where and when

[bubbler]

i fish lake casitas ca and the fish are busting shad all over the surface of the water. i cant catch a one. the larger fisah seem to be gathered on drop offs with lots of weed or timber. i saw a 6 lb bass swimming a drop bank on a drop off but couldnt get the darn thing. there are fish on points as well that have weed or wood also. i figured i should throw a jerk bait when ther fish are jumping and around ambush points. i also think i should driopshot these drop offs. and for the points im stumped. is there anytone who can tell me what to fish on the points. There also seems to be lots of milfoil that if i see the weeds i usealy see a bass jump out and grab a shad. what should i use for this situation. only got one on  a small crank on a drop off.

thanks for all the help.....god bless

[T-rig]

Buzzbait, LC Sammy 115 or 128, wakebaits. Topwater is the answer when bass are busting shad on top.

[Davis]

Same thing was going on with me last night. Now I never usually do this  ;D, but I T-rigged a greenpumpkin purple speckle trik stick from *** last night. Not sure of the correct name because it was a freebee. Anyway.............I rigged it weightless (love the hook slot Brent!) and was keeping it just a foot under the water while it did its scampering movement. I ended up with eight last night and I NEVER have luck T-riggin. Now maybe it will give me some more confidence on this style because usually I'm wacky worming it all the way with these baits.

Babbling again I know............so if your a plastics man, than mix up your presentation a little bit to make it look like a wounded baitfish. Worked great for me.

[Raul]

Ever heard of the "mid strolling" and "shadding" techniques ?

Grab a fluke, shaddick, bass assasin shad or GYCB shad shape worm somewhere in the 4-5" size;

for mid strolling use either a shakey head or a EWG weighted hook, rig your bait t exposing the hook, cast and allow to sink for a couple of seconds, shake the bait with your rod tip a couple of times then reel in steadily for 3-5 turns of the reel handle and shake again, when you get a bite wait a few secondes before setting the hook, no need to try to cross their eyes immediately just lift the rod and when you feel the weight of the fish set the hook.

for shadding use a wide gap hook, rig your bait wacky rig about 1/3 of it 's length from the head, cast and allow to sink and twitch your rod tip several times, the bait will dart sideways, flutter around and sink like a dying minnow, then reel in steadily for 3-5 turns of the reel handle ( the bait will swim paralel to you ) and twitch again, when you het a bite set the hook immediately.

Any of those two techniques will catch them when they are crashing on the surface.

Now y 'all reading owe me a six pack of brewskies for the tips.

[BassHunter69]

Ever heard of the "mid strolling" and "shadding" techniques ?

Grab a fluke, shaddick, bass assasin shad or GYCB shad shape worm somewhere in the 4-5" size;

for mid strolling use either a shakey head or a EWG weighted hook, rig your bait t exposing the hook, cast and allow to sink for a couple of seconds, shake the bait with your rod tip a couple of times then reel in steadily for 3-5 turns of the reel handle and shake again, when you get a bite wait a few secondes before setting the hook, no need to try to cross their eyes immediately just lift the rod and when you feel the weight of the fish set the hook.

for shadding use a wide gap hook, rig your bait wacky rig about 1/3 of it 's length from the head, cast and allow to sink and twitch your rod tip several times, the bait will dart sideways, flutter around and sink like a dying minnow, then reel in steadily for 3-5 turns of the reel handle ( the bait will swim paralel to you ) and twitch again, when you het a bite set the hook immediately.

Any of those two techniques will catch them when they are crashing on the surface.

Now y 'all reading owe me a six pack of brewskies for the tips.

heres a cup of joe instead bro   hey wheres the flukester i bet he can add some great tips on flukes as well

[Davis]

Ever heard of the "mid strolling" and "shadding" techniques ?

Grab a fluke, shaddick, bass assasin shad or GYCB shad shape worm somewhere in the 4-5" size;

for mid strolling use either a shakey head or a EWG weighted hook, rig your bait t exposing the hook, cast and allow to sink for a couple of seconds, shake the bait with your rod tip a couple of times then reel in steadily for 3-5 turns of the reel handle and shake again, when you get a bite wait a few secondes before setting the hook, no need to try to cross their eyes immediately just lift the rod and when you feel the weight of the fish set the hook.

for shadding use a wide gap hook, rig your bait wacky rig about 1/3 of it 's length from the head, cast and allow to sink and twitch your rod tip several times, the bait will dart sideways, flutter around and sink like a dying minnow, then reel in steadily for 3-5 turns of the reel handle ( the bait will swim paralel to you ) and twitch again, when you het a bite set the hook immediately.

Any of those two techniques will catch them when they are crashing on the surface.

Now y 'all reading owe me a six pack of brewskies for the tips.

The second technique I use all the time. Works great.

[Gatorbassman]

This is what I do in that situation. I rig a white fluke weightless on a 4/0 Wide Gap hook. I make long casts and reel it back in keeping it just under the surface of the water. I make very, very, very light twitches and try not to break the surface of the water. If you are having trouble keeping it under the water just tie a large swivel 12 to 18 inches above the knot.

[Chris]

I use several different things for what your faced with. If the fish are up I throw either a spook medium size, spittin' image topwater, pop R. (just walk the dog)When the fish are down I use either a single fluke or double fluke. Around points I use either a balsa crankbait or a pointer jerkbait the smaller size. If your fishing deeper fatfree shad suspending tends to catch them. Fish it like a worm reel it down and kill it then sweep the rod and gather your line. For your points you could use the same bait but you want to use the floating style. If your running around chasing shad busting the surface you might want to target ambush points or areas that tend to funnel bait. Bass tend to stack up in these areas. If your a jig fishermen try swimming a white jig spinnerbait works great too. Bump the cover force them to feed. If you position your boat on the end of the point fish down the sides. Some days I find that I catch them going different directions and even climbing up the point so mess with it till you figure out the natural flow of bait and how the bass are positioned on the point. Break the rules and mess with speed direction and how erratic your moving the bait even deadsticking the bait till you figure it out.  

[George Welcome]

If in fact they were shad and the bass won't hit try this old time presentation: Roadrunner

Deadly for when the bass are hitting smaller shad in a frenzy.