Lets talk game plans/strategies

[dtrs5kprs]

59 minutes ago, nhornback said:

You guys are a wealth of knowledge, thanks!

What are your expectations for prespawn /spring time with the water levels and temps like they are? Early spawn or delayed?

No way to guess right now. Will depend on that pool level and the weather. Worst might be a sudden drop or rise in the March/April. If it slowly drops the fish will adjust. If it would settle in around 918-920 it could be dynamite. And perfectly set up for another rain disaster.

[Quillback]

2 hours ago, m&m said:

Nhornback, you can use the search tool on this forum also to look at past posts. Hiring a guide is money well spent. Also some of us get on the chat every other Tuesday at 7:00pm open topics. I think this coming Tuesday is our next group chat. Quill back is that right?

mike

You are right, it's time again, this Tuesday.

Nhornback - I don't know of a way to archive the chat session.

[cheesemaster]

I am not a Ned guy quite yet either, so I spend most of my winter searching for bass with a jerkbait. My plan this year is - when I find any fish with a jerkbait start tossing a Ned around the area until I either figure it out or get tired of it - then move to a new area. The more I do that the more knowledge I will gain and share. I do plan to hit bluff ends, main lake points with timber, and secondary points and channel swings. 

[nhornback]

16 hours ago, cheesemaster said:

I am not a Ned guy quite yet either, so I spend most of my winter searching for bass with a jerkbait. My plan this year is - when I find any fish with a jerkbait start tossing a Ned around the area until I either figure it out or get tired of it - then move to a new area. The more I do that the more knowledge I will gain and share. I do plan to hit bluff ends, main lake points with timber, and secondary points and channel swings. 

How do you identify channel swing banks while out on the water? 

[dtrs5kprs]

1 hour ago, nhornback said:

How do you identify channel swing banks while out on the water? 

Starts with a map. Any place the river or creek channel "swings" in close to the bank is a swing. Can be little swings in a creek, or big bluffs out in the lake. Same for swing points in the creeks. Out on the lake, and at the mouths of creeks, are what a lot of us call runout points. Long points that run out to deeper water. Lot of those also have the river swinging in on one side.

You can see a lot of swing banks with your eyes. Bluffs, different rock type. Some are harder to find.

[Champ188]

1 hour ago, nhornback said:

How do you identify channel swing banks while out on the water? 

There are several ways ... first would be to use a good topo map, either an old-fashioned paper one or an electronic version on your sonar/graph unit.

Another way is to look at the landscape. The steep banks are where the channel swings in close, while the lesser-sloping banks generally mark flats. Just visually extend what's on the bank out into the water.

A third way is to idle around with your sonar unit and find the deeper water. 

[dtrs5kprs]

17 hours ago, cheesemaster said:

I am not a Ned guy quite yet either, so I spend most of my winter searching for bass with a jerkbait. My plan this year is - when I find any fish with a jerkbait start tossing a Ned around the area until I either figure it out or get tired of it - then move to a new area. The more I do that the more knowledge I will gain and share. I do plan to hit bluff ends, main lake points with timber, and secondary points and channel swings. 

Ned will tell you if they are there faster than almost anything else. A lot of fish will eat the Ned, but won't go near a bigger or faster bait. Try approaching it the opposite way. Use the little stuff to find some, then go through it with something else to upgrade. Sometimes you won't upgrade, you just won't get bit. Kind of tells you how many fish are really down there, but just won't play with big toys.

One of our own followed a very similar process to win the MO high school title last summer at Stockton. Found them with the little rig, then went back at them with a bigger worm on a shakey head.

 

[nhornback]

Great info guys thanks,

If you were going out right now under current water conditions how would you fish the ned rig? Boat position, how would you work the bait, etc?

[snagged in outlet 3]

I don't know about boat position but you throw it out ...........and wait. 

Line moves set hook. 

Thats been my experience thanks Dave and others. 

Pete

[m&m]

Pete, That is exactly what I do also.  I cast it out, let it settle to the bottom and keep a little slack (arch) in the line then every now and then I lift the rod to straighten the line and feel it leaving the Ned on the bottom.  That little lift allows a little movement in the lure (not forward, just a little action remaining still).  Then I hold it tight for a few minutes and that is when I usually feel a fish.  I have to say that sometimes when I do the rod lift, the line is moving already.  But this little lure really works!!

Mike