Tough weekend...so far (dam area 4/9)

[SplitG2]

Got down Friday in time to fish a couple of hours before dark. Fished Beardsley. Water temp was 55 at the mouth and 57 in the pockets further back. Caught 2 barely legal SM. 1 on a Houdini Ned and 1 on 4" Keitech swim bait. Both in the warmer water. Saw a lot of surface activity at dusk but wasn't prepared for the top water  bite and stuck with the small stuff.  Got on the water this morning mid morning and started with the same stuff without a sniff. Jig, Ned (pb&j), wart, Ned (dirt), rock crawler, Ned (Houdini), shakey head, RK, wobble head, nothing. Switched to a 10" power worm and finally caught a big 4.5 lb female LM half way back in a pocket in 15 fow around 11:30. Tried to replicate and couldn't get bit again. WT at the back of the pocket was 60 but no bites or activity. Graphed a lot of suspended fish in the middle and mouths of the pockets and tried the jerkbait but no takers. Did not try drop shot. Got frustrated and came in for dinner. Went back out for the last hr of light and caught 2 short SM on a green/red RK in 15' on a chuck rock point. Highest water temp I saw was 62.7 in the back of a main lake pocket. It had some of the red blood bloom in it. No fish or hits. Hoping the warmer temps, cloud cover and a little rain provides more action in the AM.  Tough tough day. All in all a great day though...fortunate to be above ground and able to enjoy the outdoors. 

[Quillback]

Well you did get a nice largemouth.  Could be the high blue skies and wind have them shut down, better luck today hopefully!

[m&m]

SplitG2, thanks for the information. Large worm? Did the fish have a suicide note with it? Seems like that one just wanted to be caught. 

Mike

[merc1997 Bo]

pretty typical to see the fish suspended out in the middle of the pockets this time of the year on the lower end.  if water clarity was normal, a holy rogue would be a good choice to catch those suspended out there.  another option is to go at night, and fish right behind where you are seeing them during the day.  often, sometime during the night those bass will move over to the bottom and can then be caught.

bo

[Mitch f]

5 minutes ago, merc1997 said:

pretty typical to see the fish suspended out in the middle of the pockets this time of the year on the lower end.  if water clarity was normal, a holy rogue would be a good choice to catch those suspended out there.  another option is to go at night, and fish right behind where you are seeing them during the day.  often, sometime during the night those bass will move over to the bottom and can then be caught.

bo

Holy Rouge? That's taking me back!

What about the new deeper diving jerk baits?

[abkeenan]

Nothing in Beardsley. I thought I've made that abundantly clear.

I think these really cool nights the last week+ has kinda thrown the fish a curveball. When this weather get back on track and more consistent the fish should fire up soon.

[Fish24/7]

16 hours ago, SplitG2 said:

Graphed a lot of suspended fish in the middle and mouths of the pockets and tried the jerkbait but no takers.

may I ask how deep were they suspended? how deep was the bottom? thanks

[merc1997 Bo]

2 hours ago, Mitch f said:

Holy Rouge? That's taking me back!

What about the new deeper diving jerk baits?

a holy rogue can be fished at any depth.  you can not get a long bill jerk bait 20 ft. deep and keep it right in front of the nose of a bass.

bo

[Mitch f]

35 minutes ago, merc1997 said:

a holy rogue can be fished at any depth.  you can not get a long bill jerk bait 20 ft. deep and keep it right in front of the nose of a bass.

bo

Like a countdown minnow I suppose, only with a bigger profile. The holy Rogues have kind of a Twitter action during the sinking, right?

[SplitG2]

4 hours ago, Fish24/7 said:

may I ask how deep were they suspended? how deep was the bottom? thanks

24/7....they were 15' in 28'

a quick follow up on today.  Caught 5 short fish, mix of LM and SM this morning. All on PBJ Ned in in 12' of water on the back corner of docks on the down wind side. There was a little "current" under the ramp between the shore and the dock if that makes sense. Seemed to be the ticket. Still tough, but better.