Fished a new weird place yesterday

[the reel ess]

It's a 25 acre public, DNR lake (think big pond) that's about 7 miles from home. There was a fish kill there years ago and they restocked it and added stake beds and concrete drain tiles. I started off by fishing a stake bed. Caught two and got hung up on some old fishing line. I figured I'd spooked any remaining fish out so I paddled on. I discovered that at least 23 acres is 2' deep or less. Went all the way around the place without a nibble. Went back to that one stake bed and caught 4 more off of it. It's just funny to me the only piece of cover/structure I could get a bite off of was that one stake bed. There were others. They just didn't produce a bite. I probably won't go back. 

[Mobasser]

3 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

It's a 25 acre public, DNR lake (think big pond) that's about 7 miles from home. There was a fish kill there years ago and they restocked it and added stake beds and concrete drain tiles. I started off by fishing a stake bed. Caught two and got hung up on some old fishing line. I figured I'd spooked any remaining fish out so I paddled on. I discovered that at least 23 acres is 2' deep or less. Went all the way around the place without a nibble. Went back to that one stake bed and caught 4 more off of it. It's just funny to me the only piece of cover/structure I could get a bite off of was that one stake bed. There were others. They just didn't produce a bite. I probably won't go back. 

There may have been some change in the bottom contour around that one stake bed, that the fish were liking. 

[the reel ess]

18 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

There may have been some change in the bottom contour around that one stake bed, that the fish were liking. 

That stake bed was in about the deepest spot, probably in the creek bed. I can see why they had a fish kill. I could have caught all the fish in 30 minutes and gone home in time for dinner. ? I imagine they spread out in cooler water. A place with that much shallow water would probably be fun around the spawn. Well, I had the place to myself (I see why) and got my exercise in. The fish were very healthy and didn't know when to give up.

[Darth-Baiter]

what is a stake bed?  

 

sounds like a cool body of water once you figure them out.  

[the reel ess]

17 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

what is a stake bed?  

 

sounds like a cool body of water once you figure them out.  

This. It's pretty common in the south. Just stakes driven into or anchored to the bottom to allow loose cover/structure for fish in a body of water that's devoid of any. The cool thing about them is they're easy to find and they concentrate fish. But DNR should have done several of them in the deepest area.

 

[Darth-Baiter]

1 minute ago, the reel ess said:

This. It's pretty common in the south. Just stakes driven into the bottom to allow loose cover/structure for fish in a body of water that's devoid of any. The cool thing about them is they're easy to find and they concentrate fish. But DNR should have done several of them in the deepest area.

 

oh!!  interesting.  we dont have those here.  thanks for the education.

[the reel ess]

24 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

what is a stake bed?  

 

sounds like a cool body of water once you figure them out.  

Variety is the spice of life, especially when your usual water hole becomes the Dead Sea. My buddy texted me he caught 2 tiny crappie at the usual location. I have another small pond I have access to where the fish are stupid and hungry. It's a good place to get your mojo back when you can't buy a bite. Dog days are tough in SC unless you night fish, which I do not.

 

 

[Blue Raider Bob]

2 hours ago, the reel ess said:

It's a 25 acre public, DNR lake (think big pond) that's about 7 miles from home. There was a fish kill there years ago and they restocked it and added stake beds and concrete drain tiles. I started off by fishing a stake bed. Caught two and got hung up on some old fishing line. I figured I'd spooked any remaining fish out so I paddled on. I discovered that at least 23 acres is 2' deep or less. Went all the way around the place without a nibble. Went back to that one stake bed and caught 4 more off of it. It's just funny to me the only piece of cover/structure I could get a bite off of was that one stake bed. There were others. They just didn't produce a bite. I probably won't go back. 

Too bad the lake is so shallow. Fortunately it is close to home if you change your mind. At least you know where to concentrate.

[Swamp Girl]

Thanks for telling your story. I learned a couple things. What boat do you paddle?

