Best midday bait for a hard bite?

[jeremyt]

Hi all,

  I have had a hard time in the past week and a half buying a bite. The temps here are from 95 (today) down to the upper 70's. The fish just are so hard to predict now. I am currently working two jobs for X-mas and the only good fishing time I have is fromm 1100 to 1pm. I have tried softs, spinners, jerks, cranks, and topwaters. I am not having any luck. Any suggestions to help me outl.

[Crestliner2008]

I'm assuming you are fishing from shore? I'm also assuming you have specific target locations where you've seen and/or caught LM before. The time period you are fishing is probably the best for feeding bass. The only problem you are faced with is becoming invisible to the fish. And I mean that in more ways than one. First, use camo clothing if possible. Approach your target area VERY quietly - use soft sole shoes of some sort. Also approach with the sun to your back where possible. Keep bushes or trees in back of you to break up your outline. Don't move around much and once you are in position, let the area "settle down" a bit before making your first cast. Use fluorocarbon line on your rig. Cast precisely. Use a triggering bait vs. an attraction bait (i.e.: soft plastics such as a Senko vs. a Rattletrap). Try to fish pre-frontal conditions. Be patient and you will be rewarded.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

and when you think you are fishing slow enough,....slow down some more.  

[Matt Fly]

Don't know you area and location, but if you are on mainlake, you might want to try to fish in the creeks.    This time of the year, the bass are normaly in the creeks where temps have cooled some and baitfish have moved to the back of some creeks, coves and such.

Don't matter if seasonal temp are uncommonly hot for this time of the year.    The bass know fall has began due to shorter days and longer nights.

Mattt

[Davis]

I'm assuming you are fishing from shore? I'm also assuming you have specific target locations where you've seen and/or caught LM before. The time period you are fishing is probably the best for feeding bass. The only problem you are faced with is becoming invisible to the fish. And I mean that in more ways than one. First, use camo clothing if possible. Approach your target area VERY quietly - use soft sole shoes of some sort. Also approach with the sun to your back where possible. Keep bushes or trees in back of you to break up your outline. Don't move around much and once you are in position, let the area "settle down" a bit before making your first cast. Use fluorocarbon line on your rig. Cast precisely. Use a triggering bait vs. an attraction bait (i.e.: soft plastics such as a Senko vs. a Rattletrap). Try to fish pre-frontal conditions. Be patient and you will be rewarded.

Good advice.

I'm a mostly shorefisherman with some rafting here and there. When I approach a spot from my raft that I fish from the shore sometimes,  I usually get more bites and nicer fish when I'm on the water because I can sneak up on them. When I'm fishing that same spot without my raft (when I don't have much time and just want to throw a few casts) and I just walk out on that point..........the bite isn't as good and I have to really concentrate on the things that Crest is saying above. It can be a chore to catch some nice fish when my 8 year old son is with me because he is all boy....makes all sorts or racket....trips on rocks lol.

[Crestliner2008]

When I started my son off on the road to deer hunting at the ripe old age of 7, we use to play a game. We'd shut off the TV, close the room off so it was quite, dim the lights and see how long we could go without catching one or the other making a movement or sound. I'd always reward him with a "goodie" regardless, but my point is, you have to start kids off young with proper training. Please believe me, I'm not suggesting that you are not doing so with your son, but if you can improvise some "fun games" like this, you will speed him along to where you need to be.  Just a suggestion.

[roadwarrior]

Midday fishing can produce monsters! Focus on structure in deep water and as LBH said, SLOW DOWN! I have been having pretty good luck with jigs and small (6" - 8") swimbaits, but generally, soft plastics are THE BOMB. Specifically, 6" Senko, Fat Ika and big tubes (Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo or Mizmo 5 1/2" Grandes).

[Del from philly]

Midday fishing can produce monsters! Focus on structure in deep water and as LBH said, SLOW DOWN! I have been having pretty good luck with jigs and small (6" - 8") swimbaits, but generally, soft plastics are THE BOMB. Specifically, 6" Senko, Fat Ika and big tubes (Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo or Mizmo 5 1/2" Grandes).

iv never even seen a 6" senko in person....or a fat ika.....lol

my tackshop sucks......

[Raul]

Midday fishing can produce monsters! Focus on structure in deep water and as LBH said, SLOW DOWN! I have been having pretty good luck with jigs and small (6" - 8") swimbaits, but generally, soft plastics are THE BOMB. Specifically, 6" Senko, Fat Ika and big tubes (Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo or Mizmo 5 1/2" Grandes).

80% of all my 10+ pounders ( somehow I just can 't seem to break the 14 lb mark, go figure  :-/ ) have been caught during midday while I was getting roasted under the blazing sun and scorching heat, and even though my PB was caught with a crank most fish were caught with the old reliable jig n 'trailer combination, most were caught deep or very near the vecinity of deep water.

[Ghetto_Basser]

and when you think you are fishing slow enough,....slow down some more.

Exactly!

Stick with one thing and go slow.

[WRB]

Let me add a few things for thought.

Avoid the backs of creek arms and shallow flat water in genral from now until pre-spawn. Target the lower 1/3 rd of the lake and fish points and around the marina and dam area structure.

Learn to use a slip shot rig, modified Carolina, without the extra swivel hardware.

Top Brass Pro-Jo 3/16 oz weight, 6 mm glass bead, Peg-it or Carolina keeper, light wire off set hook like Owner down shot hook or Gamakatsu weedless wide gap drop shot hook. Thw weihgt goes up the line first, then the glass bead or Carolina keeper, then tie on the hook using a Palomar knot. Premium mono line like P-Line Cxx ot Trilene XT, 8 to 10 lb works well. 5" to 6" finesse worms with curl type tails in shad or baitfish colors. You can also use a 3/0 wide gap hook and 4" Yamamoto twin tail Hula grub and 12 to 15 lb line with this rig in lieu of a jig. This is ideal for shore fishing.

Take a look at Tackle Warehouse for mail order.

Roboworms; Oxblood red flake, Aarons magic, MMIII are good choices, year around. Good luck.

WRB