Cape Fair Marina Fishing Report

[Outdoor Girl]

The water temperature is finally down in the mid to low 80’s and the fish are moving to different structure. It’s still hot weather fishing, but bearable. As the water cools the fish are going to change their feeding locations and times. Right now we have large schools of black bass, white bass and big perch all blowing up on top chasing shad and they are doing this right in the middle of the hot part of the day. It’s a wonder that the fish are hitting any kind of artificial bait as Table rock is full to the brim with shad, perch and bass fry swimming everywhere and don’t forget the crawdads too.

Black Bass: You would have to rate the fishing for legal size bass at poor to fair at best. During the day the big bass have moved into the 18 to 25 range of water depth and are just hanging out over good bottom structure, such as old lay down trees and brush piles somewhere in that depth range. You can get bit if you work a big 10 or 12 inch worm Texas rigged down in that junk and only if you work it real slow. Even then you probably won’t feel the bite as the big bass aren’t moving after they pick the worm up. I mean if you aren’t watching your line for the twitch you won’t feel the fish until they have already spit it out.

Night time fishing is a different story altogether. The good bass are hitting the above mentioned worms, and they are also hitting the critter craws well. They are also moving shallow quicker and now is the time to get your spinner baits in the game. Look for them broken rock banks in some of the bigger coves and bring that spinner bait back to the boat at a pretty good clip.

Crappie: It’s getting better as these guys are starting to feel the fall urge to put some fat on before winter. They are still deep, but getting more aggressive on chasing down food and it will just get better as the fall comes on. We have already seen one 3 pound crappie come into the marina.

White Bass: Hang on these guys are already to make their fall run. They are out on the gravel points chasing shad right up on the bank when they get the chance too. Trolling cranks baits back and forth over the good gravel points will catch a lot of white bass. They are also busting shad up on top right out in the channels and if you can get close enough without spooking them down, you will have a ball.

Catfish: I got a couple of guys fishing out of their boats in the back of some of the flatter coves in 9 to 10 foot of water using dough bait of all things and they are bringing in some nice channel cats. Nothing big, just good pound 1 ½ to 3 pound channels and they are telling me they have some fine eating.

Flatheads are on the feed and after live bait. We have picked up some nice flats on crank baits while fishing for bass. I cleaned a couple of nice flats for some friends the other day and their bellies were full of shad and small perch. I would say it’s time to get those trot lines and limb lines going.

[Guest Buck Creek Mike]

Middle of the day topwater bite sounds great! Thanks for the update.