Btw Point 18 & The Cliffs At The Camp

[Billfo]

I was just between point 18 & the cliffs at the camp (cant spell the name "Kucumugaua?").. A found alot of submerged trees that according to my Lowrance was holding ALOT of fish in the tops about30 feet down. Anyone know what these fish are this time of year & how do ya get'm !!!

BTW, the big Paddlefish are in Big Indain Creek NOW.

Thanks.. Billfo

[Sam]

I dunno about those specific fish, but I was at a friends house yesterday and he gave me a different point of view. He's not a fisherman, he's a scuba diver who's been diving Tablerock for years. We got to talking about what he can see down there that would be helpful to a fisherman like me.

First off, he says there's a lot of dead water. In areas where there's no cover and especially with a mud bottom, there are very few fish. The exception to that, he says, are white bass - they're just moving around in bunches and not relating to cover so they might be seen most anywhere, just passing through.

In areas where there's structure and cover, he says it's amazing how many fish there are. He likes to sit on the bottom near some good brush and watch the crappie. According to him, there are crappie in every underwater tree and brushpile that's at the right depth, and the big crappie stay in the thickest cover and keep the smaller ones chased out to the edges.

When it comes to bass, he thinks fishermen have no idea how thick they are. His favorite spots for bass-watching are steep rocky bluff banks with ledges and underwater trees. He'll dive on one of those and sit on a rock or ledge just above the thermocline, which he says you can really feel - there's a sudden temperature drop below it, and the fish stay just above it. He says bass are real curious - he'll sit there quiet and tap two rocks together or tap on his air tank, and here they come. He said bass are just thick around such places including a lot of big ones, and they'll come up inches away from him trying to figure out that tapping sound. He sees some real big catfish in such places, too.

His main message, he says if you're fishing in a spot with big rocks, flooded trees, and lots of cover - bass ARE looking at your lure, every cast. You might go half a day without a bite, but they're in there and they're looking at it. The surprising thing, I guess, is how seldom they bite - because he says there are a whole lot more big fish than we think.

[Billfo]

Thats a pretty cool reply !!! Real interesting. makes sense.. Thanks..

I dunno about those specific fish, but I was at a friends house yesterday and he gave me a different point of view. He's not a fisherman, he's a scuba diver who's been diving Tablerock for years. We got to talking about what he can see down there that would be helpful to a fisherman like me.

First off, he says there's a lot of dead water. In areas where there's no cover and especially with a mud bottom, there are very few fish. The exception to that, he says, are white bass - they're just moving around in bunches and not relating to cover so they might be seen most anywhere, just passing through.

In areas where there's structure and cover, he says it's amazing how many fish there are. He likes to sit on the bottom near some good brush and watch the crappie. According to him, there are crappie in every underwater tree and brushpile that's at the right depth, and the big crappie stay in the thickest cover and keep the smaller ones chased out to the edges.

When it comes to bass, he thinks fishermen have no idea how thick they are. His favorite spots for bass-watching are steep rocky bluff banks with ledges and underwater trees. He'll dive on one of those and sit on a rock or ledge just above the thermocline, which he says you can really feel - there's a sudden temperature drop below it, and the fish stay just above it. He says bass are real curious - he'll sit there quiet and tap two rocks together or tap on his air tank, and here they come. He said bass are just thick around such places including a lot of big ones, and they'll come up inches away from him trying to figure out that tapping sound. He sees some real big catfish in such places, too.

His main message, he says if you're fishing in a spot with big rocks, flooded trees, and lots of cover - bass ARE looking at your lure, every cast. You might go half a day without a bite, but they're in there and they're looking at it. The surprising thing, I guess, is how seldom they bite - because he says there are a whole lot more big fish than we think.

[Martin]

Camp Kanacut or something like that....lol.

Drop a spoon to those fish. Get above them and drop it straight down to their level...Try a 1/2 oz to a 3/4 oz spoon. Hop it a few times and see what happens.

There are tons of guys on here that will probably say,"Drop Shot"......It's another vertical presentation. That should work also.

[skeeter]

It's Kamp Kanakuk and we call it "Camp Run-Amok" due to the antics of the camp owned jet ski's and ski boats every morning during camping season when you are out trying to fish. Five or six jet ski's running together and about four or five Honda O.B. powered ski-boats. One guy leads the jet-ski's out showing off with cutesy little tricks and turns and the others follow behind him. They enjoy driving in circles around or close to you while you are trying to fish. GRRRRR....!

