Need some advice on where to catch bigger fish

[Osprey39]

I hit the lake this weekend where we are having a club tournament next weekend.  My goal was to find a few more spots to fish that are nearby my normal holes.  Saturday I pulled into a little cove that looked like it had some good transition from deep (50ft +) water. 

I'd never been in that area before and it is basically the head of a rocky canyon with a few stick-ups here and there.  There were a lot of vertical rock walls in there and it looked pretty good.  I idled into about 20 foot of water, shut the motor off and dropped the TM.  On about my 5th cast, I hooked a fish.  It came up to the surface and I could see it was a non-keeper and then it threw my lure (hooks were dull, I fixed that and didn't lose another one all weekend on that bait.)

I proceeded to catch several other fish that size throughout the day and Sunday morning but I only caught one of any size (3 pounder.)  I lost another one right at the boat that probably would have gone 1.5 to 2 pounds but that fish I hooked pitching a fat ika into some brush in about 3 feet of water.

Most of the fish I caught were in 5-10 feet of water.  Obviously this area is holding fish but where are the bigger ones?  I'm thinking I'm going to have to go deeper but the deeper water in there doesn't have the good looking structure that the shallower area does.  The shallower area has lots of nice secondary points throughout.  I didn't see much on the graph when I was idling through the deeper area but honestly, I didn't really search thoroughly.

Some other factors:  Water temp was 62 in the morning warming up to almost 65 in the afternoon.  Lake level is rising quickly.  I would guess it is up 2-4 feet over where it was two weekends ago when I was down there. 

Thoughts or suggestions?  I am not good or knowledgeable at fishing deeper water for bass.  If my deep diving cranks can't hit bottom there, I avoid it so don't assume I know anything about it because I probably don't

[WRB]

Your bass are in pre spawn and spawn and you need to locate spawning areas. Steep sided canyon walls with sharp breaking secondary points are marginal spawning areas and not the type of water you want, unless there is some protected flats.

Get out the map and look for spawning sites with gradual sloping banks and fish the deeper breaks adjacent to those areas.

WRB

[Osprey39]

The water temp has been over 60 there for about a month, I just assumed most of the fish would be done spawning.  I found a long flat just around the corner from that cove.  I'll give it a look see on Friday.  It looked like mostly mud bottom but I'll investigate it further.

[Sam]

In response to your query, "Where to Catch Bigger Fish?" try private ponds.

As for your tournament location you will have to first get your limit and then take the time to hunt for the bigger ones.

Hunt for the larger bass with larger baits after you get your limit. Tournament Rule #1.

Some times you will catch one of the large ladies when trying to get your limit. Most times you will not.

If you don't catch the big ones with large baits then go finesse with the Drop Shot and Shaky Head.

Good luck. 

[Catt]

"Lake level is rising quickly. I would guess it is up 2-4 feet over where it was two weekends ago when I was down there."

Is this going to continue?

Is it going to level off?

Is it going to drop?

[Bankbeater]

I like to fish structure that has some type of cover around it. For example a sunken brush pile or tree over a creek bed.

[Osprey39]

"Lake level is rising quickly. I would guess it is up 2-4 feet over where it was two weekends ago when I was down there."

Is this going to continue?

Is it going to level off?

Is it going to drop?

Honestly, I don't know if it will continue but I know there is still snow in some of the northern mountains so the run off is not through.  Will they continue to let the lake fill up is the question.  I would guess they will at least for awhile.  The lake is nowhere near it's full level.

There are a lot of farms south of the lake that use water from the river for irrigation.  The lake level has always dropped a bit in the summer time as long as I can remember because of their water demand but that is at least a month away.

[Catt]

"Most of the fish I caught were in 5-10 feet of water."

"The shallower area has lots of nice secondary points throughout."

To consistently catch bass is a process of elimination and duplication. Eliminate patterns and waters that are non-productive and duplicate patterns and waters that are productive.

You already know what depths and lures worked so now set out looking for similar areas to the one you fished. Yea but Catt I didn't catch any big fish, true but after location comes timing, the bass are obviously there so your problem was most likely timing. You were in the right place at the wrong time, some times it's a morning bite, some times it's a midday bite, and some times it's an afternoon bite.

As for the water level you'll have to play that one by ear 

[WRB]

Based on everything you mentioned; rising water levels, 62 core water temperature (before the surfaced warmed) and aggressive scattered small (male) bass; the bass are trying to locate spawning sites as the water rises. Rising water puts the spawn off until it stabilizes, then the male bass will establish beds. The larger females will be close, however staged in deeper water as they move up and lay eggs, then move back. The females may repeat the moving up laying eggs several times, finally finish and become post spawners.

The important factor is the males are not eating, they are protecting the nest sites. The females will eat during pre spawn (crawdads are high protein) and stop during the spawning process and rest. The females will also attack egg eaters near a nest.

After all the spawning activity is over, the lake will have a lot of small fry bait fish, the bass will then feed on young of the year bass, carp, bluegill, crappie, in addition to shad ( if the lake has shad) and other larger minnows.

Look form beds during the mid day with the sun behind your back, good polarized sun glasses and a wind brim hat to shade your eyes. You should be able to see beds; bass beds are larger then pan fish beds. If you see a bass dart away from shallow water, wait to see if it returns.

You can sight fish the beds or blind fan cast the area, your choice.

WRB

[Osprey39]

I've been looking for beds in areas that I think the fish would use for spawning but it's difficult because the water clarity is not good.  The best visibility I've found in this lake is maybe 2.5 to 3 feet.  This lake used to have really clear water but they have drawn it down so far over the years that the north end of the lake is basically gone and the muddy water coming in from the river is making the whole south end murky.

[WRB]

If you can't see the beds then try casting to where beds should be. Remember the male bass will strike a egg eater quickly to kill it, not eat it. This means be ready to set the hook instantly when you feel a tap. The drop shot rigged about 8" above the weight is a good rig for this and a soft plastic 5" to 6" finesse worm or tube nose hooked works well.

Bass don't like to make beds on mud, look for soil change like mud to gravel, sand or clay. Also look for stick ups or brush, rocks or light color spots. Look in wind protected pockets and coves. Cast or pitch the drop shot next to the wood or stick up, rock. If the bass is there, it will strike quickly, so make several short casts to as many likely spots to determine if any bass are there. Ounce you know the bass are in that area, go back and fish it thoroughly.

WRB

[Osprey39]

Thanks for all the advice guys, that's what I love about this forum.  I'll be giving it one more practice day on Friday and then the tourny on the weekend.  I'll work what you all have said into my fishing on Friday.  I'll let you know how I do.