Looking For Fishing Ideas For The Last Week Of July

[dgames]

We are spending a week on lower Bull Shoals at the end of July for a family vacation. We are staying in a cove on sister creek (the one on the south side of the lake). This is mainly a pleasure boating trip where my kids will be wakeboarding, kneeboarding, etc. Although it isn't a fishing trip, I will have the opportunity to fish some, particularly early in the morning or late.

I plan to hit the tailwater for trout at least a time or two, but I am also interested in doing some lake fishing. I do have a boat, but it isn't a fishing boat. It is a 21' stern drive runabout - no trolling motor - but it does have a fish locator on it.

Any suggestions on lake fishing that week? Do the bass come up into the coves in the morning or evening? Is there good activity at the various places along the lake where they have sunken brush?

I would be fairly open to whatever species & methods would present a fairly reasonable chance for success - bass, walleye, sand bass, whatever. I appreciate any help.

Oh, I am generally a catch & release fisherman. If I got into some pan size walleye, I might consider keeping a couple, but anything else would definitely get released (and probably walleye too - my kids don't eat fish and I don't want the hassle of keeping and cleaning fish).

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Martin]

If you can idle around and find a brushpile or two with your depthfinder, just float nearby or anchor. Throw out a live nightcrawler on a plain # 4 or #2 hook with a #5 split-shot about 8 to 10 inches above the hook. You should be able to catch several species doing that. Bass, walleye, lots of panfish. Use light line, like about 6 lb test. 8 lb test might fly OK.

Or you can troll with a crankbait about a 100 feet back, maybe 100 to 150 feet back, but I'm guessing your boat will probably idle too fast for productive trolling. If you can keep your speed to 3 mph or less, you'll be fine. Use 10 lb test line for trolling if you try it.

Keep in mind, the minimum length for walleye is 18 inches. You might catch alot of 17 1/2 inchers but "the man" does check livewells if they are around, and they usually are.

Good luck !!

[dgames]

If you can idle around and find a brushpile or two with your depthfinder, just float nearby or anchor. Throw out a live nightcrawler on a plain # 4 or #2 hook with a #5 split-shot about 8 to 10 inches above the hook. You should be able to catch several species doing that. Bass, walleye, lots of panfish. Use light line, like about 6 lb test. 8 lb test might fly OK.

Or you can troll with a crankbait about a 100 feet back, maybe 100 to 150 feet back, but I'm guessing your boat will probably idle too fast for productive trolling. If you can keep your speed to 3 mph or less, you'll be fine. Use 10 lb test line for trolling if you try it.

Keep in mind, the minimum length for walleye is 18 inches. You might catch alot of 17 1/2 inchers but "the man" does check livewells if they are around, and they usually are.

Good luck !!

Thanks for the reply.

I Didn't know about the regs on walleye. I probably just won't keep anything.

I have trolled with this boat successfully in OK for sand bass on lake eufala. I assume it would need to be a deep diving crankbait. Is that correct.

As far as the brush piles, I have a lake topo map that has many of these marked & numbered. I assume it would be fairly straight forward to locate one with the locator and throw out a buoy. Does the buoy spook the fish in the really clear water?

[Martin]

Just throw your buoy off to the side of the brushpile. If you find a BP that's fairly close to shore, just make a mental note where it is in relation to a tree or big rock on shore. No buoy required.

And yes, a deep diving crankbait is usually best. Just about any brand will work.

Good luck !! (again).