Shad at 27-30ft, face down on the bottom. What did I miss?

[txchaser]

I had one of those "I can see them but dangit I can't catch them" days. 

 

Water temps ~49-50 at the surface, 52 at 20ft. Surpisingly warm actually. Air temps dropping over the last 14 days, but water not moving much (2-4degrees maybe?) Water was murkier than usual, probably 2ft vis vs usual 3-4ft. Full sunshine, wind steady around 7-10mph. 

 

Shad were consistently setup at 27ish feet in 30FOW, next to a ledge that in many cases started around 20ft. 

I could see a bunch of fish in there with the shad. I could also see fish on the 20ft ledges 'overlooking' where the shad were. 

 

Fish not relating to the shad balls were mostly suspending around 11ft over 20-30ft water, or on the bottom in 10-12fow. I'm guessing based on where I saw them they were shore fish. This place has two distinct behaviors, one is pursuing and relating to shad (pale, pelagic) and one is up shallower mostly chasing gills (have a tan). Consistent all year round in terms of different approaches/bites/behavior. 

 

Caught a single fish on a tail spin, tried two types/colors. Lift to 1ft, then drop. 

Also tried 4" and 6" spoons (rip and drop), jig w/pork slow drag, cranks (albeit not heavy committment), some dropshot with maxscent flat shad set at 18", slow rolling a chatterbait around 1ft off the bottom. And a lot of a-rig, both heavy head and light head. Pretty sure I got both above and through the school, fast and slow. Both a-rigs were bladed - heavy one with white swimbaits, fat impact 3.8 , light one with natural color, tight wiggle 3.8 (jackall). 

 

Thought about but didn't try: 1) heavy underspin. 2) Repositioning boat to change casting angle, although this is tougher with no spotlock. Can anchor in 20ft, but 30ft seemed a little sketchy. One fish I did catch deep was on a drive-by... I saw them while I was moving and just chucked it past them and kept moving. But continued to fish that school with no further results. 

 

Most days I would have just moved on and chased the fish that were up in 11FOW, but I was trying to figure out the winter deep shad bite. I did catch one of them near sundown as I started throwing a white swimjig up shallow-ish. 

 

Anyway if you made it this far, thanks for reading the wall of text. Often on the drive home I get some idea on what I missed or what else I might have tried, but I'm coming up blank.

 

[WRB]

Threadfin or gizzard Shad?

Tom

 

[cyclops2]

Lateral lines work after sundown. Much fishing during daytime ? Weekends ?

[TnRiver46]

49 minutes ago, txchaser said:

I had one of those "I can see them but dangit I can't catch them" days. 

 

Water temps ~49-50 at the surface, 52 at 20ft. Surpisingly warm actually. Air temps dropping over the last 14 days, but water not moving much (2-4degrees maybe?) Water was murkier than usual, probably 2ft vis vs usual 3-4ft. Full sunshine, wind steady around 7-10mph. 

 

Shad were consistently setup at 27ish feet in 30FOW, next to a ledge that in many cases started around 20ft. 

I could see a bunch of fish in there with the shad. I could also see fish on the 20ft ledges 'overlooking' where the shad were. 

 

Fish not relating to the shad balls were mostly suspending around 11ft over 20-30ft water, or on the bottom in 10-12fow. I'm guessing based on where I saw them they were shore fish. This place has two distinct behaviors, one is pursuing and relating to shad (pale, pelagic) and one is up shallower mostly chasing gills (have a tan). Consistent all year round in terms of different approaches/bites/behavior. 

 

Caught a single fish on a tail spin, tried two types/colors. Lift to 1ft, then drop. 

Also tried 4" and 6" spoons (rip and drop), jig w/pork slow drag, cranks (albeit not heavy committment), some dropshot with maxscent flat shad set at 18", slow rolling a chatterbait around 1ft off the bottom. And a lot of a-rig, both heavy head and light head. Pretty sure I got both above and through the school, fast and slow. Both a-rigs were bladed - heavy one with white swimbaits, fat impact 3.8 , light one with natural color, tight wiggle 3.8 (jackall). 

 

Thought about but didn't try: 1) heavy underspin. 2) Repositioning boat to change casting angle, although this is tougher with no spotlock. Can anchor in 20ft, but 30ft seemed a little sketchy. One fish I did catch deep was on a drive-by... I saw them while I was moving and just chucked it past them and kept moving. But continued to fish that school with no further results. 

 

Most days I would have just moved on and chased the fish that were up in 11FOW, but I was trying to figure out the winter deep shad bite. I did catch one of them near sundown as I started throwing a white swimjig up shallow-ish. 

 

Anyway if you made it this far, thanks for reading the wall of text. Often on the drive home I get some idea on what I missed or what else I might have tried, but I'm coming up blank.

 

I’ve only been fishing an underspin for about 2 months but I catch a fish every single time I put it down and grab something else 

 

I’ve noticed , mainly on this forum and a YouTube channel or 3, that winter fishing in Texas can be pretty bad. Those water temps are money in the bank where I fish. I think smallmouth is the X factor, they love a “cold” day in the south 

 

a small fluke style bait on a jig head is a good option for me in those circumstances 

[txchaser]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Threadfin or gizzard Shad?

Tom

 

Threadfin.

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

winter fishing in Texas can be pretty bad

Trying to chase the fish that go unmolested for all of deer and duck season

 

1 hour ago, cyclops2 said:

Lateral lines work after sundown. Much fishing during daytime ? Weekends ?

All daytime, can stretch into dark. Usually weekends.

[WRB]

Threadfin cold water tolerance is about 45 degrees before a die off occurs. I believe there maybe a spring or hugging the bottom for warmth.

Structure spoons in 2 1/2” to 3”, 3/4 oz in pearl white with Chicken feathered sharp size 4 or 2 treble hooks (Owner) should work.

P-Line Laser spoon or standby Kastmaster.

Tom

[txchaser]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

Threadfin cold water tolerance is about 45 degrees before a die off occurs. I believe there maybe a spring or hugging the bottom for warmth.

Structure spoons in 2 1/2” to 3”, 3/4 oz in pearl white with Chicken feathered sharp size 4 or 2 treble hooks (Owner) should work.

P-Line Laser spoon or standby Kastmaster.

Tom

Thanks @WRB

 

If this is the one you are talking about, it sat right there in the winter box next to the flutter spoons. I even had the tools and didn't put it together. 

 

[cyclops2]

I LIKE that lure !!  It really looks like a near death meal.  Easy to grab & swallow.

[Blue Raider Bob]

On 1/30/2022 at 6:39 PM, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve only been fishing an underspin for about 2 months but I catch a fish every single time I put it down and grab something else 

 

I’ve noticed , mainly on this forum and a YouTube channel or 3, that winter fishing in Texas can be pretty bad. Those water temps are money in the bank where I fish. I think smallmouth is the X factor, they love a “cold” day in the south 

 

a small fluke style bait on a jig head is a good option for me in those circumstances 

Gonna try some fluke styles on the river soon. What colors are working for you? I threw everything in the tacklebox Sunday and only got one good spot. River was cold, high, and muddy below Nickajack.

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Gonna try some fluke styles on the river soon. What colors are working for you? I threw everything in the tacklebox Sunday and only got one good spot. River was cold, high, and muddy below Nickajack.

Still wearing them out, got a limit of white bass with them last night