Theodosia Fishing

[K Red]

Hi all,

I'm heading out on a family vacation in 2 weeks and wondered if anyone had any warm water fishing tips. We'll be staying at a resort about a mile or so from the bridges. I'm somewhat limited in how much water I can cover since I'll be using a 15ft aluminum boat with a 10 hp engine. I've been to this area 4 or 5 times in the last ten years and have only marginal luck. Last year was a total bust as far as fishing. But being out on the lake as the sun comes up makes the trip worthwhile even if I can't figure out the fishing.

[leo]

It is my belief that it is hard to put a price tag on vacation time. Have you thought about finding a guide for your first day down. They can usually put you on fish and show you the patterans that are working that day (night), and then you can fish on your own there on out. A good guide wants to make your trip a good one. In addition to being fun it is kind of a ego thing for them to help you out.

[Kayser]

Troll Shad-raps on idle speed along rip-rap or other fish attracting structure where the fish will be 1-15 ft deep. This has worked for me when nothing else has. KY Lake, Rend Lake, Carlyle Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Kaskaskia River. These are the places that I can remember where this worked when nothing else has.

Rob

[porter57]

trolling sounds right to me this time of year.

the brushpiles will probably be empty with the water this warm and clear. maybe a little topwater action early in the day,till 8 or so.

trolling will also help keep ya cool .

[Wayne SW/MO]

K Red I would concentrate on the water north of the bridge if Bass is your target. Jigging spoons around the many bluffs there might also be productive. Another possibility would be fishing at night, with a light, under the 160 bridge.

It would help if we knew what kind of fish you're looking for and what type of fishing you like.

[rainbow]

Was in the same area for a week earlier this month and we did not know the patterns there for any type of fish. Just fished blind everyday and did not do well. I wish I would have had a guide the first day after getting skunked for a week.

[K Red]

I've considered using a guide and even went as far as contacting one on one of my early trips. Sorry I don't remember who it was. It was also a trip during the dog days of summer and the guide wasn't really to eager. I got the impression that fishing the lake at that time of year was pretty tough and he didn't have a lot of confidence he could put me on any fish. To his credit he did give me some suggestions and wish me luck.

I'm not to picky about what kind of fish: Walleye, largemouth, crappie, whites and even some nice bluegill would be great.

In past trips I've had the best success trolling the bluffs longlining with 6lb test and deep diving crank baits like the d22. Never caught a lot of fish but would pick up a few keepers during the week. Caught largemouth, walleye, whites and crappie. I picked up a ABU 7000 at a garage sale this spring and was thinking of loading it up with lead core and giving that a shot.

Top water early AM is also a method that I have tried. I've pick up a few small largemouths but have never got into any quality fish yet. That's my favorite way to fish.

I've got a submersible light but never used it. Hadn't thought about fishing under the bridge at night. I'll give it a shot.

Thanks for all the suggestions if you have others keep posting.

[Wayne SW/MO]

You should make a point to do some early morning topwater on banks north of the bridge. I would travel up where the channels are and work banks that have a decent drop with some Vegetation on them.

Under the bridge I would fish the piers on either side of the channel.

[Sam]

When the water's hot down there and things are tough, I agree that trolling is the way to go.

My favorite way to do that, when I don't know WHAT I'm fishing for - put 8 lb. Fireline on a medium spinning outfit. Tie a big 1/4 oz. Roostertail on (the color doesn't matter much as long as the blade is chrome), and about five feet above the Roostertail tie to an in-line barrel swivel. Trolling a Roostertail without a swivel twists the line something awful. Just above the swivel, attach about a 1/2 oz. Rubber-Cor sinker.

Let out a lot of line, and at trolling speeds this rig will run at about 12' deep.

Troll the banks, the rip-rap, the points, the cove mouths, and even the deep channels. There's no telling what you'll catch with this in the summertime, but you'll probably catch something.

The fishing may not be very fast in hot weather, but with this rig I've caught largemouth and spotted bass, white bass, crappie, walleye, big bluegills, and even an occasional channel or flathead catfish, goggleye, gar, or drum. You just never know.

This is a real good way to locate white bass (usually in deep water), and if you start catching those you can usually troll back and forth over the same area and get some more. If you locate crappie, stop and work the area with crappie jigs.

I hope you have a great vacation.

[K Red]

Thanks for all the input. I picked up a topo map of the Theodosia Arm today with the map and the portable depth finder I should be able to locate the channels and find the depth the shad are running. I'll be heading out next Saturday I'll let you know how it went.

Thanks again.........Kelly