Day/night Bass Fishing (War Eagle Area)

[skeet88bt]

So I typically shy away from fishing the river in the summer time unless we get a good rain and there is some run off. I always fish the mid-lake area or up around the dam. My question is the fishing any good this time of year around that area and what patterns work?(Day and Night) The family wanted to be close to home so we decided to camp at War Eagle campground this weekend.....Any river rats out there that want to give me some advice I am open to suggestions???Thanks!

[J-Doc]

Honest suggestion??

Go slow and only get on plane when you're in the channel and even then, only go fast enough to just barely stay on plane. Probably 15-20mph. Also use a light to ensure you're not going to hit any driftwood or debris. I think the AGFC frowns upon using "lights" but if it's between a fine and me hitting something that will damage my boat, I'll error on the side of a hand-slap. Just sayin'. I may be wrong about that but I thought I had read that online somewhere about using floodlights or searchlights on the water or any "docking lights" are prohibited. If I'm using to see where I'm going and only making sure I'm not going to hit anything at 15-20mph, I shouldn't get in trouble in my opinion. Shining a light in people's houses, into the woods looking for wildlife, or shining it at other boats is completely different.

Also, as far as patterns go......

- Buzzbaits work great at night

- bright glittered crankbaits

- single bladed spinnerbaits in dark colors with a big Colorado blade (big thumping vibration) slow rolled around docks, structure, docks with lights, etc

- plastics work but I think bass are more on the move and in search of more active prey (unless you're not getting bites then try a plastic with some time of rattle or noise maker/vibration)

- Big ribbon tailed texas rigged worms

This is all basic stuff so I apologize if you already knew this. If not, use dark colors with lots of glitter. Or for crankbaits, it can be the opposite, bright colors with glitter or dark with glitter. Experiment.

[skeet88bt]

I appreciate the comments J-Doc. I really did worry about running after dark so I figured I would try to stay around there close and venture out during the day. I am with you on the light deal I am always shining it around looking for logs, canoers with no lights, swimmers, etc...

I usually fish Big Clifty area and I love throwinig a spinnerbait and buzzbait! I I planned on doing the same thing around that area.....When you say crankbait are you throwing a dd22, 6xd, 5xd or shallow cranks? I just don't know enough about that end of the lake to know what the heck I am doing. Should I stay on flats, bluffs, chunk rock, timber, etc? I really appreciate all the info.

[J-Doc]

You're asking the wrong fella about crankbaits! LOL! While I have 2-3 boxes full of them, I just don't do something right with them. Mainly I don't contact the bottom or deflect off of structure. That's the key with crankbaits. Reaction strikes. That and finding the depth, speed, color, vibration amount, moon and earth alignment....etc. LOL!

Do I throw them? Well yeah! I'd say try various things.

The key to a successful trip this time of year is try different things with the same bait by multiple casts with variations to a spot that you just "know" a fish should be there. More than likely he/she is. When you get a strike, find out why??? Ask your self, what depth, what were you doing that you can repeat that strike in a different spot of the same conditions. That pattern will often hold up after about 2-3 fish and it will be all you do the rest of the trip with the occasional experimentation just to break up the mental strain of chunking the same thing the entire time.

I'd guess square bill in shallow since fish will come up shallow. I also read that a fat free shad crank is awesome in the summer months. The key is find the fish on the graph, what depth are they and then judge based on that.

[skeet88bt]

You're asking the wrong fella about crankbaits! LOL! While I have 2-3 boxes full of them, I just don't do something right with them. Mainly I don't contact the bottom or deflect off of structure. That's the key with crankbaits. Reaction strikes. That and finding the depth, speed, color, vibration amount, moon and earth alignment....etc. LOL!

Do I throw them? Well yeah! I'd say try various things.

The key to a successful trip this time of year is try different things with the same bait by multiple casts with variations to a spot that you just "know" a fish should be there. More than likely he/she is. When you get a strike, find out why??? Ask your self, what depth, what were you doing that you can repeat that strike in a different spot of the same conditions. That pattern will often hold up after about 2-3 fish and it will be all you do the rest of the trip with the occasional experimentation just to break up the mental strain of chunking the same thing the entire time.

I'd guess square bill in shallow since fish will come up shallow. I also read that a fat free shad crank is awesome in the summer months. The key is find the fish on the graph, what depth are they and then judge based on that.

I have trouble with the earth/moon alignment no matter what I am chunking at them! LOL...At least that is my excuse I constantly need reminded that I have to "fish the moment" like IKE says....I will probably try to do some flipping and maybe some shallow cranking. I don't throw a fat free shad much although I do square bills. I will try to commit to something and figure them out. I think you gave me a good starting point. Thanks again J-Doc.

I will go ahead and give a report of the mid-lake area. I have been catching fish on topwater before dark...Mostly on a LONG A. I hooked up on a double 3/4 the way back in a creek on Saturday.Tried to flip them in the boat...little one came in and the keeper came off (3+ lb kentucky) don't see those very often on beaver! After dark I have been slinging a spinnerbait and catching quite a few fish just very few keepers. I caught alot in the 14-14 3/4 range. I believe the bigger fish(even after dark) are a little bit deeper. All the fish I was catching were right up in the bushes. Fishing main lake creek arms and pockets. Rocky banks seem to be best(steeper) and even bluffs have been productive but again no big fish. I have also caught some fish before dark flipping a jig(eakins jig in peanutbutter/jelly w/speedcraw) towards the backs of creeks around laydowns/bushes again no good ones but getting some action.

[Guest]

The river crankbait deal is deeper offshore gravel flats that fall off into the river channel.

It's the same kinda place that you would drag a football head. I'm talking 100 yards offshore in some cases. 15' is a key depth, look for it dropping into 30'. You might idle for a couple of miles before you find a big school.

I typically deep crank with a fat free shad, but I've found it's easier to troll them.

Find a bluff and fish the adjacent gravel bar.

[skeet88bt]

Thanks TrophyFishR! Some good info.........I will for sure give that a shot...I may go out Friday and idle around looking for the types of places you are talking about. Sounds like I might have to go pick up some fat free shads!

[Guest]

Thanks TrophyFishR! Some good info.........I will for sure give that a shot...I may go out Friday and idle around looking for the types of places you are talking about. Sounds like I might have to go pick up some fat free shads!

Buy the 1/2 & 3/4 oz FFS in citrus shad.

I've also had luck with 6XD & DD22 in sexy shad,

Or deep little N with a splatter back color.

I use a 7' jig rod with 15lb line for the bigger cranks. Esp trolling.

[skeet88bt]

Thanks. I will try that set-up. I will let you all know how I do!