J-Doc's Fishing Report (072413)

[J-Doc]

So the kids are out of town and the wife had dinner plans which meant I had a free-pass to the lake! With all of this rain, I figured the bite could be anywhere from dead slow to mediocre. I was unsure of which end of the lake to fish. I wanted to try for stripers at the dam but knew that it would be a tough bite. That and I only had a few hours to play so I wanted to maximize my efforts. I have only fished the river end of the lake a once or twice this year so I loaded the gear/boat and headed to Hickory.

Date: 072413

Time: between 6:30 – 9:30PM

Temp: freakin’ hot even though low humidity and sun was going down (in the 80’s)

Humidity: between 50-60%

Weather was better between 7:30-9PM

Now that Feathers&Fins has taught me the ways of the trolling ninja……I naturally went to it first thing. As soon as I left the ramp and idled out to the channel, I immediately noticed a distinct thermocline between 20-40ft. It showed up as a thick band of “dots” in the middle of my graph. Nothing below, little above. I didn’t think of it at the time but it would have made the perfect thermocline example to share with others.

So the location will remain quiet for now (as I plan to go back soon) but I trolled a 400-500yrd shoreline and I found fish after fish after fish on the graph. Not just a few, stacks of them suspended in 18-20ft range just above the thermocline level for optimum cool water. I don’t think I stopped seeing fish on the graph in that long stretch of shoreline. I had two rigs out with a 7m Flicker and a deep diver Shad Rap with the Shad Rap on the deeper side. I varied my speeds between 2.5mph up to 3.5mph. Anything above that seemed like it was pointless as the water was very stained and clarity was less than 3-4ft. So at 20ft, I didn’t feel they wanted to chase a 69 Camaro SS as it buzzed by their head at warp speed.…in the dark.

So I found what appeared to be lots of small groups of bait balls (guessing 3-5ft diameter pods). I found a small group of crappie, some really large fish arches in places (both structure scan at 455kHz and my traditional sonar marked large fish arches) so there was a good mixture of fish. After no bites, I decided to explore some of my old spots.

Did I mention there were hardly any boats on the water? It was nice, the water was calm and the lake was practically all to myself! That’s rare…..

After checking some old spots that didn’t show fish on the graph, no point in fishing that so I turned back towards my shoreline. On the way back, I stopped at a log jam near what I thought was deep water which turned out to be shallow. After spending 10 mins un-hanging a jig, I left that spot and trolled down the bank with a carolina rig and my buddy Steve Park’s Rage Craw (gosh I love those things). Picked up a squeaker spotted bass and spent some time getting the hook out (he choked it). Then I decided to break out the crankbait……………that’s where things got fun in a hurry!

So, I was using Seagaur 10lb fluorocarbon, 7ft H20 Express cranking rod, BPS Pro Qualifer baitcasting reel.

All of which means absolutely nothing. J I was using a baitcasting combo and a medium diving crankbait. That’s all that matters! LOL! I just get a laugh when the pros start naming their sponsors and the specifics. Ole Aaron Martins is OCD about specific gear differences. Sometimes, it matters, sometimes it don’t. Ooop….off topic.

So I started cranking this gravel shoreline with about a 30-40 degree sloped bank. I noticed shad were popping the surface so I knew bait was around. After about the 6^th or 8^th cast, I felt a fish and set the hook. Didn’t feel like much……..till I saw it. A nice 3lb largemouth casually coming up to the boat. “OH CRAP!! GOOD FISH!!! GET THE NET!!!!” That’s a good thing to say to yourself….it’s a good feeling! So I landed that one, put her in the livewel and pumped the well full and turned on the aerator. Now for the next party guest….

About 3 casts later, a keeper spotted bass….nice and fat. Into the live well to join the party. A few casts later, a dink spot slaps at the crankbait and foul hooks himself. I feel bad for the guy and turn him loose unharmed…….well other than that sore-spot he has for a few days. Then wouldn’t you know it………..the one ski boat I see is slowly plowing up the river ( and I do mean plowing) as he has the bow at a 45-degree angle and cruising at about 10-15mph. After his wake washes the shoreline with a bombardment of waves………….that pretty much shut down the bite in that shoreline. Gravel sloped bank with bait……..that was the key.

So off I go as it starts to get dark and I go back to my trolling shoreline. I start making a few casts, hang up my crankbait……get it unhung and then as I’m casting (after I checked the line) SNAP!!!! Off goes my crankbait into the darkness. Line pops and I see where she landed. I hit the trolling motor on high and she sinks before I can get to her. (I thought it floated as it was a wood bait) SO there I am without my magic crankbait with fish all around me and in front of me with the right shore line type and the right depth. I have a massive backlash that will require cutting to remove, my bait is gone, and I’m not happy. So I pull out my other rod rigged with a Flicker shad thinking, I’ll try this before I leave. Well………due to line twists, that was impossible (side affect from trolling). Then I pick up a worm rod, get a few bites and then I decided to call it a night early as it was already pitch black.

My spot would have been an excellent night fishing spot and I plan on going back and giving it a try.

Here are my new fishing buddies from this adventure.

3lb Largemouth

3lb LM and 1.5lb spot

A few graph shots of the shoreline. These are not the best shots but the glare was so bad, I struggled getting good photos.

[zarraspook]

Nice report.... I love the "blow by blow" type of reports.... Makes me feel like I am right there in the boat with you....

[J-Doc]

LOL! Yeah, I took a play out of F&F's "fishing report book". LOL!

[nathanhooper]

Thanks for the report. It does make a guy who has not got to fish for a while feel like he is fishing anyways.

I am hoping (depending on how long it rains) to get out with a friend tomorrow night and do some night light fishing. I'll for sure post a report when its said and done.

[J-Doc]

I want to go back and try a nightlight but with all of the rain, I think that part of the river is a bit too stained. The light won't glow as far as it would in clearer water. I'm thinking by this weekend, anywhere above Horseshoe Bend to the dam would be good to try. The mudline will be moving slowly and I'm not sure where it begins but I think it will move down river if we get more rain between now and this weekend.

[wc1063]

Great report, Jason. Thought about going out today, but did not want to fight the heat!!

[Quillback]

Thanks for the report, great to see some bass being caught!

[rps]

Thank you!

[Feathers and Fins]

Nice fish, Nice trip. Nice text last night grrrrrrr