Midday Summer Struggles

[KrzyyImportz]

It's been hot here in central Oklahoma, hot and dry. Haven't had any rain in weeks, and the sun has been brutal. The water is now hitting 80+ and the only fish I can catch are during early morning/late evening on topwater.

 

The lake I fish always has 'very stained' water (not chocolate milk), some visibility but not good at all. There is some shoreline brush/vegetation that might extend out into a couple feet of water at most, but if I pitch into it with a T-Rig I get snagged quite a bit on the little twigs/roots. There are also a good bit of sunken trees the state must have laid out into the water, depths anywhere from a 4 to 15 feet (snag city, so many branches). I've done quite a bit of scanning at slow speeds, there doesn't seem to be much deep water structure. Maybe only a few true drop-off ledges in the entire lake, it's like they wanted everything to be symmetric and even. During the middle of the day, very little shade exists since the trees on the shore don't really loom over the water.

 

I've searched this forum for some answers, but I get everything from fishing big jigs, to finesse, to crankbaits off points. I'd like to just try maybe one or two higher percentage options and catch just one midday bass. If anyone has any suggestions, please throw them at me. I'm strugglin'.

[Jermination]

17 minutes ago, KrzyyImportz said:

It's been hot here in central Oklahoma, hot and dry. Haven't had any rain in weeks, and the sun has been brutal. The water is now hitting 80+ and the only fish I can catch are during early morning/late evening on topwater.

 

The lake I fish always has 'very stained' water (not chocolate milk), some visibility but not good at all. There is some shoreline brush/vegetation that might extend out into a couple feet of water at most, but if I pitch into it with a T-Rig I get snagged quite a bit on the little twigs/roots. There are also a good bit of sunken trees the state must have laid out into the water, depths anywhere from a 4 to 15 feet (snag city, so many branches). I've done quite a bit of scanning at slow speeds, there doesn't seem to be much deep water structure. Maybe only a few true drop-off ledges in the entire lake, it's like they wanted everything to be symmetric and even. During the middle of the day, very little shade exists since the trees on the shore don't really loom over the water.

 

I've searched this forum for some answers, but I get everything from fishing big jigs, to finesse, to crankbaits off points. I'd like to just try maybe one or two higher percentage options and catch just one midday bass. If anyone has any suggestions, please throw them at me. I'm strugglin'.

what's the name of the lake? find a marina and finesse the slips.

[KrzyyImportz]

5 minutes ago, Jermination said:

what's the name of the lake? find a marina and finesse the slips.

Stanley Draper

[JustinCT]

I'd start by fishing sloooowww.  Ned Rig or senkos.  Maybe try targeting the slightly deeper water with slower presentations.  

 

[lo n slo]

i’d also try to find a way to fish that deeper brush

[Jermination]

Hit the marinas when the sun is high, doesn’t look like there are many on that lake which should be beneficial. Finesse worm or fattyz on a 3/16 shaky head should do the trick

[scaleface]

Do you peg your sinkers ?  That helps a lot in heavy brush . Also I dont texpose , or skin hook when fishing that sort of  brush   , I bury the point inside the worm . 

[WRB]

54 minutes ago, KrzyyImportz said:

Stanley Draper

Looking at ^^^ this it has lots of structure elements, steep sloping banks, creek arms, islands, humps, points, marinas, docks and man made habitate elements.

It's isn't technically summer yet and will only get hotter. I dought a thermocline has developed yet so the entire water column is a possibility. If a thermocline has developed then it's summer to the bass.

Dog days of summer are real regarding bass fishing.

Bass prefer 70degree water if it's available, if not the higher DO (dissolved oxygen ) levels areas created by weed beds or current.

You may need to get away from the bank and target off shore structure or long main lake points. You also need to look for schools of baitfish and determine what depth the bait is at. Depth is extremely important. Knowing where bait is and how deep they are allows you to select lures that work at that depth.

Getting snagged is part of bottom contact lures but it shouldn't become so often you get discouraged. 

You have lots of time after the early bit stops, slow down and use lighter weights and keep some controlled line tension to prevent snagging so often. Jiggle the lure free in lieu of pulling on it.

Night is your friend during hot summers.

Tom 

[DitchPanda]

During the day in the middle of summer I do well on a mojo rig finesse worm on a spinning rod

[Catt]

IDK! I see a lot of structure ?

 

Look at the top of the map between 16-22' that's a underwater point, there's one below there.

 

When faced with "limited" structure you need to find minute, subtle changes. You will not see these spots on a map, you'll have to find them with your electronics.

 

Early summer is no different than anyother time of year, find the bait. Once you find the bait pay close attention to the structure they're holding on.

 

Lures; I would probably throw a wobble-head 

[Choporoz]

19 hours ago, KrzyyImportz said:

There is some shoreline brush/vegetation that might extend out into a couple feet of water at most, but if I pitch into it with a T-Rig I get snagged quite a bit on the little twigs/roots. There are also a good bit of sunken trees the state must have laid out into the water, depths anywhere from a 4 to 15 feet (snag city, so many branches)

I highly suggest you work on building confidence to get into that brush.  Clearly it is very frustrating.  But experiment with different hooks and texposing, skin hooking, etc.   Drop shots, jigs, shaky heads, weighted hooks, texas rigs.  Find what works for you becuase sunken trees in 12-15 feet of water sound like heaven.  

