Shell Knob (12/6-12/7)--Deep Bite

[dwiebenga]

Jim and I had an adventurous beginning to our trip, including a blown out trailer hub, but we eventually got to the lake for some winter bass fishing.

Location:  39 Bridge to Campbell Point

WT:  49-52 degrees

Structure: Main lake bluff ends with the point deeper on the main lakeside.  Timber seemed to hold more fish.  Boat positioned in 40-70 feet of water depending on the rise of the point.  

Baits:  3/8 oz jig head with a 2.8 Keitch (Electric Shad or Pro Blue Red)

Set Up:  Falcon Cara Swimjig Rod, Lews LFS Speed Spool 6:8.1, 20lb Power Pro, and 8 foot 10lb Berkley 100% fluorocarbon leader.

We started Friday morning looking for any schooling fish, but I think we started a bit too late.  We went into Mill Creek for a bit, but not luck there.  Next location we stopped at was a deep point, and I caught a small spotted bass on the little swimbait.  Moved on to the next point, and caught a 16 inch spot on the second cast, and started to figure out the bite.  I was throwing the bait up on the point, counting it down 12-15 seconds and crawling the bait across the bottom.  At one point, I counted in my head 7-8 seconds before I turned my reel handle a full turn.  At one point, Jim remarked, "I have never seen you fish this slow."  The bite would load up or a slight "tick".  Only had a few all weekend that thumped the bait.  However, all the of the fish we hooked solid in the mouth.  Friday, we caught and released 10-12 fish.  Jim even caught two decent fish on an A-rig in the afternoon.

Saturday, with the dead calm water and blue bird skies, we made the decision to go deep right away.  We headed back to the deep points, and we caught another 10-12 fish in the morning all on the little swimbait.  In the afternoon, I went solo and headed to the mouth of Mill Creek.  One of the points has pole timber, and I sat off of it in 50-60 feet of water on the shallower side.  In 90 minutes, I caught and released 12-15 fish with 8 being solid keeper spots.

Overall, it was a great trip and I learned much about fishing deep.  I still want to learn to catch more fish vertically and how to really take advantage of my Helix units.  Looking forward to our next adventure on the lake.  See you all in 2020 at the OA One Fish Tournament!

[Quillback]

You guys did well - and I hear you on that light bite.  

[96 CHAMP]

2 hours ago, dwiebenga said:

Jim and I had an adventurous beginning to our trip, including a blown out trailer hub, but we eventually got to the lake for some winter bass fishing.

Location:  39 Bridge to Campbell Point

WT:  49-52 degrees

Structure: Main lake bluff ends with the point deeper on the main lakeside.  Timber seemed to hold more fish.  Boat positioned in 40-70 feet of water depending on the rise of the point.  

Baits:  3/8 oz jig head with a 2.8 Keitch (Electric Shad or Pro Blue Red)

Set Up:  Falcon Cara Swimjig Rod, Lews LFS Speed Spool 6:8.1, 20lb Power Pro, and 8 foot 10lb Berkley 100% fluorocarbon leader.

We started Friday morning looking for any schooling fish, but I think we started a bit too late.  We went into Mill Creek for a bit, but not luck there.  Next location we stopped at was a deep point, and I caught a small spotted bass on the little swimbait.  Moved on to the next point, and caught a 16 inch spot on the second cast, and started to figure out the bite.  I was throwing the bait up on the point, counting it down 12-15 seconds and crawling the bait across the bottom.  At one point, I counted in my head 7-8 seconds before I turned my reel handle a full turn.  At one point, Jim remarked, "I have never seen you fish this slow."  The bite would load up or a slight "tick".  Only had a few all weekend that thumped the bait.  However, all the of the fish we hooked solid in the mouth.  Friday, we caught and released 10-12 fish.  Jim even caught two decent fish on an A-rig in the afternoon.

Saturday, with the dead calm water and blue bird skies, we made the decision to go deep right away.  We headed back to the deep points, and we caught another 10-12 fish in the morning all on the little swimbait.  In the afternoon, I went solo and headed to the mouth of Mill Creek.  One of the points has pole timber, and I sat off of it in 50-60 feet of water on the shallower side.  In 90 minutes, I caught and released 12-15 fish with 8 being solid keeper spots.

Overall, it was a great trip and I learned much about fishing deep.  I still want to learn to catch more fish vertically and how to really take advantage of my Helix units.  Looking forward to our next adventure on the lake.  See you all in 2020 at the OA One Fish Tournament!

Nice fish and way to go, by the way, that deep point with pole timber you mentioned  is where I landed my largest of 7-12 on the lake years back in Feb. Congrats on a good weekend of fishing.

[David Goddard]

On 12/9/2019 at 9:36 AM, 96 CHAMP said:

Nice fish and way to go, by the way, that deep point with pole timber you mentioned  is where I landed my largest of 7-12 on the lake years back in Feb. Congrats on a good weekend of fishing.

I too have caught some real solid brown bass and spotted dawgs off that point, but a 7-12 holy cow!!!!! Do you have a picture? I'd love to see it!