Weekend outlook? 10-27/28

[gman61]

Normally only get down to the lake in the middle of August due our daughter being involved in every travel sport imaginable. Weekend off, however, allowing a quick weekend trip down to see the in laws. Luckily, I'm allowed the use of his Tracker Targa so majority of my time spent will be on the water alone. What should I plan on bringing besides long underwear?  Had decent success past few years pounding gravel with a Ned rig.  Basically, that's all I fish anymore. Would I be ok just doing the same?  Limited success with whopper plopped but admittedly have not committed to it for more than few casts here and there. I'm not loaded with all the tackle serious guys need but have a few of the more popular baits. I tend to fish light as well using 4-6-8 lb test on med to light spinning gear. Right now weather forecast is high 40's post cold front and I'm a little scared. Heard a few people say fish are relating more to spring pre spawn areas in creek coves right now. Foreign language to me. Thinking I'll alternate between top water , Ned and swim bait. Any thoughts?

[Quillback]

Ned may not be a bad choice based on some of the recent reports of fish being caught on the Ned.  With your light tackle preference, might be worth bringing some smaller minnow type cranks like a Flicker Shad/Shad Rap/BagleyBalsa Shad to throw on windy banks if there is wind this weekend.  Might try some small finesse jigs that you can throw on your tackle.

[gman61]

Thanks Quillback, I'll do that!  BTW here are a few that I caught back in August on the Ned. All caught on a orange ring worm with tail pinched off. Ran out of Zman baits that weekend and didn't want to leave lake. 

[Royal Blue]

I'd figure out some way to throw a spinnerbait too.  Even if it's one of the smaller Mike McClellanf finesse ones by War Eagle.

[abkeenan]

Quill and Royal Blue both chimed in on the only 3 baits I would add in keeping it simple. Ned, Topwater, Finesse Jig, Crank and Spinnerbait. Those 5 baits should put some in the boat for you.

[gman61]

Should I worry about specifically looking for gravel?  With the Ned I'm normally fishing 20 ft or shallower. So I could fish docks, gravel or wood structure right?  

[Royal Blue]

I'd stay shallow.  Especially in the mornings with it being cold.  I hate throwing the ned or light line in the wind, so I'd probably be throwing a winding bait.  Might even have a small plopper too.  If they fire up on that spinnerbait, it doesn't get much better than that.  Last year the first super cold morning I had one of my best days ever on Bull Shoals.  We were getting ice in our guides and catching tons of shallow largemouths.  We probably caught 25-30 keepers that day and all of them were on blades.  I tried to make them eat top water for probably 30 minutes until I couldn't stand watching my buddy catch them every other cast.  That being said, I'd have a square bill handy too.

 

[Longball22]

2.8" Keitech on a 1/8oz. or 3/16oz. head, or underspin could play into your light tackle as well.  These small shad they are chasing has made me downsize everything recently.

[Rodmaker]

On 10/24/2017 at 5:20 PM, Longball22 said:

2.8" Keitech on a 1/8oz. or 3/16oz. head, or underspin could play into your light tackle as well.  These small shad they are chasing has made me downsize everything recently.

This is a go to bait I use very often. I 2nd the motion.