 

If you get out on a calm day, really concentrate on the drops and points and ledges - working slowly and watching your line.  It is hard to work new spots in the wind...at least for me.  But if I can learn how the fish are orienting, feel the bottom and any bites on a calm day, I have much more confidence when I approach those spots in a bit of breeze.  If you struggle with bottom contact off shore, deeper spinnerbaits, crankbaits, spoons can get you into the fish without necessarily putting a premium on feeling deep bites.

I really like that underwater point that comes down between the 16 and 22

[Todd2]

18 hours ago, scaleface said:

Do you peg your sinkers ?  That helps a lot in heavy brush . Also I dont texpose , or skin hook when fishing that sort of  brush   , I bury the point inside the worm . 

I've fished a Texas rig since my teenage years in the late 80's. This is the first year I've really pegged my Trig much and I like it. I keep a bobber stop a foot or so above the weight normally but when throwing into heavy brush I wet the line and slide it down pegged...and yes, bury that hook point in the center of the worm.  Comes through cover better than a jig and gives me confidence to pitch it anywhere. I wish I'd been doing this for years.

[Born 2 fish]

I would start deep cranking some drop offs 15-20 is where I would go also the shady side of docks with a worm or jig.

[KrzyyImportz]

I appreciate all the help from you guys. Clearly I don't know how to read the Navionics well enough.

 

I'll definitely be trying out all of these suggestions. 

[scaleface]

24 minutes ago, Todd2 said:

I keep a bobber stop a foot or so above the weight normally but when throwing into heavy brush I wet the line and slide it down pegged.

I do the same thing .  

[dodgeguy]

Fish may not also show on sonar. If they hide under rocks and hug the bottom they won't show up. I catch fish all the time where this happens. 

[RoLo]

 

The only way to pinpoint pay dirt is with an onsite survey (hands on). 

We're approaching the season when plastic worms really strut their stuff.

In a lake with dingy water, I'd favor a noisy worm like a Zoom Ultravibe.

 

Roger

[Catt]

33 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

The only way to pinpoint pay dirt is with an onsite survey (hands on). 

We're approaching the season when plastic worms really strut their stuff.

In a lake with dingy water, I'd favor a noisy worm like a Zoom Ultravibe.

 

Roger

 

Wobble Head Rage Swimmer  ?

[Bankc]

Stanley Draper is the lake I probably hit up the most!  Either that, or Kitchen, the tiny lake right next to it.  

 

Here's the best advice I can give you... Give up on black bass.  Black bass are few and far between.  If you want to have fun on that lake, target sand bass, crappie, or catfish.  In fact, most of the lakes in the OKC area are pretty similar in that respect. 

[Bankbeater]

Around here low visibility in the summer means lack of vegetation below the water line.  Add in the heat and the bass are probably not moving much due to the oxygen level in the water being below average.  I'd do what has already been mentioned and look for deep structure.  You might try around those pumps if they are moving water in and out of the lake.

[Koz]

Stained water? Blue/black Chatterbait with a speed craw (small) or Pit Boss (large) trailer. Don't be afraid to throw a white chatterbait in that stained water as well.

[Bankc]

I take back my "best advice".  They have fishing tournaments there Wednesday nights, I think.  I bet those guys would know more about that lake.  

 

Most of the people I've talked to say it's a pretty hard lake to fish.  My experience backs that up.  I can catch sand bass off the points and some of the steeper ledges.  And I can catch crappie off the fishing piers, where the PVC condos are sunk.  That's about it.  

 

There's lots of shallowish vegetation in the coves on the north end that look good for Largemouth.  And there's some areas south east near the dam that also look promising.  But I've never had much luck there myself, not have I seen anyone pull in more than a dink or two. 

 

Anyway, if you find out anything, or figure anything out yourself, I'd be grateful for any help.  The only reason I frequent that lake is because it's close by.  That, and none of the other lakes close by are much, if any, better.  If you want to drive for an hour or two, there are a lot better lakes to drop a line in.

[dodgeguy]

On 6/18/2020 at 9:22 PM, Bankc said:

I take back my "best advice".  They have fishing tournaments there Wednesday nights, I think.  I bet those guys would know more about that lake.  

 

Most of the people I've talked to say it's a pretty hard lake to fish.  My experience backs that up.  I can catch sand bass off the points and some of the steeper ledges.  And I can catch crappie off the fishing piers, where the PVC condos are sunk.  That's about it.  

 

There's lots of shallowish vegetation in the coves on the north end that look good for Largemouth.  And there's some areas south east near the dam that also look promising.  But I've never had much luck there myself, not have I seen anyone pull in more than a dink or two. 

 

Anyway, if you find out anything, or figure anything out yourself, I'd be grateful for any help.  The only reason I frequent that lake is because it's close by.  That, and none of the other lakes close by are much, if any, better.  If you want to drive for an hour or two, there are a lot better lakes to drop a line in.

You guys should get together and fish it.