Billfo, Curious how you I.D.'ed the Paddlefish back in the Indians ? On the Lowrance or visually ? Very cool to see those big guys and they sure grow well in this Lake. Thanks for the report.

[motoman]

I dunno about those specific fish, but I was at a friends house yesterday and he gave me a different point of view. He's not a fisherman, he's a scuba diver who's been diving Tablerock for years. We got to talking about what he can see down there that would be helpful to a fisherman like me.

First off, he says there's a lot of dead water. In areas where there's no cover and especially with a mud bottom, there are very few fish. The exception to that, he says, are white bass - they're just moving around in bunches and not relating to cover so they might be seen most anywhere, just passing through.

In areas where there's structure and cover, he says it's amazing how many fish there are. He likes to sit on the bottom near some good brush and watch the crappie. According to him, there are crappie in every underwater tree and brushpile that's at the right depth, and the big crappie stay in the thickest cover and keep the smaller ones chased out to the edges.

When it comes to bass, he thinks fishermen have no idea how thick they are. His favorite spots for bass-watching are steep rocky bluff banks with ledges and underwater trees. He'll dive on one of those and sit on a rock or ledge just above the thermocline, which he says you can really feel - there's a sudden temperature drop below it, and the fish stay just above it. He says bass are real curious - he'll sit there quiet and tap two rocks together or tap on his air tank, and here they come. He said bass are just thick around such places including a lot of big ones, and they'll come up inches away from him trying to figure out that tapping sound. He sees some real big catfish in such places, too.

His main message, he says if you're fishing in a spot with big rocks, flooded trees, and lots of cover - bass ARE looking at your lure, every cast. You might go half a day without a bite, but they're in there and they're looking at it. The surprising thing, I guess, is how seldom they bite - because he says there are a whole lot more big fish than we think.

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VERY interesting stuff! Would love to see him film some underwater footage like that and post it online.

[Sam]

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VERY interesting stuff! Would love to see him film some underwater footage like that and post it online.

I would too. I'll mention it to him, and if he'll shoot a video I'll post a link to it here. He's got me thinking about making a lure that "taps".

Everything he said about big bass not biting very often goes along with an interesting article I read years ago. It was in some sporting magazine, and probably others here read it too.

The article was written by a guy in the conservation department in Texas. Texas invites fishermen to donate live bass that are over 10 lbs. to a state breeding program. They figure those bass carry the genes to make more big 'uns, and they stock lakes with the offspring. The author was in charge of those captive giant bass, which are held in a series of ponds.

In taking care of them, he got to know the bass as individuals. Like any animal, they've got their own individual preferences. Some liked to take cover around logs, others liked weeds, others liked rocks - and even when they were moved they'd go find the same kind of cover they liked. Same with food - some only ate crawdads, others only ate perch. Some would eat only at a certain time of the day or night. Most important though, he was surprised at how seldom they ate - some of them would feed only once a week, and even the "hungriest" ones only once every 2 or 3 days. He said approaching weather fronts would change that, though - they'd get more active when the barometer was dropping.

I think big bass feed pretty seldom, and they watch lures go by most every day of their lives.

[Billfo]

Great idea... Spoons !!!!! Thanks

Camp Kanacut or something like that....lol.

Drop a spoon to those fish. Get above them and drop it straight down to their level...Try a 1/2 oz to a 3/4 oz spoon. Hop it a few times and see what happens.

There are tons of guys on here that will probably say,"Drop Shot"......It's another vertical presentation. That should work also.

[Billfo]

Billfo, Curious how you I.D.'ed the Paddlefish back in the Indians ? On the Lowrance or visually ? Very cool to see those big guys and they sure grow well in this Lake. Thanks for the report.

I have seen the huge splashes. I thought they were big carp, A neighbor told me they were Paddlefish. Early in the am & at sunset. Apparently they surface next to your boat if your sitting still. Curious of us too I imagine.

[timr0123]

There's a article in Bassmaster's this month about big flutter spoons. My Dad was a old school spoon fisherman. He said all game fish would hit a spoon. I realize now why, it's the flash and vibration. I think spoons have been around longer than spinner baits, buzz baits and the trusty old Rattle Trap.