J-Doc

Took this screenshot earlier today on Beaver Lake. This is a 250ft stretch of solid continuous bait. Stripers and hybrids were all over it. So were the largemouth I suspect. The larger bass follow stripers around (most don't pay attention to that) Got BAIT?? :-) From a few weeks ago And the perpetual problem. Once they are target locked, it's difficult to get a bite unless you "match the hatch". What you're seeing here is large bait balls with larger fish below. The vertical streaks are fish swimming up from the bottom like sharks attacking seals and attacking the bait ball and then going back down. From a month ago....

Nice report!! I wish I had spot lock. They didn't offer an 80lb troller in April when I ordered my rig. Then it came out right after the sale was final. Figures.... Crappie magnets. I gotta look these up. Ever try Shinee Hinness?

Nice!!!!

Lol!!! Yep. There's hope for me then. Water is really low here and may go down further. Lots of stumps and rocks just under the surface. Lol!!

I can relate. :-)

Ordered my new prop today. Really motivated to sell this one now to keep the wife happy. Just sayin'...

In actuality, I wish I was a better bass angler. I struggle with them on this lake. I can catch them, but not consistently or on demand which is what's needed for tournament fishing. Tournament guys love me. I contribute to the pot. No withdrawals. (ha!)

Yep. Too many guys beat the banks (including myself). I have found bass tend to be much further off the bank. But you catch one or a few in less than 2-4ft and you think “Oh they must be shallow” when in fact, it’s only a small amount shallow. I see more fish in 15-30ft than I do shallow on both graph and visually fishing the banks. I’ve started putting my boat up against the bank and fishing away from the bank. Seems to help. Oh and yes. Champ has a strong & passionate hatred for stripers. (<-- Champ) (haha!) It’s no secret. Me? I'm an equal opportunity man. I chase what's biting and itf what's biting taste good, that's what I'm gunning for. Then my ADHD kicks in and I'll pick up a bass jig and go knocking every laydown in the lake until I get bored with that.

No no…..I wasn’t talking about stripers vs. bass or anything. Just surprised to hear someone say there was a diminishing bait population. No problem. I was laughing when I wrote that but you can’t see that from text only. (ha!) I have chased bass for years and still do. The only reason I chase stripers is because they taste as good as grouper (saltwater fish) and because they are a hoot when they are on the hook. It’s as close as I can get to saltwater fishing here. One tarpon spoiled me for life!!!! I still chase those pesky bass on Beaver. Notice I say "chase". I'd say you are a far better bass guy than I am. I understand you got stuck in the snow at PC last year next to a good buddy of mine (Joe). Nothing wrong with bass fishing at all, as I still do love it. I actually like fishing for everything now. Just opened my tackle box wider that's all. Well.......except for ole slimy fins (catfish). Oh and as for Table Rock………it’s a better population of quality bass. That’s not debatable, that’s fact. It really perplexes me WHY all species on Beaver are not bloated lunkers with the amount of food in the lake. It’s got more bait that many lakes and I’d dare say, possibly more bait than many people realize. Even the AGFC is scratching their heads as to why the fish are so lean on Beaver when they should have fat bellies. My apologies if I came across harsh or anything. Definitely not my intent. Just some friendly banter about the bait schools I’ve been seeing. I’ll post a pic or two later.

DEMINISHING??????? Dude. That lake has more shad balls than a bag of cheese balls has cheese balls. :-) I have seen giant schools every trip all summer. Just Sunday I had my screen almost completely blacked out. Sorry. Not trying to call you out or anything. Just saying I've seen complete opposite. For 2yrs straight. Even the AGFC is puzzled why the bait population is so good. You need to check more open water if your bank fishing. My side scan is picking up bait almost everywhere I go.

My wife will hate you! Lol!!

Crap...... Just when I thought I had enough baits. There goes another box in the boat.

Yeah I've seen some of those with split tounge patches. Most are broken lines like you say. Still..... Potato Tomato Theyre still some hard fighting fish!! :-) A-rig? (Man I hate that thing. Lost one Sunday and opened up a split ring trying to retrieve it)

And at 4lbs those were most likely hybrids. They have a double tounge patch. Like stripers do. Whites have a single tounge patch. Catch one 4lb hybrid and it's as mean as a 4lb smallmouth.

Well that cat is out of the bag. Lol I didn't know. And can't go. That sucks cause I'd be on them if I could. I need to make a pot of striper gumbo with all of this cold weather.

I ventured out to that area also yesterday but the waves were rolling north east and splashing over the bow so I didn't even drop a bait. Never really searched the area. Tried to fish a cove and it was windy even in the coves. So I headed north of Hickory. Found some later when the wind died down but nothing would bite what I was offering. Picked up a largemouth later. Very windy day.

I suspect he knows basics of sonar screenshot interpretation. We have a screenshot support group thread in a sticky in this forum. (General forum) It has some good basic links and videos. I agree, run it on full auto for several weeks. Then start playing with adjustments a little but don't get too far from auto unless you're dialing into something specific. Auto I'm these u it's really are the "best overall" setting. I have recently found that I can adjust the contrast on side scan to about 7-10 below the auto configuration (-7 or -10 vs +7 or +10) and this setting helps me see the bottom content easier. Less shaddow I believe. I'd have to look at my unit to be sure. Point is, after you learn the unit, start playing with contrast and sensitivity settings. If you want only bigger fish and rule out smaller bait, decrease sensitivity. You can also turn surface clarity to low or high. All it does is clean up the upper portion of the screen so you can or cannot see where water temps transition. Lots of little things to learn but basic "Where do I adjust blank setting" is the most important. I've had mine for several months now and still need to search for a few settings. For the most part, I know where everything is on my unit. How to adjust it, what it does if I adjust it, and how to correct tho he when it's not working. Here's a lesson for you. .. Few weeks back side scan was not working. I powered the unit of and back on. Still not working. Would not read bottom. Went the while trip like this. Before loading, I adjusted the depth off of auto and boom. It started working. Kicked it back to auto and was still working. The unit had locked up on 5ft range and wouldn't scan. I had beached it to pick up passenger and it must have locked up on that depth. Sometimes you have to try things to make them work. I often use side scan off of auto range and select the range I want. And you will DEFINATELY want to sign up for Insight Genesis. I will send you a screenshot that will amaze you. Places you think you know, you don't. Scanning and creating your own maps are dead accurate and will reveal things you were not aware off.

Now that's funny!!!!

Didn't know you had a bird. Could have gotten another bird and networked them. Probably same price range. No big deal if it's too late. No real major loss I guess.

I'm available. :-)

Only if you plan on using a graph and side scan to locate bait and structure. The quality of the sonar alone is better than lesser sonar. BUT only if you know what you're looking at and rely on your electronics. If you do, this is a good deal. My guess is that they will continue to go down in price as the touch screen units are pushed. That may be end of next summer or by early spring at the earliest. If a new "Gen3" comes out, the gen 2 stuff will start dropping off in price. I'd say go for it if you plan on fully utilizing it. I can help. I have that unit. I've learned a lot about it.

Cool report! Glad you got into them. Hoping to find some myself Sunday.

I love downriggers. Just don't have any. (yet)

How do you get Warts down to 25ft? The 25-35ft range has elludeded me. I need to try some alternatives so I don't have to go to downriggers.

I'm taking donations for the crankbait challenged. Just meet me at the ramp with said satchels and I'll take them off your hands. :-) I think you have the bases covered. Don't forget Rapala. Some days , one brand/type outperforms others. So it's best to try different types and let the fish tell you which they want.