Summer Struggles

[tmoney]

Alright Rock Experts I need some help.

I really struggle a ton in July and August on the Rock. I don't have the sonar to fish drop shot well so I normally fish a PBJ FB Jig and pig deep off channel changes, main lake points, docks, structure and bluffs. I also like the 10 inch worm (Red Shad, blue flk, Green pumpkin) and BBH (Watermelon candy) I normally fish late evenings and into the night or early mornings. I fish Flourocarbon and I like to fish them slow.

In the end I can't seem to even get in the double digits and I burn an ton of gas and get a lot of practice casting in. Almost makes me want to stay home...almost. Challenge is this is my best time of year to fish so I can't just sit at home and wait till fall because that's my busy season.

I normally fish Cape Fear and Aunts Creek. I really appreaciate evenyones advice and the more detail the better, I'm still trying to understand a lot of the lanuage you guys talk on here. I'm headed out tonight and tomorrow night so any advice is appreciated.

[techo]

Not an expert but I know a bit about the area you fish. Summer is tough for me too. I am not sure what I would do if not for drop shot and c-rigged fish dr. Point ten would be great place for you about three casts from the sign. head up lake and look around that island some too.

Hopefully the experts will weigh in. I wouldn't ignore the shaky head either. Those two spots should get you bit year around.

[tmoney]

Not an expert but I know a bit about the area you fish. Summer is tough for me too. I am not sure what I would do if not for drop shot and c-rigged fish dr. Point ten would be great place for you about three casts from the sign. head up lake and look around that island some too.

Hopefully the experts will weigh in. I wouldn't ignore the shaky head either. Those two spots should get you bit year around.

Thanks! But I've got a dumb question: what's a fish dr? I like point ten and the transition around that island too

[CaptainJoe]

You don't need a sonar to fish a drop shot. Study the lake map for the area and look for points where both sides and the front of the point drops off into deeper water. Try to position your boat over these areas. I use a 7' rod. If you hold the rod handle just above the water and point the rod tip to the sky, you can get an idea how high 7' is. Open the bail, point the rod tip to the water and raise the rod tip up approximately 7' to the height you just measured/eye balled. Watch the line as it sinks to make sure that the line does not stop...if it does, a fish hit it on the way down. Close the bail and set the hook. If you do this procedure 4 times (4 x 7' = 28) and you are at 28'. Keep the rod at a 90 degree angle to the water (best angle to feel/detect a bite and watch the rod tip). After a few minutes if you get no bites, open the bail, and let out another 7' (now at 35'). Wait a few minutes. No bites, give the reel 6 full turns. Now you are at 26' (35' - 9' = 26') (if 18" equals one full reel turn). If you get bit or catch a fish, remember the depth and try to triangulate your position or drop a marker bouy. Use that depth and spot in that area and the same depth in other areas. Pretty soon, you will get the hang of it.

Good luck!

A fish doctor is a 4" soft plastic bait made by Zoom. Good for Carolina rigs, shaky heads, split shot rigs, Texas rigs, etc. Green Pumpkin is my color of choice.

[mclothier1]

It definetly helps to have a fishfinder that has enough power so that you can see your bait.

But if not... just figure out the depth by using the above method, or even once you figure out the right depth take a sharpie and "mark" the line, or even a slip bobber knot will do the trick.

Keep an eye on that fishfinder, it sees like a fish that is interested in eating will drop down and take the bait a lot more often than if you see a fish rise to your bait.

So even though you cant see your bait on the finder... give it a twitch and see if a fish drops down after it, then get ready to set the hook. I have seen fish on the finder travel 10 ft or more vertically to come check out my bait.

[Champ188]

Capt. Joe is dead on the money about not needing a good sonar to drop shot. You can drop-shot the big docks at the depths he recommends and catch plenty of fish including some good ones.

[bjovan]

Capt. Joe is dead on the money about not needing a good sonar to drop shot. You can drop-shot the big docks at the depths he recommends and catch plenty of fish including some good ones.

Great info, I am down the 14th thru 18th and have old units on my boat gonna give that advice a shot. thanks guys

[tmoney]

Thanks everyone! I didn't get this in time to try it tonight but I will later. Had good luck on main lake points with 10" power worms Texas rigged (mostly red shad). We caught about 10 tonight with 4 nice keepers. Problem is the bite was gone after dark? I fished till 12:30 and never caught one after dark. Very odd