How would you guys fish this area?

[Guest JoshKeller]

Heres what I found. A sunken pond.  The dam rises up to about 12 feet of water, and has brush ont he top and the back side. back side slowly tapers down to about 20 feet. The pond side rapidly drops off to 25 feet or so.

On the rapid drop, I see schools of baitfish being chased by bass, usually in about 20 feet of water. How would you guys approach this?

[Troutfisher]

What do I think....hmmm.  I you have a boat, I would get near the baitfish and throw a buzzbait for starts, and then toss a minnow imitation, be it a spinnerbait or a swimbait.

Well, that's how I'd approach the schools of baitfish, at least.

[Guest JoshKeller]

keep in mind these baitfish are in 20 feet or so of water.. the bass are slightly below.

[senile1]

Josh, Are you stating that you can see the bass chasing baitfish at a 20 foot depth?  If so, this sounds like very clear water.  Rapala countdown minnows would be perfect to imitate the baitfish at 20 feet as would a spinnerbait with willow leaf blades.  Norman DD22s would get pretty close to this depth also.  However, if the water is this clear, and the fish are actively feeding, you wouldn't necessarily have to get down to this depth to get them to chase a baitfish imitating lure.  

[Guest JoshKeller]

I cant physically see them, but I can clearly see them on my garmin sonar/gps.

[5bass]

I'd go with a Lucky Craft CBD-20 or a Mann's 20+.......or do the kneel & reel with a DD22......if they dont work,the only other thing I can think of fishing that deep on suspended fish is a spoon.I know,I know,I hate fishing them too but being that deep and staying that deep feeding,it may be the best alternative.Just count it down and start jiggin',dont let it sit still for too long though,you don't want them to get a real good look at it.

After reading your post again,I get that the fish are hangin at 20 over a 25 ft bottom.You could try a drop shot with a 5 ft tag and drop it over the side of the boat.

[Valascus]

This is a quote from Glenn.

" A 3-way rig is somewhat of a modified walleye rig. You tie a 3-way swivel to the end of your line and attach 2 monofilament leaders of lesser test to the remaining loops, one longer than the other (about 3 feet and 18"). On the long end, attach a 3-ounce ball weight. On the other, attach a shallow diving crankbait via a snap.

To cast, you don't. Put your trolling motor on about mid-speed (for starters), and slowly lower the rig over the side of the boat. Do it fast, and the rig will tangle.

Now, simply troll around productive areas. Speed up or slow down until you figure out how the bass want it.

This is a good deep-water presentation that works especially well during the colder months, believe it or not. It can catch some seriously big pigs."

That sounds like something that could work in the situation you have described. Especially if you can't get any deep diving crankbaits to the proper depth to nail those feeding bass. I remembered reading this reply from him on the "What Proven Techniques Don't Work For You" thread. Good luck.

[Guest JoshKeller]

I was thinking about that, but the only problem is that I cannot troll in my tournament this Sunday.

[Valascus]

This may be a stupid idea...but here goes ...is here any way to C-rig a crankbait? Is there a way to use a heavy enough weight to where the weight still drags the bottom, but put's enough weight on the crankbait to keep it within the strike zone? That way you could cast the rig, which would be very similar to the 3-way rig, instead of trolling. Like I said...it may be a stupid idea, but it's just a thought. :-?

[Randall]

Fluke on a jighead. I will use a spoon in winter but this time of year I will swim a fluke on a jighead  through those fish. Texas rig the fluke on a jighead like a spotsticker or spot stalker and you can work it through the brush without hanging up as well.

[Danceswithbass]

I'd target the brush with what ever plastics you have the most confidence in. Then parallel the deep stuff with a 4" swim bait or ledge buster or deep crank.

[mudcatwilly]

Definitely fluke on a light jighead.  Sit beyond the drop off facing the shallow side and work the bait toward the dropoff.  As you get your bait to the drop off, try to keep the bait just above the bass (they see upward better than downward).  I would swim it with a stop and go retrieve, twitching it a little bit.

[Matt Fly]

Doing well in tournaments is free press for your guide service Josh.   Tear'em up.   I look forward in booking you in the future.

Hookem

matt