Newbe Advice

[Buckeye1955]

Hi, I'm heading out there Memorial week for to meet the daughter for some bass fishing. Staying in some cabins near Indian Point. Looks like they are located on North Indian Creek. I would like to have the daughter tie into a couple nice bass this trip. Could I get some tips for what to use that time of year and how to fish that area? I'm trailering my Triton out. Thanks in advance for any help!

[gitnby]

Be on the water at the crack, 'cause you'll probably be rocked to death by 10 at the latest.

Or, fish at night?

Better yet, pray for a light rain or clouds, which may keep the crowds off the water.

Even though the water temp will likely struggle to reach low 70's by then, (78 is considered ideal swimming temp) there will still be wake-boarders, tubers, wave-runners.

Just keep reading the reports between now & then for what baits, tactics to use, because it WILL change in the next 2-3 weeks.

Be safe, it can get goofy out there on Holiday weekends!

[MOBass]

Gitnby covered it pretty good.

It will likely be a zoo on the main lake and not much better in Indian.

If I was coming down cold and didn't read a report from now to until then I would probably be on the water at dark o'clock and try to find a topwater bite. After that I would swim a grub where fish would stage going into or out of spawning areas and work back towards the pockets to see where I hit the fish.

I would probably be off the water by 11 and go have lunch and a nap. Wait until the crowd thins and go back out and pick back up where I left off for an afternoon session. Fish into dark and switch to a black spinner bait, chugger, and a 10" worm when it is full dark.

Keep up on the reports and you should be able to get on fish.

[dtrs5kprs]

Grub, tube, shakey head, and the Ned Rig should be going. Park the boat well off the banks on gravel points and gravel in the creeks, and start in the tried and true 15'-25' range.

Redfins and spooks, or little chuggers before the navy hits the water might work. Run out points and back around docks with some depth on the fronts. For me it seems like the TW fish are touchy about traffic. And there will be traffic.

Seriously...make sure you go over every part of your boat that could come loose, bounce around, etc. If it is 82 and sunny it will be bad.

[rps]

Grub, tube, shakey head, and the Ned Rig should be going. Park the boat well off the banks on gravel points and gravel in the creeks, and start in the tried and true 15'-25' range.

Redfins and spooks, or little chuggers before the navy hits the water might work. Run out points and back around docks with some depth on the fronts. For me it seems like the TW fish are touchy about traffic. And there will be traffic.

Seriously...make sure you go over every part of your boat that could come loose, bounce around, etc. If it is 82 and sunny it will be bad.

The man speaks the truth. Chug Bugs really early, Ned rigs and shakey heads after that. Once you switch to plastics, thinks deep on a flat point.

[Buckeye1955]

Thanks guys. I'm used to the Ohio river and the lakes here in the area. Seriously high pleasure boat traffic here too. I fish early in the morning and then go golfing in the afternoon. Back out in the evening. I'm sure there will be some coves back up the creek where some quiet can be found in the morning at least. I fish Lake Champlain every July and you just need to be off the water by 10:30 or 11:00. I'm hungry by then anyway. Explain if you will this wonderful Ned Rig. Never heard of that one. For Champlain I like a Pond Magic spinner bait in craw with a YUM boogie tail trailer or a watermelon super fluke rigged almost Carolina style on a lead headed jig. Just let it go to the bottom and pop it along. And frogs. Lots of lily pads and grass there. Any similar stuff back in the coves here or just all vertical timber and stumps? Would a watermelon senko hit the spot? Figure the daughter could use one of those rigged texas style and not be snagging it on everything. Going to have to keep it simple for her.

[buckcreekmike]

I don't fish TR nearly as much as some of the guys on here, but I have never seen any kind of lily pads or weeds at all. I was there on memorial once it wasn't too bad considering I fish Lake of the Ozarks a lot. There may be a decent mount of boats but not the 30 to 40' cruisers and scarabs like there is at LOZ. I was down near the dam though, so I can't say how it is where you will be.

[Buckeye1955]

What ever the traffic is, it is. Just a visit with the daughter. Heading up to Champlain for two weeks in July. That will be serious fishing time. Big bass and pike both there. 50 fish days are pretty normal there. Grass 6-8 feet deep everywhere in our area with pads on top in the coves. She is in Lincoln, NE and going to meet me at Table Rock.Just hoping to let her tie into a couple. R&R on the lake for me. Maybe chase some little white balls too. Just trying to get enough info to give her a thrill.

[buckcreekmike]

Whatever happens you will have fun, it is rare to get skunked, so have fun. I usually have a topwater handy and I have had good luck with a chompers football jig green pumpkin and a twin tail trailer watermelon flake attached to it. I'll tell you it is my favorite lake and you will have a great time.

[innova]

Set up to use.

Spinning rods medium action

Reel spooled with 6 lb mono drag set on the light side

1/4 ounce darter jig head with 4 inch single tail grub - cloudy day salt & pepper, sunny day smoke with red flake

Position boat off gravel banks or long gravel points with the boat sitting in 30 Feet of water, make long casts towards the banks letting your grub go to the bottom. Two different retrieves depending on what the fish want on any given day.

1st retrieve scrub the bottom which is a constant slow retrieve with grub maintaining contact with the bottom.

2nd retrieve is slowly swimming the grub back to the boat.

Most bites will be light with the grub feeling heavy or just sort of stopping, light side motion swing will set the hook in the top of the mouth every time.

Good luck and good fishing