Pea Gravel Points?

[Sore Thumbs]

I was fishing yesterday at Beaver and saw a lot of people sitting on slow tapering gravel points. What tecnique are they using and was it because of water temp or conditions. I really struggle with anything that is not right on the bank. Trying to be a bit more diverse. Thanks for any input.

[Champ188]

Slow-tapering gravel points seem to always hold fish in our Ozarks lakes. Most likely, the guys you saw were dragging football jigs. You can also throw tubes, grubs, hula grubs or even shaky heads on these points, and if you spot a school of fish on your electronics, you can drop-shot them. On cloudy days or during other low-light periods, you may want to position your boat in 20-25 feet of water and throw up into 8-10 feet. Under sunny skies and/or later in the day, move out to where the boat is sitting 30-40 feet and you are dragging your bait 15-30 feet deep. Lots of guys go deeper than this. I like to use a 3/4-ounce fb jig and a 1/4-ounce head on my grubs or shaky heads.

Not every point will hold fish, of course, so don't sit and fish too long if you aren't getting bit. Move around until you find some fish.

[Sore Thumbs]

This sounds like spots to find keepers not big fish. I am perplexed that these guys are wieghing in 15-18 pounds of fish in these tournaments. I'm trying to figure out how they are catching them with size. I had a 5 fish limit that was 6 lbs. granted those guys are turning in 6 fish but the per fish avg is way higher. I guess im trying to figure out if there is a pattern that catches bigger fish this time of year or do they just have awesome spots.

[Quillback]

I haven't had much luck on the gravel points since August. Just about every time out lately. I'll stop and drag a FB jig on a point, but can't find one with fish. Wish I could tell you where the 6 lbers are, I'm looking myself.

[Sore Thumbs]

3 lbers would be fine with me

[Football Head]

Cant speak for how things are on Beaver, but slow-tapering pea gravel points have produced several big bags for me on other lakes.

[Sore Thumbs]

I meant no disrespect when i made that "keepers not big fish" comment. I started fishing seriously about 5 years ago and I study,eat,sleep and drink fishing. I guess im getting frustrated cuz it seems the the harder i push the more confused i get. I am trying to make up what these guys have known for lifetimes and trying to cram it in too fast. I appreciate the knowledge you guys share in here just getting a little frustrated that's all. If it sounded like i crapped on Champs answer that is not what i intended. My bad.

[rps]

This is rather Zen, but ... about the time your subconscious says, "Why don't you try this?", you have reached true understanding. Of course you are still 20 minutes too late to take advantage. Of course I wonder about those who who are on the pattern before it begins. Those people scare me.

[riverfish]

i know of three ways to catch bigger fish and they are as follows... get lucky, catch quanity, and last but not least... bigger baits. i would say the first is your best option. you can target bigger fish with the bigger baits but you have to be willing to settle with five or six bites a day which you may not get. but with luck and quanity, you up your chances of catching a better fish. just by putting numbers in the boat. just my opinon

[Champ188]

Not taken that way at all, Thumbs. Your frustration is understood. Happens to all of us no matter how much experience or ability we might have. Besides, you are scaling a tall hill in trying to learn to catch them consistently on Beaver. Only a few people I know can do that and I am not among them. But don't kid yourself about those pea gravel points. You can catch some darn fine brown bass out there. Go down to the dam by the camping area next April-May and throw a brown-purple or PBJ football jig with a green pumpkin double-tail trailer on those gravel points. I bet you'll start seeing some results.