Bob Sandlin Winter Fishing

[PTasker15]

Anyone fish Sandlin around now and in February? I did some looking into it and it's very different from my home lake of Wright Patman. Much deeper, also claims to have a clarity of 2-4ft, which is the same for our lake (20ft deep at most) but for such a deep lake(I read between 60-80ft), seems low. Certain patterns they may follow? Areas they like? Presentations they like? Not trying to find y'alls honey holes or secret baits, but looking to get set in the right direction and find some guidance before I put the boat in for the first time.

[thediscochef]

I was there in October, definitely accurate with the water clarity, though it's likely clearer towards the dam and in the deeper water. The muddy shallow water warms up faster with direct sun, so on these Bluebird days if you can find a muddy spot with easy access to deep water you're probably in business. Something where the shore faces south will warm up earlier (less shadows). Roberts gets similar water clarity in the creeks with the same/greater depth average 

 

Can also just try to follow the bait; I was at Chapman/Cooper last week and the shads were going bananas in the shallows near the north state park boat ramps after the sun was up for a bit. Probably a solid 4 acres of shads jumping. We only found a few bass around then but still, better than no bass

[PTasker15]

On 12/6/2023 at 9:50 PM, thediscochef said:

I was there in October, definitely accurate with the water clarity, though it's likely clearer towards the dam and in the deeper water. The muddy shallow water warms up faster with direct sun, so on these Bluebird days if you can find a muddy spot with easy access to deep water you're probably in business. Something where the shore faces south will warm up earlier (less shadows). Roberts gets similar water clarity in the creeks with the same/greater depth average 

 

Can also just try to follow the bait; I was at Chapman/Cooper last week and the shads were going bananas in the shallows near the north state park boat ramps after the sun was up for a bit. Probably a solid 4 acres of shads jumping. We only found a few bass around then but still, better than no bass

I checked the lake out lately on a depth map. Weird lake y'all have.

 

Deep on the east side, shallow on the west. There looks to be really no river/creek channels but by the dam, and that one is small. There's a giant point by the dam, but was told it is pretty pressured. I found some nice stuff south of the dam, but still on the "deeper" side of the lake. A main lake point, a secondary lake point, 2 ditches, and a giant hump all in one creek, so that's my top choice.

 

But since it is a huge lake with hugely varying depth and clarity, I would assume that makes the west side easier to fish closer to pre-spawn? Dirtier, Shallower, Warmer water.

[thediscochef]

On 12/29/2023 at 2:12 PM, PTasker15 said:

I checked the lake out lately on a depth map. Weird lake y'all have.

 

Deep on the east side, shallow on the west. There looks to be really no river/creek channels but by the dam, and that one is small. There's a giant point by the dam, but was told it is pretty pressured. I found some nice stuff south of the dam, but still on the "deeper" side of the lake. A main lake point, a secondary lake point, 2 ditches, and a giant hump all in one creek, so that's my top choice.

 

But since it is a huge lake with hugely varying depth and clarity, I would assume that makes the west side easier to fish closer to pre-spawn? Dirtier, Shallower, Warmer water.

Lots of the Texas reservoirs to your west don't have particularly well defined shallow Creek channels, as they were impounded over land that rarely had consistent flowing rivers or water and therefore gained relatively little depth. Early settlers viewed most of Texas as uninhabitable because of this inconsistency. Add all the silt runoff and your gradients become very slow in some lakes. Roberts is like this. My best bet has been warm shallow water with quick and easy access to deeper water. Most of the catches I'm seeing on the bank at Roberts are on sunny days right up against the riprap. I usually identify the edges of the old creek beds in TX reservoirs via standing timber lines, but I'm fishing main lake access only right now. Water is cold cold and I haven't found anything wandering up the creeks on the sunny days just yet. Not since the bait fest at Cooper back in early December 

[PTasker15]

4 hours ago, thediscochef said:

Lots of the Texas reservoirs to your west don't have particularly well defined shallow Creek channels, as they were impounded over land that rarely had consistent flowing rivers or water and therefore gained relatively little depth. Early settlers viewed most of Texas as uninhabitable because of this inconsistency. Add all the silt runoff and your gradients become very slow in some lakes. Roberts is like this. My best bet has been warm shallow water with quick and easy access to deeper water. Most of the catches I'm seeing on the bank at Roberts are on sunny days right up against the riprap. I usually identify the edges of the old creek beds in TX reservoirs via standing timber lines, but I'm fishing main lake access only right now. Water is cold cold and I haven't found anything wandering up the creeks on the sunny days just yet. Not since the bait fest at Cooper back in early December 

I'll be hanging around the deeper east side as mentioned around points, humps, timber, and rip-rap as mentioned. Might check drains in creeks.

 

I'll be there late January. Maybe then they might push up more on the west side if it warms up a few degrees?

[thediscochef]

8 hours ago, PTasker15 said:

I'll be hanging around the deeper east side as mentioned around points, humps, timber, and rip-rap as mentioned. Might check drains in creeks.

 

I'll be there late January. Maybe then they might push up more on the west side if it warms up a few degrees?

I think your instinct is on the money. Looking forward to seeing you post a toad!

[PTasker15]

3 hours ago, thediscochef said:

I think your instinct is on the money. Looking forward to seeing you post a toad!

I've been having a short run of luck on anything above 4lbs. If I catch anything over 6, I'll let the whole lake know

[thediscochef]

38 minutes ago, PTasker15 said:

I've been having a short run of luck on anything above 4lbs. If I catch anything over 6, I'll let the whole lake know

Haha sounds like a plan. I'm bankbound so I'm just out there for the sunshine this time of year 😂😂

[PTasker15]

1 hour ago, thediscochef said:

Haha sounds like a plan. I'm bankbound so I'm just out there for the sunshine this time of year 😂😂

Yeah im trying to rig up a spinnerbait just for this lake (key word is try, I made a post incase you might know. Im thinking a 3/4oz white spinnerbait with a 4 1/2" gold Indiana blade (or a 4 1/2" silver colorado, still undecided) and a 2 1/2" silver colorado blade for some heavy thumping. We will see if I can get it to work.

[clh121787]

Don’t run east of the 21 bridge unless you know where you’re going lots of big ass timber right in the middle. There’s also timber in the main lake but it’s clear if you run down the middle of the channel