Last Couple Days - darn Area

[dtrs5kprs]

10 hours ago, bobby b. said:

Thanks Dave 

Just keep an open mind when chasing brownies. Like Champ said they go where they go, when they want. Keys are food, rock type, wind, and that deep water a couple of fin flips away. 

They may be in 6' on bare gravel with bright sun if there is bait (craws, shad, perch, emerald shiners), but there will be 80' a cast or two away.

[dtrs5kprs]

And I think tmt guys just don't have the patience for brown fish. They move around inside areas, but not up and down the length of the lake. That's a bad rap.

Example...if you get clouds and wind they may be up eating hard on gravel. With bright sun and flat water the next day they may move to the drop, or bury up in brush. 

Like blacks and K's, if they are on shad they will roam more. Craws and perch keep them in place. There is very little incentive for them to leave a stable food source. 

 

[bobby b.]

3 hours ago, dtrs5kprs said:

And I think tmt guys just don't have the patience for brown fish. They move around inside areas, but not up and down the length of the lake. That's a bad rap.

Example...if you get clouds and wind they may be up eating hard on gravel. With bright sun and flat water the next day they may move to the drop, or bury up in brush. 

Like blacks and K's, if they are on shad they will roam more. Craws and perch keep them in place. There is very little incentive for them to leave a stable food source. 

 

I've tried lots of baits but the Ned, Storm Swim bait, and Shaky Head seem to be the thing for me.  Do you find other baits that work well for you?  From your post it seems you fish the KC area mostly (at least in the current year) - I'm thinking the conditions here around Indian Point and KC should be about the same under stable conditions.  Correct?

Thanks for all the help here.

Bobby

[dtrs5kprs]

Ned, smoke grub, shakey head, occasionally a tube. June-November a FB jig or little brown jig.

Or just a Ned...

[Champ188]

On 9/10/2016 at 7:04 AM, dtrs5kprs said:

And I think tmt guys just don't have the patience for brown fish. They move around inside areas, but not up and down the length of the lake. That's a bad rap.

Example...if you get clouds and wind they may be up eating hard on gravel. With bright sun and flat water the next day they may move to the drop, or bury up in brush. 

Like blacks and K's, if they are on shad they will roam more. Craws and perch keep them in place. There is very little incentive for them to leave a stable food source. 

 

Few people catch more or bigger brown fish on TR than this guy. Read and heed.

Oh yeah, Bobby. Try a Ned.

[cheesemaster]

On Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 7:04 AM, dtrs5kprs said:

And I think tmt guys just don't have the patience for brown fish. They move around inside areas, but not up and down the length of the lake. That's a bad rap.

Example...if you get clouds and wind they may be up eating hard on gravel. With bright sun and flat water the next day they may move to the drop, or bury up in brush. 

Like blacks and K's, if they are on shad they will roam more. Craws and perch keep them in place. There is very little incentive for them to leave a stable food source. 

 

 

2 hours ago, Champ188 said:

Few people catch more or bigger brown fish on TR than this guy. Read and heed.

Oh yeah, Bobby. Try a Ned.

I fish the "back waters" of the James a lot and every year in a certain "hole" I can catch the heck out of Smallmouth - it lasts about 3 weeks. Same time of year - late October into the first of November and it's over till the next year.

My question to the people that know and understand Smallmouth and their movements - are these Smallmouths moving out to the lake or up into the river?

 

[dtrs5kprs]

5 minutes ago, cheesemaster said:

 

I fish the "back waters" of the James a lot and every year in a certain "hole" I can catch the heck out of Smallmouth - it lasts about 3 weeks. Same time of year - late October into the first of November and it's over till the next year.

My question to the people that know and understand Smallmouth and their movements - are these Smallmouths moving out to the lake or up into the river?

 

If you're way up the James they might just be resident fish. Those were good float waters before the lake, and there are still plenty of brown fish way on up.

If they moved that far, you would run into them mid-James, in enough numbers to make it clear something was up.

Really, I just don't think they roam that much. In and out of big creeks, yes. Out to main lake places after spawning, yes. Wintering areas, yes. Routinely swimming 10 miles of lake? Why, as long as there isn't a food or water quality issue.

Lots of folks can thump brown fish when they are worked up, eating fast baits, big baits, etc. Then they blame the fish for moving the next day when there's no wind/storms. The little rig will tell you they never left. Adjusted, maybe. Slowed eating, not always. Bailed out for a 4 mile swim? Unlikely.

Most of the baits folks tie on are just too big, and too aggressive to routinely catch brown ones. Takes downsizing and patience.