Fishing Q&A

Bass fishing help?

I'm fishing a double tournament 2 tournaments over this weekend for my jr. B.A.S.S. club. the problem is that the lake is 3ft lower than usual. can any one possibly give me some tips, techniques and what lures to use. all answers will be deeply appreciated. thanks thanks for the answers I'm packing the truck right now I'll be sure to let you know how I did. Thanks again. Again thanks, I came in 4th not bad, at least I caught some fish.

Public Comments

1. Fishing is tough when the water is low .I guess the water is low on oxygen @ its kinda cramped down there .When fishin is tough I go with my ole stand by's , Plastic worm very slow , I like the pumpkin seed color .3/8 oz.pig and jig purple @ black . And my favorite a blue @ silver floating rapala 4 " . All way's use a sent on your worm , it works .On your jig too .
2. Good luck! Fish light line and work you baits slow start up with 4" worms,small spinners,small pop r's,downsixed crank bait look to pattern fish just off the new breaks that have formed from low water.Fish a feeder creeks water flowage start in front of the mouth and do not boat into it until you have fished the front first you may spook fish! Work into a creek never rush a creek! Topo work- find channels,ledges,points that are now in good fish able waters!Timing can be your best friend here! Channels are good transition zones just after a morning feed carolina them here with lizard or worm! Ledges for feeds or holding zone parallel fish the ledge with tubes or skirted grub,crank bait and spinner them with a drop and flutter slow roll back! Point patterns for feeds hit the deep water zone first then move and hit down current for active fish then use a fast bait to fish the current side run a t/rigged worm bumping the rocks! Remember time is used best to first use your topo and pick zones to fish then pick pattern lures to use! Set up a crank bait,a spinner,top water and a worm rod to fish the needed pattern!Get your keeps then work a jig n pig for b/bass or spinner the drops and breaks for that bonus cull fish! Give us a report back!
3. Ingun & L-mouth both have excellent answer's. Heed their advice! I would add : Look for secondary deeper drop's, near heavy weed/wood cover. When a lake is "dropping" fish "hold" on secondary edges and offshore structure. Bigger fish LIKE option's! If you can find a point with a steep drop, near an old dock, I would fan cast that area with spinnerbait's & suspending crank-bait's and then THOUROGHLY pick apart the dock with UNOBTRUSIVE soft-plastic's,(1/8 OZ Jig & Pig/ 4" Worm/Jig & Grub, Etc). Remember, it's "quantity over quality" during a tourney. I would much rather catch four-five 2 LBer's than one 5 LBer. That's my 2 cent's! (lol) Good luck! Come back & tell us how you did?!!
4. I like to use a crack bait first thing in the moning. Then whin the sun gets up i go to a worm. go slow slow.
5. Every one has given good advise !! But I will add the first thing I would do is set you depth finder so you can see the thermocline (SP) and then you will know the max. depth the bass will be holding. Then you can apply the advise you have been given. If it was me I would look for off shore humps, river channels that swing close to points and bluff walls. A lot of time you can find a hump near where the channel swings near a point, if ya find one consider that a Gold mine. GOOD LUCK !
6. Depending on what part of the country you are fishing...I have a T tonight on Lake West Point, GA...it is about 7ft down...with the HOT weather we have been having, my plan is to fish points that drop off into about 15-20ft of water with a Carolina Rig, Shakey Head, or a Crank Bait or road beds in about the same depths...this time a year you can never go wrong with the Carolina Rig...if you are fishing a lake that has Spotted Bass, it is never a bad idea to dye the tail of your soft plastic chartreuse...you are still going to find some fish shallow early in the morning and late in the afternoon and night...but once the sun gets up they are going to go deep and or stick tight to cover...and you pretty much have to hit them in the head with the bait (especially Large Mouths)...to tell you I will tell you what I have tied on as we speak...1 Carolina Rig on a bait caster with 12lb XT line (going to use a Zoom Greenpumpkin Utail with the tail dyed chart.) 1 Spinning reel with a Gammi Shakey Head with a red hook on 12lb XSmooth Casting (Going to use a Watermelon seed Zoom finesse worm with the tail dyed chart or a Zoom Greenpumpkin Red Finesse worm...maybe a Watermelon Candy Finesse worm) 1 Spinning reel with 12lb XSC with a weightless red hook for a Zoom Super Fluke in Pearl, just in case we see some schoolers...1 Bait Caster with 12lb XT with a Black Spinner Bait with Black Colorado Blades and a Chatter Bait in black and blue as a back up...1 Bait Caster with 12lb XT with a DD22 Crank Bait in Natural Shad...I may have a PopR on the Spinner Bait Rod until the sun goes down...I hope this helps...just remember to drink lots of water because it is HOT...good luck!