Swepco Trip Report 03-19-13

[doohickey]

Got the day off and took the brother-in-law over to Gentry to do some large-mouth fishing. The water temp was around 57 degrees at sunrise and rose to almost 60 degrees by 3pm. We searched the lake early in the morning and didn't see very much activity at all and no bites. We finally found some suspended fish in 40'-50' of water in the south-west corner by the dam around 9:30am. I caught the first bass of the day around 10am on a bait-fish colored super fluke with a drop-shot rig. We had no more bites after that and moved across the entire lake from points to coves. My BIL finally caught a small one on a live worm around 5:30pm in the large cove about half-way up the lake on the west side. Shortly after that I caught my second one on a lizard fished weightless in about 3' of water in the same cove. It was a great day to be out. I'm guessing that the fish have moved deeper since the water is cooler than normal for them. I wished that I would have remembered to take my spoons, won't forget next time.

[Quillback]

Thanks for the report, I've been thinking about going over there, but I hear they have shut the plant down for maintenance so they aren't running any water. I think that's the reason you saw those cold (for Swepco) water temps, I believe that it makes fishing a lot tougher on that lake when they shut the plant down.

[Guest]

Thanks for the report, I've been thinking about going over there, but I hear they have shut the plant down for maintenance so they aren't running any water. I think that's the reason you saw those cold (for Swepco) water temps, I believe that it makes fishing a lot tougher on that lake when they shut the plant down.

The fish should be in brushpiles in the back of coves. weightless senkos, flukes, sammys

shaky head, foot ball heads on deeper mouth of coves.

[doohickey]

I knew going in that the plant was shut down, figured I would give it a try.

The fish should be in brushpiles in the back of coves. weightless senkos, flukes, sammys

shaky head, foot ball heads on deeper mouth of coves.

We tried all of that (except for the football jigs). The fishfinder did show fish in deeper water at the mouths of coves, but we scoured the backs of the coves and didn't see anything.

[Guest]

I knew going in that the plant was shut down, figured I would give it a try.

We tried all of that (except for the football jigs). The fishfinder did show fish in deeper water at the mouths of coves, but we scoured the backs of the coves and didn't see anything.

In that case, fish the deepest part of the cove about 1/3 of the way back and out to the mouth.

Drag a shaky head, or carolina rig

Also, fish mainlake points and flats near deep water if the wind allows.

That spot at the dam where the cold water is running into the lake will hold big suspended bass in 20-25 FOW

Ive had luck with 5" senkos freelined to them, its tedious but pays off big.

Dont overlook the dropshot either.

It sounds like the lake is undergoing some unsually cooling changes that will slow the bite.

Nasty days like today have been good for me

[doohickey]

I've been practicing with the drop-shot and the carolina rig for fishing in the deep. I will have to check out the shaky head rig, thanks for the tips

[jeb]

How was the ramp? I heard some guys tore up some boats/trailers over there recently.

[doohickey]

I have a small boat (14') with a short trailer and I've been twice with no issues. I've heard it drops off so people with longer trailers may need to be more careful.

[Jtbrash]

Someone recently dropped a big pile of rocks at the end of the ramp to keep trailers from dropping off. Shouldn't be a problem anymore, just don't freak when you see your trailer start to shimmy up and down when fully backed down. Just the rocks down there.

[Jtbrash]

Someone recently dropped a big pile of rocks at the end of the ramp to keep trailers from dropping off. Shouldn't be a problem anymore, just don't freak when you see your trailer start to shimmy up and down when fully backed down. Just the rocks down there.