"the Rock" 2010 Tourney

[mrcold]

Well, I'm about three weeks out from "The Rock" annual fishing tourney. My buddy's family has about a 15 year tradition of going down there and I've been going for the last 6 or 7 years. I always love the trip just because of the atmosphere with the guys and the enjoyable scenery...yet I almost always leave that lake with my tail between my legs after a healthy whoopin'. Anyway, you guys made me look like a pro last year with all of the help I received here. I ended up catching about 15 "keepers" while the other 5 guys totaled around 6 or 8. Oh, for the record, the only ones ever actually kept are a couple of the ones just above keeper size that get ambitious and swallow the hooks. We need those 2 or 4 fillets on the 4th of July when they get grilled up, everyone gets a little bite, and the winners brag.

Finally to the point... I'm learning my way around the lake, learning the styles, and have been mixing in some of my own tricks with the robos, docs, etc. My problem is I don't think I've ever caught a bass (any of the 3 types) over about 2.5 lbs. down there. Even when I'm getting numbers, I can't get any size.

We have a tendency to start out on points, but then we just get sucked into the coves. We start out about one and a half full casts from the bank, then slowly sneak into the shallower water so we can cast to the bank. The only thing I can use with confidence down there is plastics. A couple of the guys have done ok on cranks, but I can't seem to pick them up at all when I throw the wart. The rogue or X-raps I've thrown, never even sniffed by a fish. The only topwater I've caught fish on was a small popper in really shallow water. I haven't tried any kind of swimbait, though I did pick one up last year that I really like.

I know that's limited information, but any idea what could help get one or two kicker fish in the boat? I feel like I've read up here, and have an idea what is going on, but things just don't click. I mean, I feel like I'm a fairly competent fisherman...until I get down there. Is it location and depth or is it bait selection? Or is it just poor presentation and operator error? (obviously that one is rhetorical, since that may be tough to answer)

By the way, we'll be there May 11th through 15th. Based on past experience, we should get there about 2 days after the spawn ends so nothing wants to eat...

Thanks!

Brian

(oh, we'll be in the Indian Point area...I don't want to advertise where we stay since I know some of you guys are competitors, but have you ever seen those V-shaped wooden things Australians throw that come back to them?)

[SRV1990]

Hey Brian, my buddies and I will be there from the 12th to the 16th, I'll try to look for you. We'll be staying in the house above the laundry room.

Since I'm only a once-a-year guy when it comes to Table Rock I probably can't help you nearly as much as most of the others who post here, but will say that plastics -- shakey head, dragging a split shot or swimming a single tail grub -- have produced the best, by far, for me in the five years I've been coming down. I'm always open to trying different things, but when the bites tough I fall back to what I have confidence in.

Good luck!

Tom

PS... Since we are fishing different "tourneys", I don't mind sharing what's working for me, if you'll reciprocate ;-)

[rps]

They started hitting "spooks" this week. They won't stop until the late July doldrums. Bone, clear, silver blue, silver black. Heddon, Xcalibur, Spro, or Lucky Craft versions. For the last five years, most of my five pounds plus fish have come on a walk the dog bait. Yes, the largest every year seems to be a jig fish or a deep fish, but the numbers over five game belongs to my "spooks".

Have faith, get up early, and walk the dog.

[mrcold]

Have faith, get up early, and walk the dog.

Perfect, thanks!!

I know people don't like giving up too much detail on forums (or anywhere for that matter) so feel free to say "none of your d##m business" to any of my questions, but I've got one general one for you. When you're throwing the spooks/sammys, are you casting right at the edge of the rocks, or are you over 10 or 15 feet of water? When I've fished smallies up north, if your lure didn't land within a foot of the bank, you weren't getting hit. Up here in Nebraska, most of the fish are in 2-4 feet of water this early in the year...but our mudpits aren't in the same category obviously, and the water clarity is incredible down there. I guess I've seen people say they've had spots come up out of 15 or 20 feet of water to hit a topwater, but is that the norm? What about points vs. coves? Does pea gravel, chunk rock, boulders or cliffs have an impact? (wow, my "one general question" seems to have exploded...sorry)

Thanks guys!

Brian

[mrcold]

Hey Brian, my buddies and I will be there from the 12th to the 16th, I'll try to look for you. We'll be staying in the house above the laundry room.

Since I'm only a once-a-year guy when it comes to Table Rock I probably can't help you nearly as much as most of the others who post here, but will say that plastics -- shakey head, dragging a split shot or swimming a single tail grub -- have produced the best, by far, for me in the five years I've been coming down. I'm always open to trying different things, but when the bites tough I fall back to what I have confidence in.

Good luck!

Tom

PS... Since we are fishing different "tourneys", I don't mind sharing what's working for me, if you'll reciprocate ;-)

As long as you don't talk to any of the other 4 guys besides my partner and I, you bet! The shaved head in the blue Lund is me, feel free to share and we'll do the same. Stay away from the jokers in the resort rental boats. We were over the shop last year, we'll be in the house this year. See ya down there!

[techo]

Perfect, thanks!!

I know people don't like giving up too much detail on forums (or anywhere for that matter) so feel free to say "none of your d##m business" to any of my questions, but I've got one general one for you. When you're throwing the spooks/sammys, are you casting right at the edge of the rocks, or are you over 10 or 15 feet of water? When I've fished smallies up north, if your lure didn't land within a foot of the bank, you weren't getting hit. Up here in Nebraska, most of the fish are in 2-4 feet of water this early in the year...but our mudpits aren't in the same category obviously, and the water clarity is incredible down there. I guess I've seen people say they've had spots come up out of 15 or 20 feet of water to hit a topwater, but is that the norm? What about points vs. coves? Does pea gravel, chunk rock, boulders or cliffs have an impact? (wow, my "one general question" seems to have exploded...sorry)

Thanks guys!

Brian

Sometimes we watch for them swirling and cast right past where they are and reel to that location. We keep our boat a little deeper and cast toward shore most of the time. It kind of depends on the lay of the land on where you are fishing.

It seems to me the fish come from a ways off at times and cruise quickly and hit your top water bait hard. They know where that "dying shad" is!

As far as pea gravel and all of that....we look for transition banks. Not just pea gravel but a bank that goes from rock to pea gravel.

[SRV1990]

Hey techo, as always thanks a lot for the info. I've never had much luck with topwater baits, a few shorts here and there, but nothing to write home about. I see a number of posts on here about working the bait very, very slowly, even pausing for a while. Is this your approach as well? And would this also be the best approach to use in mid-May, when the water is even warmer?

Thanks,

Tom

PS... Hey Brian, sorry for hi-jacking your post, but had to ask

[techo]

Babler taught me the red fin a few years back. That one we just cast it out and reel it in so there is a wake. I use the jointed ones, throw a feathered treble hook on the back and sometimes put one of the lead weight dots near the back of the front section to keep the nose up and tail down. I seldom use the red fin anymore....but the Mrs slaughtered the fish on them. She reels just fast enough for there to be a wake. If you reel to fast....they seem to go under the water and I think they have to be on top.

I actually prefer other top waters like the Spooks and sammys. I think they do a better job of representing the dying shad. I walk the dog and twitch away. I seldom let the bait sit still, but don't move real fast either. Sometimes the bass will hit any of the baits two or three times before actually taking it. I never stop. I just keep reeling it and they will take it eventually.

Hopefully Bill, the Captains and the other smarter folk will chime in with better information!