Tourny on lake flooded with Timber

[J. M. Richardson]

Hey Guys,

This sunday I am fishing a lake that is almost all flooded timber (some of the trees still stick out 60 or 70 feet tall). The bass should be chasing shad and the air temps will be in the 70s.

What would you guys use? My plan is to use square bill cranks, jigs, spinnerbaits and a wacky rig if I have to slow way down.

Any help would be appreciated.

[OHIO]

Hey Guys,

This sunday I am fishing a lake that is almost all flooded timber (some of the trees still stick out 60 or 70 feet tall). The bass should be chasing shad and the air temps will be in the 70s.

What would you guys use? My plan is to use square bill cranks, jigs, spinnerbaits and a wacky rig if I have to slow way down.

Any help would be appreciated.

There is your answer.

Use baits that imitate shad.

I prefer spinnerbaits and soft swimbaits (I'm too cheap to buy the hard ones) ;D.

I would also try pitching jigs near the timber and maybe even a senko or two.

[brushhoggin]

http://www.peepersbaits.com/baits/cranks/wec_main.html

check out the top row. i have done very well with this bait (e1) in those situations, in the short amount of time i've owned it. may be impossible to find before tomorrow but will serve you well in future flooded timber fishing. good luck

[Vinny Chase]

Hey Guys,

This sunday I am fishing a lake that is almost all flooded timber (some of the trees still stick out 60 or 70 feet tall). The bass should be chasing shad and the air temps will be in the 70s.

What would you guys use? My plan is to use square bill cranks, jigs, spinnerbaits and a wacky rig if I have to slow way down.

Any help would be appreciated.

Spot on

[aarogb]

http://www.peepersbaits.com/baits/cranks/wec_main.html

check out the top row. i have done very well with this bait (e1) in those situations, in the short amount of time i've owned it. may be impossible to find before tomorrow but will serve you well in future flooded timber fishing. good luck

You are right, those are amazing cranks.  How deep is the water that is around all this standing timber?

[J. M. Richardson]

Well, had the tournament today. It was hard fishing we had a high pressure system over the lake and it was unseasonably warm for iowa this time of year (in the 80s).

Tried throwing everything I said and the only thing me and my partner were getting bit on were jigs. Out of 15 teams only 5 weighed in fish and we took third with only two fish just barely the length limit. The local guys said it was the worst day they ever had on the lake.

[Vinny Chase]

Well, had the tournament today. It was hard fishing we had a high pressure system over the lake and it was unseasonably warm for iowa this time of year (in the 80s).

Tried throwing everything I said and the only thing me and my partner were getting bit on were jigs. Out of 15 teams only 5 weighed in fish and we took third with only two fish just barely the length limit. The local guys said it was the worst day they ever had on the lake.

3rd isnt bad!!

I know what you mean. We had 80's in MN, but for some reason i had one the best days of the year numbers wise.

[Shane J]

I was gonna say jigs, too. Nice job on the 3rd place finish in tough conditions.

[pudmunk]

+1 on the the Jigs over laying down trees, hitting both sides.

The good thing is you didn't get skunked

[J. M. Richardson]

The other I forgot to mention that was cool about this tournament was that it was sponsored by the Iowa State University Fishing club (of which I am a member) and we got to compete against the President of the University who is an avid fisherman (great to see him coming out and spending time with students, something I am sure not to many university presidents do).

[Stephen D.]

So how did he do?