Need Help Battling A Difficult Lake

[ArkieHawg]

Do any of you have that one lake that always puts you in your place? That lake that humbles you every single time you fish it, and keeps you up at night trying to figure out what you're doing wrong? Maybe it's just me, but there's a lake here in Arkansas that has been kicking my rear end for years. I could definitely use some outside input to help me get over on this lake.

Before I go any further, let me familiarize you with the lake. Lake Hamilton is a relatively small reservoir at only 7,200 acres, with varying depths up to 110' in a few areas. The lake is completely contained and controlled by dams on both ends, it is fed by the massive Lake Ouachita and emptys into a much smaller Lake Catherine below. All three lakes are the result of damming the Ouachita River. The river runs through the heart of the lakes. Lake Hamilton is located in the middle of the 3 lakes, which allows the Corps to completely control its water level. This past winter the Corps dropped the lake only 3' and held it there until March when it was returned to full pool. This is significant due to the extreme drought we encountered to start the year, all the other lakes were some 15'-20' low, whereas Lake Hamilton never suffers from these changes in water levels. So year after year, Lake Hamilton doesn't undergo dramatic seasonal water level changes like most other lakes.

Another significant factor about the lake is that is heavily populated, with hundreds if not thousands of docks, with very little "natural" cover, very little grass and no submerged timber. There is some natural cover in the feeder creeks, but not much. The main river arm of the lake is loaded with cover, but the water in the area is swift and is cold year round, from around 48 degrees now to the mid 50's in July and August. The lake is clear for the most part. From Memorial Day to Labor Day the lake is extremely busy with pleasure boaters, and the weekend water will be murky during these times, but I typically fish the lake mid-week when traffic is minimal.

I have fished this lake hard for over 5 years. We have a house here, and for several years I lived there, fishing everyday for some time. I know every inch of the lake like the back of my hand, have every brush pile and every contour and creek channel marked. I seriously have caught maybe a dozen bass that would keep over a span of several years, but seem to have no problem catching hundreds of dinks. I became tired of the frustration and for the past 2 years I have focused more on neighboring Lake Ouachita, and have great great success most every time out, with dozens of 4lb to 6lb bass this year alone. They say the bite on the two lakes mirrors one another, but I don't see it.

I know for a fact there are gigantic bass in the lake. Last year a 14lb largemouth was caught on the lake, and just last month a 13lb fish was weighed in at a one day tournament that took 25lbs to win. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've talked to these tournament anglers, and they claim that they throw jigs in the dirt and find the big fish there, but I've tried it and nothing. I've fished the docks until my eyes cross with little luck. I seem to find alot of small fish around the docks and on main points, and some smaller fish in the creeks. My partner that I fish with regularly has the same problem on this lake, and nearly refuses to fish it anymore.

Should I fish the lake like a river? Because of its constantly moving water? Should I focus on the bridge pilings and areas with current? Should I focus on docks near the deeper river channel? Where do you think I could locate the larger fish? Any help on techniques or baits would be great. This lake really throws me for a loop. Thanks alot.

[joshholmes]

it's most probably because their is high fishing pressure on the lake. if their really is as many docks as you said then that means a lot of other anglers. if that is the problem try downsizing your baits and line. also don't always listen to the pros as some of them (but not all) will try to throw you off. you should think of it as a river because if there is water moving through it the whole time it practically is. use a fish finder to find places underneath the current that will protect fish, such as brush piles. Also one thing you want to find out is if their is a thermocline in the lake. this is a 1-3 foot area in the water that is the perfeect temperature and has high oxygen levels for fish. just below the thermocline their is practically no fish. but not all lakes have one. i just know my lake does. its usually anywhere from 10-15 feet down if a lake has one. if you don't think any of those are the problem then try upscaling your gear. if these fish really are that big and arent very highly pressured, then try using things like swimbaits, brush hogs, 7 inch stickbaits, giant ribbontails, craws and spinnerbaits.

