Beaver Lake Questions

[fishman783]

Quick question...I am down from Iowa for the week visiting my Dad who lives on the lake.  I was out this morning for a little bit. I am mainly trying to target black bass but would love to catch whatever I can.  Does this lake currently have a thermocline?  I noticed a lot of fish suspended in the 20-25ft range over much deeper water, so I was just curious if this would be the depth zone that I should try to focus on or not?  I know the water is up 6.5ft above normal pool so I ran some bank this morning to see if any fish were shallow, lots of sunfish but not too many bass.  Fished mainly in the Big Clifty arm this morning and decided I should primarily focus my efforts off shore for the remainder of the time I am here and target main lake points and humps close to the main river channel as well as similar structure in the large creek arms close to the channel swings.  Am I far off with this approach?  I know fishing can be pretty tough this time of year so I appreciate the help or advice.

Matt

[Carl W]

I believe Matt the Thermocline is around 27 feet at least in the upper part of the lake.   Beaver is a tough lake at least to me and I struggle to catch fish off shore but your comments are very text book to me so I look forward to your reports this week.   I fish mostly in the upper section and have been catching them shallow (less than10) until about a week or so and that seems to have dried up or certainly slowed. I fished off shore Saturday morning but also spent time throwing at top water fish and top water kept me more busy but I was able to pick up two fish off shore in a few hours. I am usually off the lake by 9 ish so that is all I can report. 

[fishman783]

I will be targeting mainly the lower end from mouth of Clifty to the dam. (My dads place is right across from point 5). Hoping to run into some topwater fish, but will probably mostly employ a small Keitech on a jighead and cover water till I can find something to slow down and fish more thoroughly with a Dropshot, Ned or Carolina rig.  Hopefully we will be able to run into a fish or two this week.  I too will mostly be off the water by 9 or 10 in the morning daily.

 

Thanks again

 

Matt

[Quillback]

Would not surprise me that a thermocline has set up, but can't verify it myself.  Your plan sounds as good as anything I could come up with. it is a tough time of year for sure.  I would put shad on the 'things to look for' list especially near the dam area.  

[fishman783]

2 minutes ago, Quillback said:

Would not surprise me that a thermocline has set up, but can't verify it myself.  Your plan sounds as good as anything I could come up with. it is a tough time of year for sure.  I would put shad on the 'things to look for' list especially near the dam area.  

Thanks, Definitely will be looking for Shad.....seems like there are more Shad this year than I have seen in years past....saw lots of really small Shad yesterday morning, looks like they have benefited from the water being high this season.

[Quillback]

Yes sir. lots of those tiny shad around Indian creek at least as of Tuesday the last time I have been there.  

[bferg]

The water is down about a foot so far this month... That's not dramatic but I think it is enough to pull some of the shallow fish back out deeper.  I think you are on the right path with the offshore stuff ALTHOUGH I had some success last week on the mid-lake area throwing big worms shallow but it had to be a steep bank.  But.. the text book for this time of year at that end of the lake is certainly topwater early/late and offshore structure.  If we get the weather we are supposed to get this week there will be a lot of clouds and rain which could make the topwater deal pop.  

[fishman783]

56 minutes ago, bferg said:

The water is down about a foot so far this month... That's not dramatic but I think it is enough to pull some of the shallow fish back out deeper.  I think you are on the right path with the offshore stuff ALTHOUGH I had some success last week on the mid-lake area throwing big worms shallow but it had to be a steep bank.  But.. the text book for this time of year at that end of the lake is certainly topwater early/late and offshore structure.  If we get the weather we are supposed to get this week there will be a lot of clouds and rain which could make the topwater deal pop.  

When you say big worm do you mean 10” ribbon tail worm or big trick worm....sounds like a fun bite for sure....thanks for the info!

[bferg]

We were throwing 8-10 inch ribbon tails (was probably the best bite) but then at the end I started throwing a magnum trick worm...  I didn't mess with it long enough to see what works best.  I got a lot of bites on an 8" Ghee Crack (JDM bait) but its so soft it was just getting bit in half- thats when I switched to the mag. trick worm.  So, I think either on could work.  I have been taking a green pumpkin mag trick worm and coloring it with some blue scented marker and the fish have been eating it both at Beaver and TR.  

[sfiser]

I was out on Sunday AM and saw very little topwater fish.  I ended up doing well from 5:30-9AM fishing a small grub on a 1/4 ounce jig head to fish suspended well off flat gravel points and also fish suspended over trees on bluff ends.  I start fan casting with that grub, letting it sink for a 5 or 10 count and slow reeling it back.  If i get no takes after a while I will move in and look at my graph and fish a jigging spoon or dropshot over the tree tops.  Most of the time early in the morning, they will eat that grub or swimbait.  I have noticed as that water has started to drop, there are alot more suspended fish out deep.  A few weeks ago that was not the case.  I think those fish have started to move off the bank and go into thier typical summer pattern of suspend and follow the shad.  Pull up an a steep point and start tossing a grub or swimbait, dont be afraid to be well off the bank and sitting in 60-80 feet of water.  If you arent getting bites just keep moving, eventually you will hit a school and get some fish.