situational lures

[W1-10]

Scenario: I'm going to a small private community lake that is only about 30' deep in it's deepest points. It has no real visible vegetation, no standing cover, and a lot of docks. The south side is steep vertical rocky drop offs, while the north is mostly muddy flats. The west side is a rip-rap dam. The average depth in the coves is about 10-13 feet. There isn't much deep water cover other than a few man-made crappie beds. The water is usually stained and the air temp has been around 90*. There's medium sized shad, and a lot of crawdads. What tackle would you take? My buddy says they've gotten skunked on just about everything lately. :-/

[roadwarrior]

Fish GYCB Kut-Tail, T-rigged and unpegged around the docks.

[.ghoti.]

The south side is steep vertical rocky drop offs, while the north is mostly muddy flats. I'd fish the steep part with a Fat Ika. I've found these to be good on very steep banks, and you can fish one pretty deep. On the mud flats I'd suggest finding the end of the flat, where it breaks into deeper water, and fish every bait you have, starting with crankbaits that will run at the depth of the break.

The west side is a rip-rap dam. Always a good spot for a crank. Parallel the bank, starting with a shallow running cranks fished shallow, and work your way deeper. Try the base of the rip-rap with T-rigged worms or craws, or a jig/craw.

There isn't much deep water cover other than a few man-made crappie beds. These will attract more than crappie. Fish these from all angles with every bait you can get down to them.

Good luck,

GK

[Rebbasser]

There's medium sized shad, and a lot of crawdads. What tackle would you take?

Something that matches the hatch.  Deep running crawfish colored cranks fished shallow so the dig up a mud trail, chrome/blue or smokey joe Rat-L-Traps, Zoom Super Flukes-things that resemble the main forage.

[ww2farmer]

Skip a 5" senko under the docks, and pitch a 3/8oz jig w/craw trailer to any submerged cover you can find, the deeper the better.

[ivey_fish_camp]

Bass and crappie both utilize the same type of cover and both feed on minnows.  I have used rattle traps, spinnerbaits, and other lures that mimic bait fish around submerged trees (my crappie hot spots) and caught some nice bass.  In hot weather the fish will be deeper, so fish deep around these crappie beds and you should put some in the boat.  Worms, senkos, and soft plastics around the docks and drop offs. Crawfish or shad patterned crankbaits in the holes and deep areas. Sounds like this lake has some good structure, all of these tips from everyone have to produce some fish.  Good luck!

[Dirk_Jig---Lure]

I would concentrate on the mouths of those 10-13 ft deep coves.  Use whatever you have confidence in.

[bighed]

A tough bite says down size your baits.  Look for structure with cover, so a drop off with a dock on it would be great, a rocky point with a brush pile wold be great, etc.  Sounds like I'd reach for a drop shot or shakey head.  Good Luck, big

[BassHunter69]

heres a tip i learned from an old timer . try to catch you a few of those crawdads, heres how to do it take a length of fishing line tye on a peice of bacon weight it down with a rock wait about 30 minutes then pull that line up fast and get an old butterfly net under those craw dads, use them for bait or get crawdad lures that will match the hatch .