[ArkieHawg]

it's most probably because their is high fishing pressure on the lake. if their really is as many docks as you said then that means a lot of other anglers. if that is the problem try downsizing your baits and line. also don't always listen to the pros as some of them (but not all) will try to throw you off. you should think of it as a river because if there is water moving through it the whole time it practically is. use a fish finder to find places underneath the current that will protect fish, such as brush piles. Also one thing you want to find out is if their is a thermocline in the lake. this is a 1-3 foot area in the water that is the perfeect temperature and has high oxygen levels for fish. just below the thermocline their is practically no fish. but not all lakes have one. i just know my lake does. its usually anywhere from 10-15 feet down if a lake has one. if you don't think any of those are the problem then try upscaling your gear. if these fish really are that big and arent very highly pressured, then try using things like swimbaits, brush hogs, 7 inch stickbaits, giant ribbontails, craws and spinnerbaits.

There is some pressure on the lake most year round. The thermocline is well defined on the lake throughout the summer, and I usually keep a close eye on it. The oxygen is high in the upper end of the lake for sure, with a steady stream of fresh water moving through the dam. I have spotted quite a few good fish in the cold waters there, but they are tight lipped. Is it possible that the bass have adapted to the colder water in the area because its more oxygenated and receives less traffic? I've never fished it much for largemouth because I thought it was too cold. Stripers are abundant in the area, as well as gizzard shad.

[Grey Wolf]

A reminder.

Find the bait fish and you'll find the bass.

[bilgerat]

Take this for what it's worth, a Jersey guy telling an Arkie how to fish a lake I've never seen.

I have a similar situation out here. We have one sand pit in particular that holds big (by our standards) bass. 8 to 9 lb are not uncommon. It's clear, 45 ' to 50' deep in spots and virtually no cover to speak of. It gets a ton of pressure and the skunk lives in there. I have no doubt there's a state record in there (10 14)

When I found the structure, I found the bigger girls. That's only part of the equation. I was throwing the usual baits everyone else was throwing with limited success. When I changed over to light tackle and smaller baits that's when things started to pick up for me. I know a lot of guys don't want any parts of light tackle and small baits. They're locked into the "big fish big baits" frame of mind and IMO they're missing out. Open water with no cover is THE place for this kind of fishing. If you hook into a chunk, let her run and play her out. Where is she gonna go ?

Two years ago I lost what would have easily been my PB 20' from the boat. She went for a 4' tube rigged on a 1/8 oz tube jig. Nothing fancy about that at all. I've got several 5's already this year on tiny crankbaits.

Hardly anyone around here throws tubes and I get laughed at when they see a 2" crankbait tied onto my ultralight rig. They're mentally conditioned that you can't possibly catch decent fish on such a thing. The point is throw something different and don't be scared of light tackle. When everyone is zigging, you should be zagging.

Will you catch dinks fishing like this ? Yep. You also will get your share of nice ones. It's a fact the majority of what a bass eats are between 2" to 4"

[Hooligan]

What Grey Wolf said is dead on. There are a couple other things that have been thrown at me on Hamilton. Channel swings- never discount them main lake. Current side main lake transitions opposite a channel swing. Thermocline is not the perfect temperature, far from it. It's also fairly low dissolved oxygen because of the current in the lake. Mostly stripers in that water. Largemouth suspend in Hamilton pretty heavily. Many of the islands and main lake points have fish on them year round, sometimes relating to different points or positions on the same point at different times during the day. Lastly, find your deep water transitions and you should be able to start getting a pattern together.

[ArkieHawg]

Thanks for the replies everyone...

Hooligan -

I have spotted schools of suspended fish in open water many times around the Goat Island area but always wrote them off as Whites and Hybrids, never assuming them to be largemouths. I guess mainly because I constantly see the whites and hybrids surface feeding in the area, and the few times I've tossed a crankbait in the schools all I seem to lock into is whites/hybrids.

I think my approach to the lake has been wrong all along. I should probably fish it like a river, and concentrate on current more. I've been trying to fish it like the other lakes.