Subject: fishing creek channels and bluffs

[Siebert Outdoors]

I fish a mostly man made lakes with the typical mostly bowl shape with a few small points, all main lake because the lake isnt big enough for a secondary.  There is a creek channel the cuts through 1/2 the lake and follows to the far side with a bluff at the channel swing then cuts back to the other side to the spill way.  This is where the deepest water is located and the largest fish.  There are 8-9lb large mouth that I know hang in this area.  I have seen them because they were weighed with my scale. Heard rumors of 10+'s I have seen them but never caught one.  What is the most effective way to fish a bluff that also has the old creek channel as part of it.  The depth avg. is 17-20ft.  There is not structure here except the bluff(bank) wall almost straight drop off,and on the other side of the creek channel(17-20 fow)  

 

 

2nd question creek channel

 

What is the best way to fish a creek channel in the middle of nowhere with no structure just the channel itself.  Mud to gravel bottom.  Depth rangets from 10-15 ft.  A good example of what it looks like is this

---u-----    

A flat bottom with a slight decline to deaper water.  The creek channel is the only structure I have found out here.

[fishin_fool]

For bluffs I like crankbaits tubes small jig and pig and spinnerbaits

As for the creek channel any where it bends there are always stumps and gravel

[Alpster]

I would fish a big jig with big skirt and a big trailer. Get it to fall as slowly as possible as close to that bluff as you can get. JMHO

Ronnie

[SPEEDBEAD.]

2nd question creek channel

What is the best way to fish a creek channel in the middle of nowhere with no structure just the channel itself. Mud to gravel bottom. Depth rangets from 10-15 ft. A good example of what it looks like is this

---u-----

A flat bottom with a slight decline to deaper water. The creek channel is the only structure I have found out here.

Find the bends and start dragging a c-rig or a jig.

[CJ]

As for the bluff,my first would be a jig or shakey head finesse worm.If I felt the fish were holding close to the bluff wall I would see if I could figure out a spinnerbait presentation that would work by parralelling the bluff.Last but not least a drop shot or float-n-fly.I really think the lure and presentation would depend on how I felt the fish were relating to the bluff.

As for the channel,c-rig,tube,shakeyhead,or jig.I would drag it on the gravel.

[CraigBaugher]

Hey G!

A channel is a transitions, and all transitions are migration route if it leads to anything.  However, a feature by itself without any other feature is an Expressway.  However, if you zigzag it to 90-feet on each side, you may find a rest stop somewhere along it path.

The bluff, is very cool.  I learned how to effectively fish them visiting my grandfather in Tenessee.  You know I'm a finesse addict, so I found a 2-1/2" tubebait with a 1/16 to 1/8-oz ball jig inserted all the way inside and 6-lb test was THE lure.  I'd count it down and most never came lose to reaching the bottom.  Smallmouth crushed them.  One day I caught close to  75 fish, fishing a couple transitions from slate to rock and slate to dirt.

[Catt]

I would follow Ronnie's advice

I would also fish the same bait on the creek channel edge opposite of the bluff; look for under water points, ridges, any thing out of the ordinary. While all of the structure may appear to be the same I can assure is not so find any thing out of the ordinary.

Fish slow & methodically  

[Nick B]

I like to find bends with some sort of cover on it. Then fish deeper until I find the fish

[Siebert Outdoors]

Thanks for the ideas guys. This is one area I have fished and had little success. I will keep working at it because I know they are there.  I will try all of your responses and see how it goes.

PS once the lake unfreezes :-?

[Gorgebassman]

I am with these other guys the structure may look the same but if you look closely you will find suttle diffrences and that will make a diffrence to the fish even if it isnt so obvious to us humans.

[Chris]

Jigging spoon, heavy tube, crankbait, drag a football jig, just other ideas