Trollin', Trollin', Trollin'--Heading Out Tomorrow...

[kjackson]

Number 2 Son and I are heading out tomorrow for his first trip after returning from university. Since the Highway 12 (and associated islands) bite seems to have waned, I'm thinking either drive to Rocky Branch and fish the sloping banks/flats (an hour drive) or head to the dam and fish upstream somewhere, using maps and any guidance someone cares to give.

The goal is to catch fish, and it would be great to get into the schools of whites that were at 12 bridge a couple of weeks ago. However, if the trolling bite doesn't really come on, we'll probably head into the back end of a creek and look for bluegills or crappies.

It will be an early-morning trip, so I'm thinking of hitting it hard until noon or so and then calling it a day.

Suggestions? Opinions?

[Feathers and Fins]

If your looking for whites they are still in the 12 bridge area, walleye gone bye bye but whites are still there and rumor has it a good morning and late evening top-water bite. Coppermine area should have the same thing going on but there are a few walleye on the long points in that area. Stripers are at point 3. Word of caution this full moon could have the morning bite off though. I also know there is a good bite on Crappie trolling through the timber with bandits cranks and walleye with them. My guess is from 12 bridge toward Hickory creek in coves ( but that's a guess )

[kjackson]

Thanks, F&F. We're heading to Rocky Branch and fishing in that area and probably back toward 12. It's a new part of the lake for me, so it will be interesting, if nothing else. Report later...

[nathanhooper]

I'm a little late replying, but I took my wife out Sunday evening and we did great (compared to what I've done in the past). We got out just at dark and fished till midnight. Made for a long day yesterday. I was fishing up by the dam, just flatline trolling. Caught small mouth, white, and even a walleye to boot. But they are up there, marked a lot of fish deeper than I could reach them at the time.

[kjackson]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Fished out of Rocky and should have kept to my original plans--either the dam or the 12 bridge area. We left late-- try getting a college student out of bed before daylight-- and found that the drive was longer than it would have been to the bridge. Marked a lot of fish, but none, for the most part, were biters. We caught maybe half a dozen, maybe more, small spots, no whites, no walleyes and one potato-chip bluegill. We had two solid head-shaking takedowns, but both left us to fish on.

Bait and fish were in the 10 to 20-foot range with a lot of 'em around 15 feet, either suspended or on the deck. I did mark a lot of deep bait--some in the 100-foot zone.

We pulled a bunch of different baits, starting with the standards and shifting to play with others. One of the best (if there was any "best" today) was a Rebel Deep Wee-R in pearl. Fun day but frustrating. I think now that I'll continue learning the dam end of the lake since it is so close.

[Sore Thumbs]

F&F. Have you tried these really deep diving cranks like a 10 xd? If so, how are they doing. Just curious to know before I throw down 15 smacks on one lure.

[Feathers and Fins]

Not them particularly but similar baits and hate them my arms get enough work-out at work. Learned a long time ago there is better ways. I prefer a lighter bait and just add a 1oz weight about 3 to 4 ft up the line. Smaller baits seem to get better bites and more of them.

Ive thrown some monster baits and they do have a time and place but for all day fishing they make it more like work than fun. Another trick is to unspool your line before you hit a good area run the boat past it about 200 yards and then burn in a bait to get it to max depth. I have done that on big Florida strain bass lakes and its very effective. Also works great on Beavers Smallmouth.

[nathanhooper]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Fished out of Rocky and should have kept to my original plans--either the dam or the 12 bridge area. We left late-- try getting a college student out of bed before daylight-- and found that the drive was longer than it would have been to the bridge. Marked a lot of fish, but none, for the most part, were biters. We caught maybe half a dozen, maybe more, small spots, no whites, no walleyes and one potato-chip bluegill. We had two solid head-shaking takedowns, but both left us to fish on.

Bait and fish were in the 10 to 20-foot range with a lot of 'em around 15 feet, either suspended or on the deck. I did mark a lot of deep bait--some in the 100-foot zone.

We pulled a bunch of different baits, starting with the standards and shifting to play with others. One of the best (if there was any "best" today) was a Rebel Deep Wee-R in pearl. Fun day but frustrating. I think now that I'll continue learning the dam end of the lake since it is so close.

I hear you on the drive. I too live up close to the dam area and have driven to go fish other area's, only to find that the fish like to bite just about as well there as they do anywhere else. I do think there is a time and place for driving out of a persons way, but I think they are few and far between.

I like to hear someone elses take on marking fish and bait with the sonar. I am a newbee when it comes to sonars. Got my first one this year. But I have been noticing the same thing as you. I was seeing a LOT of bait around the 15' mark Monday night(correct that one post about it being Sunday night when I went out) and it almost seemed that I was seeing the thermocline around the 15' mark also. I could be wrong on that though, would love to hear what your take is on it.

I too have noticed a lot of "stuff" in the deeper water by the dam. I have just thought it was old tree's and trash down there, never thought it was bait down that far. I know a lot of times they can be found down there, but just figured it was later in the year. I guess reading and correctly inturpreting a sonar is something that comes with time?

Oh, and don't kick yourself too hard. I went out last night to test out my new downriggers and managed to reel in one little ole walleye(which got off right at the boat) but did not see much at all in the way of fish on the screen like I did the other day. Makes me wonder, but I just would say it was an off day all around.

[skeet88bt]

F & F..Can you go into a little more detail on putting a weight above your crakbaits. I have never heard that before..I am curious to know your setup and if it effects the action of the bait. I would assume if there is a weight abouve your crank 3-4ft it wouldnt be deflecting off the bottom right?

[J-Doc]

F & F..Can you go into a little more detail on putting a weight above your crakbaits. I have never heard that before..I am curious to know your setup and if it effects the action of the bait. I would assume if there is a weight abouve your crank 3-4ft it wouldnt be deflecting off the bottom right?

Ditto. I would think it affects action and possibly the overall feel/sensitivity of the bait itself. I would "think" it takes out some of the line vibration and somewhat "silences" the line preventing you from feeling the wobble of the crankbait.

Although I LOVE the overall idea and I'm wanting to give it a try now.