Evening Bite 7/2

[Kevin Wagner]

Put in at the north Mutton Creek ramp around 5 PM. It was a little "warm", but was just a beautiful time to be out on the lake. I think we missed most of the pleasure boat traffic, which was good. Headed down lake towards Greenfield and caught some decent bass hanging in deep water off a steep bluff on brush hogs. Tried a big worm, but the extra action of the brush hog seemed to be the ticket. I also caught a 3+ lber on a swimbait in the same area, but it was sitting out deeper suspended on some timber. The shade of the bluff seemed to help hold those fish in this area.

Started to fish a creek arm at dusk, actually caught one on my first cast in this area, and then the wind and lightning kicked up really good so we headed to the marina to get the weather report. Now here's the thing, I have a really nice phone that I can see the radar on, but since I cannot get a signal in that part of the lake, it is pretty much useless! Anyway, got to the No Wake Cafe in time to catch Jill Gilardi's forecast. The storm was actually headed North, which never happens, so we went back to our spot and continued to catch some more bass up shallow. Hated to miss that primetime dusk bite though. There were also some bass definitely sitting on main lake points with smaller rock feeding after dark. I think a lot of the bigger bass are sitting in the brush piles, so I would hit as many of those as you can.

Hope this report helps. Good fishing everybody!

[Thunderin Gobbler]

What's you suggestion on brush hog and worm colors? I've been catching a lot of 14"-15" LMs on junebug(purple) worms. Nothing with any size yet though.

[straw hat]

Thanks for the report Kevin. I am going to try and take a trip soon with big shiners. You have given me an idea where to start. Now if I could just get a day where it wasn't 100 jillion degrees! lol

[Kevin Wagner]

I would fish watermelon red or watermelon candy, either one. I was using the regular size hog, not the super or baby. I threw a watermelon crawfish netbait 11" worm and a plum colored 10" powerworm in same areas, but with no bites. I think the extra action of the hog was just working better that day, plus it has such a big profile. Even little bass were wanting to hit it. Most of the time, I think Stockton bass like brush hogs and lizards. Can't explain it! The only worms I throw much anymore are the big worms during the summer and fall. At night, I mostly get bit on craw baits (I like the Yum and Berkely stuff the best). But, I am sold on throwing a big swimbait. You don't get as many bites, but the ones you do will usually be quality. I make sure and put a split ring on the swimbait so it has a nice wiggle to it.

[Thunderin Gobbler]

I would fish watermelon red or watermelon candy, either one. I was using the regular size hog, not the super or baby. I threw a watermelon crawfish netbait 11" worm and a plum colored 10" powerworm in same areas, but with no bites. I think the extra action of the hog was just working better that day, plus it has such a big profile. Even little bass were wanting to hit it. Most of the time, I think Stockton bass like brush hogs and lizards. Can't explain it! The only worms I throw much anymore are the big worms during the summer and fall. At night, I mostly get bit on craw baits (I like the Yum and Berkely stuff the best). But, I am sold on throwing a big swimbait. You don't get as many bites, but the ones you do will usually be quality. I make sure and put a split ring on the swimbait so it has a nice wiggle to it.

Thanks Kevin, I am planning to fish the area from CC toward Roark Bluff tomorrow evening and will definitely try out the brush hog and more craws/lizards than normal.Maybe I can finally find something with decent size to it. The last good one I caught was a 6lb last summer on a 10" watermelon seed worm.

[Kevin Wagner]

Thanks for the report Kevin. I am going to try and take a trip soon with big shiners. You have given me an idea where to start. Now if I could just get a day where it wasn't 100 jillion degrees! lol

Totally agree on the heat! It could cool down just a bit for us anglers, but that is why I fish at night anyway!

I really appreciate what all you guys do in posting your reports, and I hope to contribute as much as possible. I am a tag along fisherman and at the mercy of my fishing buddies, but I eat, sleep, and breathe bass fishing, so I will post as much as I can. It seems like most of the fishermen on this forum are Crappie or Walley fishermen, but hopefully we can get some more Bass guys to tell us what they are catching them on. I watch the Table Rock forum as well, and those guys are not shy in sharing what is working for them, which I think is great. It saves a ton of chucking and winding for guys who don't have as much T.O.W., and improves the overall knowledge of that fishery. Stockton is a great bass lake, but it can be tough to figure out what the bass are doing sometimes! Any advice at all is always helpful.

[Kevin Wagner]

Thanks Kevin, I am planning to fish the area from CC toward Roark Bluff tomorrow evening and will definitely try out the brush hog and more craws/lizards than normal.Maybe I can finally find something with decent size to it. The last good one I caught was a 6lb last summer on a 10" watermelon seed worm.

I would take a 6# any day! Last time I caught one that big was last fall. Man, I really need to fish more!