ve got a big spool of xl casting 12lb. I’m on a budget and 40-50 dollars just for the line has me on the fence. Especially since I’m so new I feel like I’m going to lose a decent amount of lures and line till I get more experience.  

[Bankbeater]

I use white Zoom flukes the most. I just cast it out and let it sink on its own. 

[J.Vincent]

3 hours ago, Sharkicane said:

With your suggestions along with previous suggestions, Can I use mono? I’ve got a big spool of xl casting 12lb. I’m on a budget and 40-50 dollars just for the line has me on the fence. Especially since I’m so new I feel like I’m going to lose a decent amount of lures and line till I get more experience.  

Sure, XL mono will work and previously I mentioned I don't use XL, but it is still a good line. But its not necessarily considered a line anglers would use for Heavy cover situations. If you like the Berkeley brand and are sticking to a budget , I would consider a $7.99 spool of XT in 14, 17, or 20lb test, its far more abrasion resistant. Otherwise, a spool of Pline CXXX would run about $12.99  or Cajun Line Gator Green would cost about $8.99 a spool. All of those would be better options if using a Monofilament line...but again 12lb XL will work but I would consider a heavier pound test with some abrasion resistance qualities. Good luck !