Bitethis

Put in at Cedar Ridge, went down the lake a bit to the small island past the bridge. Worked around the island and down the bank, water visability was over 10'. Fishing was was horrible (or I was horrible:-). Fished up from chicken rock, same results. NOTHING. Fished from 6-930. Threw jig and biffle bug, caught 1 LM 17" on bug, nothing else. Threw a spinnerbait in the standups, and jig, nothing. Threw crank bait, nothing. Around dark, tied on a black spinnerbait, and a 10" black power worm. Nothing. Around Chicken Rock, I did see what I thought were carp, 3 of them swimming around on the bank. I tried to hit one with my spinner bait just to get a better look...it dodged it of course then followed it back to the boat (20'), at the boat it slowly turned sideways and swam away...to my surprise, it was a LM bass and it appeared to be in the 8-9lb range, well over 24". The other 2 bass with it were in the 20-22" range and very healthy looking. I was sorely disappointed that he just played tag with my spinner bait instead of chomping it. I think the storm that morning gave em lockjaw, or I failed to figure out what they were biting, or both.

Went fishing up lake from CC, fished from 2-10p. Was overcast until about 6pm, steady wind out of the south all day, between 7-10 mph. After 6pm, still had wind, but sun came out. Baits used: Blk/Blu 1/2oz jig, PB&J 3/8oz jig with prpl trailer, 1/2oz Watermelon candy Jig with prpl trailer, spinnerbait, biffle bug on 1/2oz hard head, 1/2oz lipless crank in chrome/blue, #5 flicker shad, 7" G-Tail worm in grn pumpkin, 7" ribbon tail worm in Junebug. Started off in 20 FOW, hooked up on 3rd cast with PBJ jig. Caught 5 more, and lost an equal amount in the next 2 hours. 4 of the 5 landed were over 15". I have been known to tell a fishing story once or twice, but I in effort to be as percise as possible I will "estimate" the size of fish my partner lost. On PBJ jig, upon hook up we both assumed it was a catfish as his pole was bent over bringing the tip to the surface of the water, went under boat, stayed down for a good 90 seconds. Fish started to give a little and come to surface as I got the net ready. Fish came up 12" out of water, and we only saw just below the gill plate. Looked like you could have put a mini-basketball in the fishes mouth, and as he jumped up he gave us the stink eye, swallowed the jig a bit more, and spit it at the boat with attitude. We both just looked at the water for the next 20 seconds, silent...as if the world had just come to an end. It would have been on his wall...I "estimate" it being an 8lb LM. But I cant prove it, no pics, and no unbias witnesses...what do you do? Caught 1 bass that spit crawdads in the boat upon landing. In 20-30 FOW, saw numerous fish on the sonar, so when bass bite slowed a bit, we trolled flickershads, nothing. Last 3 hours of the trip the bite was slow, pulled a bass in on junebug worm, g tail worm, and 3 on bifflebug. 1 bass on nighttime spinnerbait, none on willow leaf spinnerbait. We didn't catch numbers, but quality was there today. All in all, my partner kicked my but pretty hard, and PBJ jig was the ticket.

thanks guys!

I am at work today, by choice. I had to option to take it off, but if I work I can bank the holiday and take it some other time. I have had a dozen people ask why I am at work today and not out fishing, my verbatim response is "Do you know how many other people took that same approach, and went to the lake? I would rather go on a Tuesday, when everyone else is at work." You just validated my decision, my assumption, and my response.

I have combed over the this forum looking for drop shot info, and there is some. I see people starting to drop shot now (july). I have never done it before, but am interested in giving it a go. My understanding is Flourocarbon, lighter line (6-8lb), and a drop shot hook 15-18" above a drop shot weight. (correct any misunderstandings please). I am looking through the plastics to use for dropshot, and see Zoom with some 4" finiss worms, Tiny flukes, meathead, fish doctor, and drop shot worm. Other manufacturers with similar options. Colors vary from shades of green, to some options in Smoke/purple. What is the most common option/color? Since I have never done this before, I am inquiring for some technical advice on rigging, and what to look for in the area I will be dropping in. I assume deeper water, but any insight you can share is appreciated. Structure, deep open water, river channels, points, cliffs, etc?

great info, thanks!

I have never fished a drop shot, but am inclined to give it a try this year. My basic understanding is it is good in deeper water, with the business end of things about 12" above the drop-shot weight at the bottom of your line (correct me if I am wrong, please) As far as what to use on the business end, all I have ever heard is Fish Doctor, or Gulp Leach...any other suggestions would be appreciated. I would like to know what to look for, what should I be looking for in where to present this. What are the optimal bait choices? Any assistance would be very welcomed!

Fished out of greenfield, hit water at 630am, fished rip-rap for an hour or so, caught 1 14" LM on a Pop'r, missed several. Threw spinner bait, nothing. Hit channel bankdown lake from bridge, threw spinner bait and jig, nothing Went up into main lake, found water that was 17'-30', threw green/prpl jig with trailer and had significant success with that. Boated 26 LM for the day, lost 7 on the way to boat. Fished until 3pm, then rain hit pretty hard. My fishing partner had good success on a biffle bug attached to a hard head, bama bug. he boated around 15. Out of all the fish we caught, nothing smaller than 13", and approximately 12-15 bass that were keepers. 1 bass that weighed in a healthy 4.8lbs.

you can get a bag of shrimp at the store for $5...it will work. better than worms in my opinion.

