Members Ken Drish Posted July 26, 2015 Members Posted July 26, 2015 Super hot this weekend! My beloved top water bite was scarce... Caught a bunch of small spots, and tried a giant spoon. I don't spoon fish often so I started pitching it into docks. Second pitch I let it flutter to the bottom and a really nice LM loaded up. Scale is busted but it looks close to 5. The next 3 pitches I lost both of the spoons. Bummed, but glad I got this fish! I also have a question for the forum. What are these massive schools of fish I am seeing in the backs of coves. They seem large, almost like small white bass. Maybe gizzard shad?
Bill Babler Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 The entire lake right now is just teeming with Gizzard Shad. Probably one of the largest hatches and total amount that I have ever seen. There are also huge schools of threadfin immediately under the Gizzards. You will see the Gizzards porpoise with their backs and sometimes entire body coming out of the water. These are not feeds, they are just schools of bait fish. They have been driving my clients wild, thinking they were bass chasing. As they come out of the water most uninformed folks think they are being pushed, but they are just swimming in schools at the surface, causing a disturbance. Good Luck johnm 1 http://whiteriveroutfitters.com http://whiteriverlodgebb.com
Members Ken Drish Posted July 26, 2015 Author Members Posted July 26, 2015 Thanks Bill. Are they too big for bass or are the bass under them as well? I tried throwing a swimbait into the - no luck.
Champ188 Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 Ken, they are not too big for bass at all. That used to be the general consensus but we've learned that on Table Rock and Lake of the Ozarks in particular, big bass target these gizzard shad. The problem right now is these big LM become very nocturnal during super-hot weather, and they also are not as active when water temperatures push well up into the 80s. It's kind of like winter in reverse ... they just don't run around and eat a whole lot. By the way, very nice LM. I'd say definitely a 5-pounder. Docks are a good place to bushwack one of those this time of year. Nice job.
Sore Thumbs Posted July 27, 2015 Posted July 27, 2015 Pretty sure I saw this on my graph today. I was all excited but had no luck throwing on top of them. They were all over point 15 in the James. Felt like soft bottom so we got out of there pretty quickly.
Moswimb8slinger Posted July 27, 2015 Posted July 27, 2015 The gizzard shad are one reason why I have such good luck with the swimbaits in the cooler months. I'd say once the water temp hits 65 degrees and below. Champ188 1
Billfo Posted July 29, 2015 Posted July 29, 2015 Hope for a good stickbait season ? Champ188 1 Email me Red-Right-Returning is for quitters !
Champ188 Posted July 30, 2015 Posted July 30, 2015 Hope for a good stickbait season ? Sure would be nice. Last year just pretty much sucked. Started out OK but faded fast. Codywskeeter1521 1
abkeenan Posted July 30, 2015 Posted July 30, 2015 Sure would be nice. Last year just pretty much sucked. Started out OK but faded fast. It's been about 3 years since we've had a good jerkbait bite. It's my favorite way to catch them so we are due for a good winter/spring McStick season.
Sore Thumbs Posted July 30, 2015 Posted July 30, 2015 I was a Marshall for that Bassmasters last year and they were flat tearing em up on jerkbaits.
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