Advice: Am I Just Bass Fishing Wrong?

[jimithyashford]

Hi All, any advice that could be offered would be greatly appreciated, cause I am burning tons of time and money into trying to fish on Stockton, and I just cannot seem to get on any fish.

So I have fished there the past two summers fairly heavily. I've done bank fishing and kayak fishing. I usually go in the late afternoon until sunset for about 3 hours.

I have fished where Turkey Creek meets the Lake several times (37°31'56.8"N 93°36'17.0"W) as well as in the sunken trees around the island north west of there (37°34'02.5"N 93°38'03.1"W) and also the inlet north of the High Point access (37°34'08.5"N 93°35'41.3"W).

If I see activity on the surface then I usually cast crank baits or rooster tails towards the activity and around schools of bait fish. If I see no activity on the surface then I try deeper crankbaits around structure, usually submerged trees or up against bluff faces or rocky shore lines, and if that still gets no hits then I put a rubber worm or cray on a jig head and bounce it along the bottom near structure.

 

So I have spent maybe 10 total sessions of around 3 hours each time on Stockton using that method in those areas I've listed, and most of the time I get skunked, I will sometimes catch maybe a fish. I think maybe only 2 or 3 times have I done this method and caught 2 or more fish.

 

I really have no idea what I'm doing wrong. I feel like I'm following the bass fishing basics pretty well and just getting no love. I'm not even particularly married to bass, I like catching catfish and crappie, but I am also a very restless fisherman, I like an active style, so catfishing usually bores me.

 

I once got the advice to try fishing "off of points" but I really have a hard time understanding what that means. Ok so I find a point...like do I fish right up against the shore where the point is? Do I go out 30 or 40 feet from the end of the point and fish there? I mean "off a point" is like...a huge area, that could mean anything. I don't really know how to follow that advice.

 

Anyway, if any old fisherman on here has some advice for me, anything that can get my catch rate up to maybe more than an average of one fish per 6 hours on the water, I'd appreciate it. 

 

 

[ckjacks]

I would move towards more finesse baits. Something like a ned rig, shakey head or drop shot. They're are lots of videos on YouTube for reference. Crankbaits are great in the right scenario, but I find that my best luck comes with wind and the trolling motor going high so I can cover lots of ground. That might be harder in a kayak. 

[Skeeter ZX190]

I know Dutch recently got into some bass so maybe he can shed some light.  My experience has been that in the summer months Stockton can be one tough lake to find the bass.  My theory is that the fish scatter and are not concentrated.  They are out following shad schools and suspended.   

As far as fishing points, look for long tapering points.  I would concentrate on 8 to 15 feet of water.  I'm a "nedoholic" so I tend to throw that bait the most.  It works for me, but in the summer it can be a struggle.

[crappie-hunter]

Book a trip with Kris at Tandem fly outfitters and pick his brain while you are out.  He has lots of bass fishing experience.

[Dutch]

Since you’re familiar with that island at Turkey Creek my suggestion is get some Elaztech baits like Zeros or Zinkers and some shaky heads.  You might also get some TRDs if you are equipped for Ned fishing.  Green pumpkin and pb&j are hard to beat.  Go to the island and stay well off the bank.  Fish all the way around the island. Take along a plug knocker because there are a lot of bait eaters in the timber and rocks.

[Gavin]

I'd hire a guide, and get some electronics for your kayak.

[jimithyashford]

6 hours ago, ckjacks said:

I would move towards more finesse baits. Something like a ned rig, shakey head or drop shot. They're are lots of videos on YouTube for reference. Crankbaits are great in the right scenario, but I find that my best luck comes with wind and the trolling motor going high so I can cover lots of ground. That might be harder in a kayak. 

I've spent some time bouncing a ned rig specifically, and something very similar to a ned rig, but with a crawfish type body, along the bottom near rocky shorelines or strait bluff dropoffs, and have only ever caught one catfish fishing down on the bottom. Maybe just bad luck? Maybe i'm doing it wrong? I cast it, let it sink to the bottom, and retrieve it slowly by giving it a couple of jerks, let it sit for a few seconds, couple of jerks, let it sit.

[jimithyashford]

5 hours ago, Skeeter ZX190 said:

I know Dutch recently got into some bass so maybe he can shed some light.  My experience has been that in the summer months Stockton can be one tough lake to find the bass.  My theory is that the fish scatter and are not concentrated.  They are out following shad schools and suspended.   

As far as fishing points, look for long tapering points.  I would concentrate on 8 to 15 feet of water.  I'm a "nedoholic" so I tend to throw that bait the most.  It works for me, but in the summer it can be a struggle.

Can  you help clarify for me a few things. So fishing a long tapering point?  I still don't know what that means. So lets Imagine a this long pointed V as our point. Do I paddle out to where the water gets about 10 feet deep directly in a strait line off the point of that V and bounce a ned rig along the bottom there? Do I do it off to the sides of the V rather that strait out off the tip? 

And when you say to fish a ned rig, help me understand if I am doing it right. I rig up the elastec body on the ned jig hook, cast it out, let it sink to the bottom, and retrieve it slowly across the bottom, giving a few jerks, let it sit, give it a few jerks, let it sit, reel for a couple of second, let it sit, that kind of thing. I've only fished a ned rig a handful of times that way, but got no love and kept getting hung up so I switched off.

[jimithyashford]

2 hours ago, Dutch said:

Since you’re familiar with that island at Turkey Creek my suggestion is get some Elaztech baits like Zeros or Zinkers and some shaky heads.  You might also get some TRDs if you are equipped for Ned fishing.  Green pumpkin and pb&j are hard to beat.  Go to the island and stay well off the bank.  Fish all the way around the island. Take along a plug knocker because there are a lot of bait eaters in the timber and rocks.

I really appreciate the input, I do, and it sounds like you really know your stuff, but I now have to go google three terms to understand your reply. I have no idea what a TRD or Plug Knocker, or Shaky heads are, but I'll figure it out.

[Dutch]

A TRD is the main bait for Ned fishing.  You can get them at Wal-Mart.

Shaky go ahead and google it.

Plug knocker hooks on your line slides down and helps get hung up baits back.  An old spark plug and a paper clip can work.

 

i think you are over working your Ned baits.  They don’t need to be hopped.  They don’t need to be moved much.  Google Ned Kehde and watch his video.

Good luck.  Hope you catch a bunch.