Fall transition. Shadless highland reservoir. Strategy

[TCG83]

Hello friends. I’m Aaron and new to the forum. Let me thank you all in advance for your time. I’m fishing a chain on the Tuckasegee river in Western NC. The particular impoundment I like to frequent has no shad or bluebacks. 183 acres. I love it for the lack of crowds.  Just Bluegill, Crappie, Yellow Perch, and all the fry they make. And the stocked trout of course. And the craws. Recently I found a jig pattern after all the heavy rain that was on and popping. Bites galore all day. It seems to have turned off though. I wander how you guys would attack this. The lake is over 100’ deep and is very rocky. Lots of lay downs and minimal vegetation. A little grass in the main river mouth. My main question is, do Bass move up shallow in a shadless lake with no “bait balls” in the fall, or do they stay in the sporadic summer positioning? I need to stay graph disciplined more!!! Any thoughts you guys have on this are much appreciated!

[Glenn]

Yes, bass do move shallower in the fall even if there isn't any shad.  In your lake, I'd concentrate in the rocky areas with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, topwaters, and jigs.

[TnRiver46]

I’ve only ever trout fished the tuck, I thought Fontana was the only lake on it. Weightless worms around those laydowns is where I would start. At 100 feet deep I’m guessing it’s usually clear water unless it’s flooding, i those cases I like clearish worms with sparkle like smoke purple and smoking blue 

[WRB]

Smallmouth or Largemouth bass?

Shad are pelagic baitfish, perch and Crappie are also pelagic fish but only young of the year or under 4” long appeal to most bass.

A small lake shouldn’t take long to locate prime areas. 

Do you have a boat with sonar unit?

Tom

[frogflogger]

Lots of techniques for this water but myself I'd be throwing topwaters

fewer bites - bigger fish.

[TCG83]

Thank you all so much for responding. Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back. I need to set up email alerts. Largemouth and smallmouth WRB! Yes sir Tnriver46, on the east fork of the tuck there are 4 lakes. Wolf Creek lake, Bear lake, Cedar cliff, and tannasee creek. They are hatchery supported for trout and some walleye have been stocked, but they have some good bass populations. I do have sonar. Hummingbird helix 7 side and down. Love that side imaging for finding structure. Since I originally posted this, jigs have been the bite. Been a lot of rain. And yes, water is very clear except right after rains. 

[VolFan]

There’s almost always a jig bite on lakes like that, year round, as crawfish are bass’ most consistent food source. You’ll get a crank bait/spinner bait bite early and then again after the spawn, but those lakes scream jigs around creek channels. You can also go with gold-colored cranks that mimic the native shiners and other baitfish from the Tuck. Finally - drag a hudd around like a jig - you might be surprised with some bruiser bass and walleye.

[TCG83]

Agreed 100%!! I just gained confidence with the jig this year for this exact reason. I have come to observe that bass even prefer crawfish to blueback herring when the crawfish are active. Or at least that’s what it seems on Glenville. After rain they will hit jigs but won’t touch any baitfish imitators. 
 

I have done extensive research on the forage fish of these lakes as well as Glenville. Because everyone I asked said something different. I finally got with the NCDWL fisheries biologist for this district and have been pelting him with questions. In Glenville and the 4 on the east fork there are whitetail shiners from Tuck. Those must be the ones you are talking about that could take on a gold hue. Or are there other ones you have seen? 
 

thanks for your response!!

Oh, and what is Hudd sir?