Clear Mountain Lake Questions?

[Captain Phil]

Next week we will be staying with friends in North Georgia.  His home is in a mountain Community with a sizable private lake open only to residents. We fish out of a pontoon boat.  This is a clear deep water lake of approximately 500 acres that is stocked with largemouth bass and trout. I have fished this lake many times before.  I have caught small bass with a Tex rig worm on 8 pound spinning tackle. My largest bass so far has been about 3 pounds.  Coming from Florida, I may as well be fishing on the moon.  Any suggestions would be appreciated. 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Having just fished a few mountain lakes in North Ga this past weekend I would recommend crawfish color jigs on Flouro. Ned rigs and jerkbaits. Those are what we had success on 

 

If your able, pick up a trout colored swimbait for the big bite

 

 

[roadwarrior]

[WRB]

Having fished clear deep rocky structure lakes all my life that have both LMB and trout populations I learned the 2 species usually stay seperated or occupy different water column temperature zones when water temperatures are above 70 degrees or a thermocline is established. Just because a lake has both the 2 species doesn't mean bass are feeding on trout. Bass tend to target newly stocked small trout because the trout are disoriented for several days. Therefor using a trout swimbait works best shortly after trout are planted.

I know when visiting freinds getting out to fish early or before 9 in the morning or later after 3 in the afternoon is difficult. The early and late bite will increase your success.

Tom

 

[Captain Phil]

I have had decent luck with a Texas rigged Zoom Junebug worm and a 5/16" oz sinker casting it shallow and working it down the drops.  All small fish.  Bass over three pounds seem non existent.  I know there must be bigger fish in the lake somewhere?

[WRB]

Are the bass LMB or Spotted bass?

i know you said LMB.

june big is a good Florida color but you might think about getting 6” Roboworms in Oxblood w/ lt red flake and MMIII. Also 3/8 oz Yamamoto football jig with 4” Hula Grub 221 & 330 colors and target points.

Tom

[TnRiver46]

I have a similar lake where fishing weightless always outproduces any kind of jig head or sinker. A finesse worm with some sparkle, just make a long cast and leave it alone until your line takes off. The slower it will sink, the better. I like using a zoom finesse worm with 1/0 or 2/0 and it sinks very slow and tantalizes them into eating it. Also a jerkbait is fun in clear water even if nothing bites it haha

[Captain Phil]

Thanks for the input.  Leaving in the morning.  Looking forward to some cooler weather for a change.

[TnRiver46]

12 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

Thanks for the input.  Leaving in the morning.  Looking forward to some cooler weather for a change.

Cooler weather in Georgia???? I‘ve got some ocean front property in AZ I’d like to offer you 

[Captain Phil]

We are staying in Big Canoe.   Nights are in the 50s & 60s.  Days in the seventies.  That's the Ice Age compared to Florida.  :>)

 

 

[Captain Phil]

Here's a followup on this thread.  I tried a Zoom finesse worm on 8 pound mono and caught a few fish.  This lake is full of small shad that I assumed to be the main food source.  I pulled out a small shad colored Pop R that I haven't used in years.  I'm sure these bass have never seen that lure before. The mountain lake bass went nuts over this lure.  My buddy that lives on this lake now has a new way to fish.

 

I still haven't caught any fish larger than a pound or so. This lake has stocked bass and trout.  It's been stocked for a long time.  It's deep with no weeds, only rocks. Where are the big fish?

[GaryH]

1 hour ago, Captain Phil said:

 

I still haven't caught any fish larger than a pound or so. This lake has stocked bass and trout.  It's been stocked for a long time.  It's deep with no weeds, only rocks. Where are the big fish?

There back home in Florida.. Just kidding. Good job on pulling out that Pop R. Good move

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

Here's a followup on this thread.  I tried a Zoom finesse worm on 8 pound mono and caught a few fish.  This lake is full of small shad that I assumed to be the main food source.  I pulled out a small shad colored Pop R that I haven't used in years.  I'm sure these bass have never seen that lure before. The mountain lake bass went nuts over this lure.  My buddy that lives on this lake now has a new way to fish.

 

I still haven't caught any fish larger than a pound or so. This lake has stocked bass and trout.  It's been stocked for a long time.  It's deep with no weeds, only rocks. Where are the big fish?

A lot of small lakes don’t have big bass because there is zero harvest . Too many mouths to feed

 

thanks for

the  update 

[Captain Phil]

22 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

A lot of small lakes don’t have big bass because there is zero harvest . Too many mouths to feed

 

thanks for

the  update 

Makes sense.  This lake is full of small bass.  The trout that are stocked are good sized fish.  Residents catch them by slow trolling trout food.  I'm back home in Florida now. There are two big tournaments on the Chain this weekend.  After the lake calms down, I'll be back on the water.

[bigbassin']

7 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

I still haven't caught any fish larger than a pound or so. This lake has stocked bass and trout.  It's been stocked for a long time.  It's deep with no weeds, only rocks. Where are the big fish?

In my experience, a lot of the clear, deep mountain lakes in Georgia just don’t hold large bass.

 

It may be lack of harvest like @TnRiver46 said, but I think it’s mostly just that the lakes don’t match the conditions LMB have evolved to thrive in. There’s a reason why spots completely eliminated smallmouth and have effectively done the same with largemouth bass once they’re introduced to these types of lakes in Georgia, they’re just better suited for these these types of waters than the other two.

 

Constantly chasing small, low-calorie nomadic bait rather than being able to ambush panfish and other larger bait produces small largemouth.