Need ideas about some other lures.

[cufishin]

I'm making the trip this summer to my Uncle's cabin in Ontario, It's on a good sized lake a couple hours north of Toronto. I've been there a couple times before in the last several years and have tried a few different techniques/lures but have usually ended up fishing with the same thing my uncle has used there for @ 50 years, a Johnson silver minnow with a trailer.

I've tried various things in the more open waters on the lake but it seems that the most productive areas are the places that have lily pads so thick it looks like you could walk across them.

Just looking for a few ideas on what other tackle or techniques I might try to get at some of those fish I missed last time.

[hmongkidBee]

why don't you try ripping a frog on top of those lily pads.  There's no lily pads where I fish, but guys are always using frogs in lily pads, so give it a shot.

[Crestliner2008]

You're fishing for bass I presume? Or are you targeting pike as well? Does the lake have pads over the entire surface area or is there an edge where open water begins? How deep is the lake? What is the main lake forage? What's the largest fish you've seen, or heard of, taken from the lake?

Need more information, in order to give you logical suggestions. The frog on the pads is good. If you can find an edge where the pads meet open water (especially associated with points or steep drops), your options open up considerably. If it's a big bass lake, you might want to consider working this edge line with spinnerbaits, jigs or even swimbaits for the really big bite.

[Beastie Bass]

I agree, toss a frog! Usually I like to work a big tube or creature bait around the edges and into the pads. Walking a fluke through this stuff is great fun too, just make sure you dont try it with 6# test!

[pondmaster32]

i just fished in a tournament that had conditions almost the same as yours. the top ten that went on to day two (including me ;D) they were using creatures and frogs. they would swim the creatures over the heavy matted weads and fish would blow up on them. if that doesnt work take your out board and go through the pads and make lanes for you to cast in. after you have done that go to another spot and do the same thing and by the time you get back the fish will have calmed down. if all else fails then try fishing a spinner bait on the edges of the pads. good luck!

[cufishin]

Hey, Thanks for the replies. I have used frogs with some success, mostly in the manner suggested. We do the same thing with the weedless spoons often, throwing in the weeds and sliding them over the tops or bumping them around the edges, it can make for some dramatic strikes

The lake is Lake Kashabog, created by a dam put in by a mining company several decades ago. The deepest parts are around 60', the areas we target LM are usually @ 5-10' deep(since this is a vacation cabin @1500 miles from home I don't have a boat w/ a fishfinder when I'm there) Although we have found some deeper structure like old logs/trees that we have taken fish off of and have caught fish in places that were barley deep enough to get the boat into.

I've caught and released dozens of bass in the 3-4 pound range, seen a few over 5lbs caught, anything over 6 would be considered a giant for this lake but there are a few reports of them. I mostly target LM but have caught several muskies while doing it(always an adrenaline rush) and even got a few nice SM. When you want to catch smallmouth you can throw or troll little crankbaits around some of the rocky shorelines and catch them until your arms are tired but rarely find them over 2lbs. I think the main forage is crawdads, minnows and baby bass.

I'm thinking that this years I'll bring a few jigs w/crawdad trailers, I'm wondering what colors might be the best bet. Also gonna try more soft plastics than I had with me before, I like the idea of creature baits. I haven't tried any spinnerbaits there, my Uncle uses them around weed edges and points looking for muskies, he got one that was 48" long a couple years ago doing that so I'll definitly have them along as well. I think one of the biggest challenges for me is going to be leaving enough room in bag to take some clothes along :-[

Thanks again guys, any other suggestions are welcome.

[cufishin]

I agree, toss a frog! Usually I like to work a big tube or creature bait around the edges and into the pads. Walking a fluke through this stuff is great fun too, just make sure you dont try it with 6# test!

Yeah, I did pick up a few colors of flukes to try. Man, are you ever right about the line. I made the mistake of tying a popper onto my spinning rod w 10lb test on it a couple years ago, That was the first time I ever saw a Musky hit a topwater, and the last time I ever saw that lure.

[Crestliner2008]

In'fisherman this weekend (TV show) showed a guy using 6" & 7" Senkos in thick pads. Tx rigged with heavy worm weights to punch thru the top mat. Senkos are always a good bet.

[cufishin]

In'fisherman this weekend (TV show) showed a guy using 6" & 7" Senkos in thick pads. Tx rigged with heavy worm weights to punch thru the top mat. Senkos are always a good bet.

I got those, hadn't thought about trying to sink them under the pads but it sounds like that could be some real fun action!

Thanks.