I didn't know there were lakes in Canada that didn't have Smallmouth...especially in bodys of water that carried Walleye. I will laugh if you go fishing for walleyes with the ned rig and boat a dozen Smallies before you get your first walleye

What are you talking about? I fish stockton twice a week...there are TONS of Ski boats, tubers, Pontoon partys, leisure boaters, and other misc. traffic. I can hardly hear myself think when I go to stockton...Table Rock is MUCH more quiet, calm, peaceful, and has MUCH lower traffic. I hear there is hardly anyone every fishing within a few miles of Point 15. If you want peaceful fishing, definitely dont go to stockton...

I usually have it tied on most the day, and throw it most the day...if it is getting bit. I usually like to throw it in the wind, but Saturday there wasn't any of that. I like throwing it on banks that have chunck rock,, lay downs, and stand ups. I like to throw the bait just past the lay down, and run it over the top and let it drop a bit once it comes over the log. I will throw it past a huge rock in the water, and bring it around the back side of it, or throw it past a stand up and try to make it bump into it on the way by. Of on banks where there are shrubs in the water or at the water, I will throw it right in there. Spinnerbaits don't get hung up that easy, and can cover a lot of water fast! I have a HUGE amount of confidence in them, but that wasn't always the case. They can be fished so many different ways too. I am pretty much a chunk and wind kind of guy with Spinnerbaits. Unless there is a lot of structure...then I like to chunk and bump...make it knock into stuff on the retrieve. If the topwater bit is on, a spnner bait is a great wake bait...toss it to the bank and hold your rod tip high while reeling it back quick enough to keep on surface...everynow and then lift it up out of water slightly, just enough for the blades to knock around, and then continue waking....WHAM! Hop you find the confidence to use this kind of bait, it is too much fun to not use it!

Hit CC launch at approximately 10:15am, trolled up the lake right past cove until the next cove. Water was stained and 74f. Caught a few LMBass on PB&J Nedrig, caught 5 on Blk/Blu Jig with trailer. Caught 1 on jitterbug (Water was like glass). Started throwing a 6" green pumpking ringer worm...and SLAM! Took out drag....took 10 minutes to get the fish landed as I didn't want to horse it and loose the fish. Was a Flathead catfish, over 12lbs...I put her back to finish spawning. After that action, went to Turnback, fished that arm for rest of day and landed over 30 LM bass (most on a 1/2oz white/chatruese booyah spinnerbait), over 20 crappie (1 keeper for every 3 fish caught) all on a Strike King Mr.Crappie Shadpole CT in Refrigerator White on a 1/16oz lead head. The water was 77F back into Turnback. Minnows were working, but not as effective as the Shadpole.

Fished it on Wed night. Caught a few on Pop'rs. Caught 2 on ned rig, 2 on green trick worm, and about a dozen on blk/blu jig with trailer. Only fished 630p-9p. started at docks on pt 15 and worked that bank all the way back to highway.

crankbait bit was HOT yesterday...50+ bass (12-15 keepers), and 1 walley that was 30" between 2 guys. Medium diving crank, green and black.

Thanks guys, input is appreciated! I will be doing most my fishing around 6pm to dark, so I am hoping for some possible TW action within that time frame.

I have been waiting for top water bite to start. I have read and seen a couple successful experiences so far this last couple weeks, so I assume it is here. LOVE IT!!! Bait preferences aside, what is some of the water terrain you look for? Or is it just looking for shad popping the surface, with bass crushing them, and cast there? Deep water, shallow water, flats, pea gravel, chunk rock, stand ups? What is it you look for when throwing TWB's?

Always wondered about blanks...what kind of paint would you use?

Probably fishing for cats. 33 hooks max, I believe, according to the regs. No poles involved, I assume

Bass

7-7, 7 days a week..I just called. $1.89 for 12 crappie minnows $1.99 for 12 medium minnows

I fished the NedRig in PBJ at Aldrich a few weeks ago with unmentionable success!

Purple is good at stockton and PB&J really good at TR. Chartrues is an often used and overlooked color at stockton, especially the south end of the lake where it is more muddy. I hardley tie anything on at stockton without it being or having chartrues, its deadly. On the other hand...I would probably not ever use Chartrues at TR, except in rare situation/condition.

I have been reading through some of the forum about the success of the Jitterbug. I am curious as to what colors people recommend. Should I replace the trebbles? Also, has anyone used the Abrogast Buzz Plug

1. Excalibur XR-50 rattletrap - Foxy Lady 2. Pop-r - shad color 3. Strike King Spinner Bait 1/2oz, White/Chart. 4. 1/2 oz Blk/Blu Jig 5. Bomber Model 6A - Dances Fire Tiger These are colors specific to Stockton, I would use similar/Same baits on diff lake, may change colors though.