Tough Bite

[Alex Heitman]

I don't know if it is me but I doubt it is but the bite has been flat out tough for me. I can't recall when I have had this hard of a time of catching fish and trying to develop some type of pattern. I have been down here since Friday and have caught all of my bigger fish dead shallow in the bushes. This takes lots of time and effort and not very many fish to show for either but they are bigger at least. I can't get a consistent deep bite either. Have tried drop shotting and deep with the FB jig but not very consistent and takes work as well. I cannot get fish to bite deep unless there are by docks as well I have not had one open water deep fish yet which is odd for me. I also went way up into long creek today for 5 hours and managed only 2 fish! At least they were 3+ lbs. Both were caught on square bill. Basically what I'm wondering is if I'm doing something wrong or if everyone is struggling. I have caught two 4 lb fish but geeze my best day numbers wise was 9. I'm blaming the bad fishing on the hot weather and rising water temps ha!

[Quillback]

It's tough, you're doing well considering conditions. I'm going this morning again, my expectations are low, but it is still fun to get out and go fishing.

[Cindyjo]

I went fishing Sunday evening for 1 hour and had no fish when I came back in. Tried the flats where the shad were obvious but I learned something. I then went out Monday for 2 hours and caught 6 with one keeper. This time I fished for suspended fish once I located them on side sonar. They were suspended in 10 - 15 ft of water. For the last several weeks the suspended fish pattern has allowed me to catch better numbers of fish than tight structure fishing. As a side note, once the sun sets the bass disappear from the side sonar as they follow the shad into shore. There they disperse and I assume can be caught using a different pattern. Monday's success was using a spoon. Letting it drop to 15ft and a quick 3 turn crank, let it fall to a count of 3 then repeat. As a footnote, my usual 5 crank, count to 3,then repeat was not as successful as the 3 crank pattern. I use a Steez reel with a 7/1 ratio.

[Champ188]

You're not doing anything wrong, Alex. The fish are scattered from a foot to 30 feet or more, with many obviously suspended and swimming around with the shad. Hang in there and keep picking off those good ones.

[Alex Heitman]

Thanks guys I was hoping it was just the conditions. It's a grind that's for sure but there is fish to be caught. I think the bigger LM that you can catch are up shallow in the bushes and you may only catch one or two but they will be bigger fish. I have two days left down here. Debating on grinding it out and going shallow one day or just staying deep the remainder of the trip. Here is a couple pics of the bigger blacks I caught shallow. Good luck guys.

[Quillback]

Nice pics, some fat bass for sure.