Tough Va Beach Lake: Need Suggestions

[StinkyBass]

TOUGH SLOW Lake behind house. The GOOD: this lake receives hardly any pressure. The BAD: the largemouth are stubborn, the water is super clear, not much structure to speak of, little grass on the bottom. The UGLY: the only pattern I've been able to establish is the pre-spawn crawfish bite (then is lights out fishing!) This isnt a double secret pond that you always catch something in. RANDOM INFO: This is a drainage lake that was dug in the 60's to build a nearby interstate. its deep and bowl shaped. it has a good population of shad, blue gill. some channel catfish, yellow perch and chain pickerel. i live on this lake and i've seen HUGE bass cruising the shallows in the spring. i just cant get a consistent bite. ive decided to start exclusively fishing this lake for awhile to try an establish a pattern. i fish it,year round with disappointment. drop offs, flats, points an a cove. this lake has it. but i could REALLY use some help. being that its winter, my plan is to get on the boat and use jerk baits, jigs, senkos, worms, and rattle traps (ALL these types of baits work in this area). Ive included a map of the lake with info i've gathered. maybe some of you would be kind enough to take a minute and post some suggestions. im patient, but im doing something wrong...thanks for your help...

[Seanyboy]

What I usually do in the spring and summer is almost like a variation of the i-motion technique. I T-rig a weightless zoom trick worm or any other straight tail worm, cast it out and reel it very slowly back to me, imparting no action whatsoever.

Me personally, i would start by fishing a jerk-bait just off the shallows where the gravel is, next to the pipe drain on the east-side of the lake. I'd also jig along the inside edges of that 8 ft deep hole on the NW bank. Those points look like they act like a highway for fish to enter and exit that cove. It looks like you spend a lot of time on that steep drop off too, a lot of white dots.

Great map by the way! Hope this helps.

[basscrusher]

What I'd do...is drop-shot the deeper drops with a 3" Gulp minnow in whatever color matches the local forage best. I find the smelt color matches shad pretty well. I'd also have a trick worm on a shaky head and a silver buddy tied on as well.

[AndrewS]

try shallow running crank baits along the rip rap ie. gravel senko/jigs around the rest of the shore if that doesn't work try trolling down the deeper sections with 8-12 ft cranks i have caught alot of stubborn bass doing that

[StinkyBass]

i like the suggestions! looks like i need a butt load of patience... Thanks for the help. i will keep y'all updated with any progress. Any more suggestions are of coarse always welcome

[Drop Shot Maniac]

Drop shot with Roboworms on the spots Seanyboy mentions above. They can't resist the Roboworms, and a drop shot rig with 10 lb. fluorocarbon line is an excellent choice for super-clear water. Also, the Rage Craws and Baby Craws are a good choice this time of year and I have had some success with them on a drop shot the last couple of weekends. Good luck!

[WdyCrankbait]

Sean, I got some Roboworms. When we catch up to fish next time I will throw you some. Also, remeber I got that HUGE smallie on a Rage Craw so, try that!