Tough early morning fishing

[eric21]

Hi Guy, let me first say what a great board you have here with a smart bunch of guys. I've learned alot just lurking around.

Well here's my problem.

I live on Upper Greenwood Lake in northern NJ and overall the fishing is pretty good here but it seems that I very rarely catch fish from 5am to 7:30am. After that I do pretty well.

A little background on the lake; its man made and it's very shallow (deepest part is about 14') with lots of weeds, it has good size bass and very nice pickerel.

The morning has always been the best fishing for me in other lakes, but not here. I've tried shallow cranks, senkos, spinnerbaits, hulla poppers, and assorted top water lures all with limited success.

Do you guys have any ideas what may work or what i'm doing wrong?

Thanks

[texanbassangler]

Certain areas are more likely to hold fish than others. Try to find submerged grass points, any surface vegetation, or structure like rocks or humps. Bass will relate to anything that is 'different". They've even been known to be attracted to where bottom composition changes. It sounds like your bait choice is pretty good, but if you want to, try live bait once; you'll find out if there are fish there. Another common mistake is not working the lure properly, for example fishing a worm too fast. Bass have never seen a real worm going 50 mph, and neither should your lure. On that note, bass are very active in the morning, and most guys are gonna throw a topwater bait, especially in the summer. Since you can see the bait, it's almost impossible to work it wrong and it's a very fun way to fish. If you can find some hydrilla or any other type of submerged weed with about a foot or so of water above the top of the weeds, throw a topwater in and see what happens.

Hope this helps

[brushhoggin]

Hi Guy, let me first say what a great board you have here with a smart bunch of guys. I've learned alot just lurking around.

Well here's my problem.

I live on Upper Greenwood Lake in northern NJ and overall the fishing is pretty good here but it seems that I very rarely catch fish from 5am to 7:30am. After that I do pretty well.

A little background on the lake; its man made and it's very shallow (deepest part is about 14') with lots of weeds, it has good size bass and very nice pickerel.

The morning has always been the best fishing for me in other lakes, but not here. I've tried shallow cranks, senkos, spinnerbaits, hulla poppers, and assorted top water lures all with limited success.

Do you guys have any ideas what may work or what i'm doing wrong?

Thanks

you're not throwing a 10" Rage thumper in those deep weeds

[Stasher1]

Hi Guy, let me first say what a great board you have here with a smart bunch of guys. I've learned alot just lurking around.

Well here's my problem.

I live on Upper Greenwood Lake in northern NJ and overall the fishing is pretty good here but it seems that I very rarely catch fish from 5am to 7:30am. After that I do pretty well.

A little background on the lake; its man made and it's very shallow (deepest part is about 14') with lots of weeds, it has good size bass and very nice pickerel.

The morning has always been the best fishing for me in other lakes, but not here. I've tried shallow cranks, senkos, spinnerbaits, hulla poppers, and assorted top water lures all with limited success.

Do you guys have any ideas what may work or what i'm doing wrong?

Thanks

You're getting up too early. If the bass aren't biting between 5 and 7:30, sleep in. 

[coopie84]

During summer months temperatures are constantly in the 90s, especially around New Jersey. During the day bass are inactive, sluggish etc etc. During sunset bass binge and slowly feed all night, they have to expel less energy during the night to feed. So by sunrise bass are taking a nap, much like many of us do after a nice Turkey dinner. So in my expeirence I've found bass don't eat at sunrise but have there morning meal around 8 or 9 during hot summer months.  Which would justify the luck at sunrise you've been having. Altough there is the exception to every rule. I'd like to think this is my own philosophy but I think I heard Bill Dance or someone say this. GOOD LUCK.

[BASSclary]

I believe it was Hank Parker who said, "For every one rule in bass fishing, there are at least 10 exceptions."

[eric21]

Thanks for all the responses. My buddy who I always go fishing with asks me we bother going so early, but I drag him out there early anyway. I'd rather be fishing and having not much luck than sleeping . I'm gonna try some live bait like texanbassangler mentioned when its slow and if that doesn't work i'll just drink some beer.

Thanks

[BassThumb]

I've had the same thing happen.  It's frustrating to get up early, leave the house at 3:45am and not catch a thing for the first two hours on the lake.

I recall that in my In-Fisherman Bass Location book, they state that in certain conditions in spring and summer, oxygen levels in the shallows are very low in the morning, leading to an unexpected slow bite.

Sorry to be so vague.  I don't have the book with me.  Is anybody familiar with this?

[brushhoggin]

I've had the same thing happen. It's frustrating to get up early, leave the house at 3:45am and not catch a thing for the first two hours on the lake.

I recall that in my In-Fisherman Bass Location book, they state that in certain conditions in spring and summer, oxygen levels in the shallows are very low in the morning, leading to an unexpected slow bite.

Sorry to be so vague. I don't have the book with me. Is anybody familiar with this?

i would like some elaboration on this

[texanbassangler]

I've never heard of that... doesn't seem like it would make sense though, warm water is less oxygenated, so I would think it would be BETTER in the morning :-??

[evrgladesbasser]

Hi Guy, let me first say what a great board you have here with a smart bunch of guys. I've learned alot just lurking around.

Well here's my problem.

I live on Upper Greenwood Lake in northern NJ and overall the fishing is pretty good here but it seems that I very rarely catch fish from 5am to 7:30am. After that I do pretty well.

A little background on the lake; its man made and it's very shallow (deepest part is about 14') with lots of weeds, it has good size bass and very nice pickerel.

The morning has always been the best fishing for me in other lakes, but not here. I've tried shallow cranks, senkos, spinnerbaits, hulla poppers, and assorted top water lures all with limited success.

Do you guys have any ideas what may work or what i'm doing wrong?

Thanks

You're getting up too early. If the bass aren't biting between 5 and 7:30, sleep in. [/quote]

genius.. best advice you'll get

[bigtimfish]

Try throwing a different topwater bait. Like a torpedo or devils horse. Or maybe a jitterbug.