Kim City - Dec 12 - Deep bite

[Dock-in-it]

The deep bite is still pretty good if you can find them. There are too many times that I find the shad but no fish around/feeding on them. The shad can be found on the main lake and in the creeks. Yesterday morning I caught one dink but today I caught lots of fish. This morning fish were caught on an ice jig, 1/2oz spoon, 2.8 SB, and Damiki rig. The swimbait is effective for the first 30 minutes of daylight because the shad are high in the water column. The Damiki rig can be a little effective for the 30ft suspended fish, but it is not a go to bait. I had 4 bites on it in 5 minutes then tried it several more times and the fish just ignored it. The 1/2 oz spoon just worked for bottom hugging fish. The ice jig is my primary bait for fish in the 40-60ft range. To get bit, I normally need to have my bait in front of a small group of fish. Presenting your bait to an individual suspended fish is pretty frustrating. Individual fish that are right on the bottom can be caught much easier.  Remember what Bo does..... keep the big motor running until you find them.

WT 51-52

 

[Dock-in-it]

The fishing was pretty good again this morning. I took a couple of graph pictures for folks new to deep fall/winter fishing. This first pic, I was seeing a lot of shad in deep water then the fish were on the edge of them in shallower water. Notice the deeper water and shad on the left side of screen. The second pic is after I put the trolling motor down. Ignore the WT on the 2nd pic, I had just put the trolling down and the temp sensor was reading a little colder than actual WT.        WT is 51-52.

[Guest]

Great post. Thank you for sharing.  Seeing my graph like that would get me pumped!

[bobby b.]

On 12/12/2019 at 1:17 PM, Dock-in-it said:

ice jig is my primary bait

Dock-It-In, 

Do you find that a particular color or length of ice jig works better than others?  Last year the longer ice jig that was blue on the top with a yellow streak worked best - this year it is not working very much for me.

Got out today from 9 - 11:30 - no bite until about 11 am and only the tiny fluke worked for me - 20 - 30 fow over 60 fow.

Bobby

[Dock-in-it]

Bobby, the shad are very small so I am using an ice jig in the 5/8oz size and the color is normally 'silver fluorescent chartreuse'. I think colors like pearl, blue/silver would work just as well. I like using the 7/8oz but the 5/8 is all I am currently using.  Regarding the Damiki rig, I have adjusted to the tiny fluke like your picture shows and this morning the fish wanted it hopped up about 2ft. For some reason I miss 50% of the Damiki bites, I have them hooked a few seconds then they come off. They must be grabbing the tail, but the bait does not slide down because i have it super glued. The fish are pretty tough to catch so getting the right bait size seems critical. 

[Guest]

Deleted.