Quick Big M report and night fishing struggles

[bferg]

Got on the water about 6.30 last night.  Fished until 10.30.  Started strong and then finished slow.  

As soon as we got on the water I started throwing a magnum trick worm on a wobble head at rock/brush piles in 20 feet of water on a main lake point.  Got bit on my first cast (swing and miss).  Then caught fish on my next two casts- both nice chunky spots.  Reports I had read said fish were scattered on the points.  They weren't at my first spot but as the evening went on, those reports would prove to be true.  I wanted to try some different areas and still need to get some waypoints marked on the maps on the boat I bought this spring.  So we left and went to a few other points.  But I couldn't put that pattern back together again in my other spots and ended up catching one more small spot in front of some bushes in a pocket.  

Really want to get better at fishing after dark.  Once the sun went down we fished around some docks with no luck.  I feel lost out there at night time!  Going to spend some more evenings out there this summer to try to dial it in more.  

WT was 89 when we put in!  Water was pretty dirty too. But man, it was a beautiful evening out there!  

[JMCat]

I have same issue at night.   We fished a little tournament Saturday and it was tough.  Bluff Ends near channel swing seemed to be only place we could get a bite.   Pretty amazing the weights that come in for the night tournaments up there.   

 

[bferg]

I think one issue I have is I don't know how to quickly answer both questions:  Are there fish here and Am I using the right lure?  My night fishing sessions are short (off the water by 11) and I feel like I spend too long in one spot.  On the other hand, if I don't stay in one place and try a couple of different things then I just end up running around from spot to spot trying the same deal everywhere.  I just need more time on the water so I can get 3 or 4 things I have confidence in... 

[JMCat]

I tried the big worm, deep swimbait crawled along bottom and spinner bait last weekend but the Jig was only keeper.  Most bites were at bluff end channel swings.   Looking back, I think we moved too much as there were shad everywhere on our first stop.   

[Guest]

8 hours ago, bferg said:

Got on the water about 6.30 last night.  Fished until 10.30.  Started strong and then finished slow.  

As soon as we got on the water I started throwing a magnum trick worm on a wobble head at rock/brush piles in 20 feet of water on a main lake point.  Got bit on my first cast (swing and miss).  Then caught fish on my next two casts- both nice chunky spots.  Reports I had read said fish were scattered on the points.  They weren't at my first spot but as the evening went on, those reports would prove to be true.  I wanted to try some different areas and still need to get some waypoints marked on the maps on the boat I bought this spring.  So we left and went to a few other points.  But I couldn't put that pattern back together again in my other spots and ended up catching one more small spot in front of some bushes in a pocket.  

Really want to get better at fishing after dark.  Once the sun went down we fished around some docks with no luck.  I feel lost out there at night time!  Going to spend some more evenings out there this summer to try to dial it in more.  

WT was 89 when we put in!  Water was pretty dirty too. But man, it was a beautiful evening out there!  

hint:  forget about specific spots and go look for where most of the bait is.  table rock bass have become very nomadic and just follow the kitchen, so to speak.  brush piles will hold a fish or two, but not a big school.  when you are fishing where there are numerous bass, they are easier to get to bite, and a single.  hope this might help, but it does require a different mind set of hunting bass.

bo

[bferg]

No- thanks for the advice.  I’m terrible at driving around and looking- need to make myself do it more!

[bferg]

4 hours ago, merc1997 said:

hint:  forget about specific spots and go look for where most of the bait is.  table rock bass have become very nomadic and just follow the kitchen, so to speak.  brush piles will hold a fish or two, but not a big school.  when you are fishing where there are numerous bass, they are easier to get to bite, and a single.  hope this might help, but it does require a different mind set of hunting bass.

bo

Thanks for the advice Bo... you are the night fishing master around here- this week I have tried to read every post you have put up here- all informative but that advice right there might be the best yet.  I am not good at driving around and looking.  I know I need to get better at that.  I’m headed over again next week for a few days and I’m going to commit to the search for bait! 
 

BTW - I have looked at some of NuTech’s YouTube content (and ordered some jigs!).    Would love to see more video content!  I’m still learning how to fish these deep clear water lakes and watching a guy like you do it is helpful!