Shell Knob 11/13-11/15

[dwiebenga]

Location:  Campbell Point to Point 22

Water Temp:  63-64

Friday

Started about 645am, and found a solid top water bite until about 830am.  Found a nice school of largemouth off the end of a dock that was out in about 30 feet of water.  There was pole timber near by, and the dock was about 200 yards inside the cove on the shade side.  All of the fish came on a Dale Sellers custom painted Super Spook in Purple Shad.  I even had my 2nd ever double on the spook.

 

That was by far the best bite of the day.  I was also able to get a few fish on the Ned, Spinnerbait, and RK Crawler.  Overall, about 20 fish, and the majority on top water early.

Saturday

FOG! FOG ! FOG!  Was joined by buddy Jim for the next two days, and we found the top water bite again in the same cove from Friday.  The biggest difference was that the Largemouth were replaced with healthy Spotted Bass, and I mean fat, mean, aggressive fish.  Jim and I landed about 20 fish in about 90 minutes, and many of the fish were solid keepers including two over 17 inches.  We were able to get a decent Ned rig bite going for the remainder of the day, and we did try spinnerbaits and crank baits, but we could not find fish.  Curious to know where we missed out.  About 3:45 PM around Lunker Landing resort we found a solid Ned bite again with 3 solid keeper Spots and a could nice short Smallies.

Sunday

The weather played tricks on us!  We thought the clouds would bring on the bite.  Needless to say it was slow.  We caught about 6 more on top in the morning, and then ground our about 12 more on the Ned rig the remainder of the day.  

Overall, about 60 fish for the weekend, and blessed to have such great company.  I think overall, we were about two weeks early, and there needs to be a solid cold spell to get the feed bag really on for the late fall bite.  I was really impressed with the quality of the Spotted bass, and I am looking forward to my Spring trip.  

Lures and Patterns

Super Spook (described above); all of the fish were suspended over 30+ feet near docks and pole timber

Ned Rig (Dave's 1/8 oz head, and TRD in PBJ, California Craw, and Green Pumpkin); Best bite was around docks with chunk rocks, and I was finding fish in the back corner of the dock or along the deeper edges of the dock.

BEST OF LUCK and God Bless,

Dave

[96 CHAMP]

Looks like you guys had a good weekend, thanks for the report, was wandering if that was you two that I talked to back in mill creek Sunday??

[magicwormman]

Thanks for a great report! You have to love a top water bite. Great company, great fishing,and great weather for mid Nov. You hit the trifecta!

[Champ188]

Thanks for the report, Dave. Glad you guys had a big time. Fall fishing is hard to beat some days and hard to figure out on others.

[Hammer time]

Great detailed report and good results. As with so many of us all the difference a day makes. The Rock is a fickle lake and throws lots of curves and change ups.

One of my favorite lakes just for that reason, when you can put the puzzle together it's a great feeling!

[Champ188]

31 minutes ago, Hammer time said:

Great detailed report and good results. As with so many of us all the difference a day makes. The Rock is a fickle lake and throws lots of curves and change ups.

One of my favorite lakes just for that reason, when you can put the puzzle together it's a great feeling!

I'm with you, Hammer. The thing is, because of all the curves and change-ups, there is always a couple of different bites or more going on at once. So you're never out of something to try. Just have to be bullheaded enough to stick with it.

[Hammer time]

35 minutes ago, Champ188 said:

I'm with you, Hammer. The thing is, because of all the curves and change-ups, there is always a couple of different bites or more going on at once. So you're never out of something to try. Just have to be bullheaded enough to stick with it.

I agree 110% Champ! When I'm having a tuff trip I try to stay positive and remind myself someone is  on em big time, and ask myself what are the doing that I'm not.

I try to analyze are they feeding up or down, suspended or roaming. On points or bluffs, pee gravel or chunk rock. To me that's the challenge that I love, do I have enough knowledge and talent to put em in the boat. Tell em thanks and release em to hopefully catch em again a little bigger.

Tight lines and CPR

Hammer time

[merc1997 Bo]

i can tell you after years of fishing the tounaments, that you can think fishing was a difficult as it could be to get a bite of any kind, but you will always get your eyes opened at weigh-in.  somebody figured them out and caught plenty of them.  like i said before, if it were easy, we would be like champ and take up golf.

bo

[Hammer time]

8 hours ago, Champ188 said:

I'm with you, Hammer. The thing is, because of all the curves and change-ups, there is always a couple of different bites or more going on at once. So you're never out of something to try. Just have to be bullheaded enough to stick with it.

I agree 110% Champ! When I'm having a tuff trip I try to stay positive and remind myself someone is  on em big time, and ask myself what are the doing that I'm not.

I try to analyze are they feeding up or down, suspended or roaming. On points or bluffs, pee gravel or chunk rock. To me that's the challenge that I love, do I have enough knowledge and talent to put em in the boat. Tell em thanks and release em to hopefully catch em again a little bigger.

Tight lines and CPR

Hammer time

 

 

As Bo stated I've fished lots of tournaments years ago and someone is always on em.

Remember back in late nineties fished the Budweiser tournament and it was tuff, cold front rolled in and shut down for most but Tim Sinato came in with a huge sack of toads that he caught on a c-rig lizard of all things and blew the field away! I'm sure he was only guy using that pattern. Just proves somebody is always on em, I love the challenge to see if I have the moxie to catch the elusive BASS!

[Champ188]

If anyone can figure out a unique bite, it's Sainato. He fished BASS Invitationals for plenty of years and learned the value not only of getting on a winning pattern, but also one that not everyone else is fishing. That way, he doesn't have to share with the entire field.