[the reel ess]

Just now, ol'crickety said:

Thanks for telling your story. I learned a couple things. What boat do you paddle?

My current kayak is a Perception Pescador Pro 10'. I bought it for the stadium seat. But I saved $200 by not going with the 12 footer. Both my older kayaks were 12' and they tracked better. I've wished I got the 12 since I bought it. It's stable enough and easy to paddle and maneuver. No stable enough for standing, at least not by me. I see your canoe. Do you also kayak fish?

[Swamp Girl]

I have a couple friends with kayaks on lakes and I've used them a couple times this summer, but I kayak with a canoe paddle because I don't want to manage the long paddle when I'm fishing. I used to a write a boat column for Canoe & Kayak magazine, so I still like talking about boats. One of my friend's kayaks is an L.L.Bean boat, which is short and wide. It's plenty stable enough for standing but it's as plodding as Cleopatra's party barge and tracks like a water spider. I prefer my canoe (a Bell Rockstar) because it's light (32) pounds, long, tracks well, and carries as much as Cleopatra's party barge. Alas, no standing. Nice talkin' boats with ya!

[the reel ess]

8 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

I have a couple friends with kayaks on lakes and I've used them a couple times this summer, but I kayak with a canoe paddle because I don't want to manage the long paddle when I'm fishing. I used to a write a boat column for Canoe & Kayak magazine, so I still like talking about boats. One of my friend's kayaks is an L.L.Bean boat, which is short and wide. It's plenty stable enough for standing but it's as plodding as Cleopatra's party barge and tracks like a water spider. I prefer my canoe (a Bell Rockstar) because it's light (32) pounds, long, tracks well, and carries as much as Cleopatra's party barge. Alas, no standing. Nice talkin' boats with ya!

I had a canoe, a 13' Old Town. I found it difficult to paddle from the rear in any breeze and too wide to paddle from the middle. It was more exercise because mine wasn't as light as yours. Traded that canoe for a Browning Buckmark pistol, which I parlayed into an AR-15. I'm getting sidetracked. I loved the canoe for 2 people, not so much for just me. And I like to fish alone a lot. I'm my favorite companion.

[Blue Raider Bob]

4 hours ago, the reel ess said:

It's a 25 acre public, DNR lake (think big pond) that's about 7 miles from home. There was a fish kill there years ago and they restocked it and added stake beds and concrete drain tiles. I started off by fishing a stake bed. Caught two and got hung up on some old fishing line. I figured I'd spooked any remaining fish out so I paddled on. I discovered that at least 23 acres is 2' deep or less. Went all the way around the place without a nibble. Went back to that one stake bed and caught 4 more off of it. It's just funny to me the only piece of cover/structure I could get a bite off of was that one stake bed. There were others. They just didn't produce a bite. I probably won't go back. 

I wonder what would happen if you sunk your own structure in the deep end? Might concentrate the bass even more and give you a private spot until other fishermen's electronics found it. Seems like the resident bass population have very little choice of a deep water refuge.

[the reel ess]

59 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

I wonder what would happen if you sunk your own structure in the deep end? Might concentrate the bass even more and give you a private spot until other fishermen's electronics found it. Seems like the resident bass population have very little choice of a deep water refuge.

It probably would work just fine. But since this is a state managed fishery, the DNR might frown upon it. On the other hand, they encourage people to put out Christmas trees in the big lakes.

[Bluebasser86]

I fished a strip pit pond like that. It was only about 5 acres, super shallow except 1 corner that had a beaver dam and a small brushpile. I caught probably 15 fish off those 2 pieces of cover and maybe 3 the rest of the pond. Weird that they were all grouped up that much. 

[the reel ess]

17 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I fished a strip pit pond like that. It was only about 5 acres, super shallow except 1 corner that had a beaver dam and a small brushpile. I caught probably 15 fish off those 2 pieces of cover and maybe 3 the rest of the pond. Weird that they were all grouped up that much. 

Yes. In most of my experience, pond bass are not "schoolers".