Kim City - Jan 19 - Vertical vs Horizontal

[Dock-in-it]

I fished this morning and was glad the weather man was a little off. The fish were very active prior to the cold front moving in. Normally this time of year the chance for a surface bite is way less than 10%, but this mild winter has allowed for several surface bite days. I witnessed the surface activity first thing and decided to go with a horizontal presentation while it lasted then switch later to a vertical bite. The horizontal bite allows more chances for quality and the vertical bite gets the numbers with occasional quality. The horizontal bite stayed active until 8AM and the best bait was a Damiki rig (1/4oz and 3/8oz with 3" bait) fished about 5 to 10ft below the surface. The underspin produced a few. The deep horizontal bite is slow for me even though plenty of fish are using the 20 to 30ft depth range.

The vertical bite was real good and the 4" grub (3/8oz) was the best bait, followed by Damiki and a few on ice jig. The ticket was to drop the grub thru fish and let it go to the bottom, then slowly retrieve the bait upwards. This technique worked over and over. I could not just leave it in their face or jig it. I left them biting at 9:30.

I was on the main lake around trees and shad. The shad were stacked 20ft high in 42ft where I first started. Actually the shad were everywhere in the area. WT 50

[Dutch]

Those are some beautiful fish.  Did you see any other boats?

[Dock-in-it]

Dutch, I did not see another boat and I was on the main lake. No rigs at Mill Creek ramp.

I forgot to mention that spot lock was super helpful in the wind for both vertical and hortizonal presentations. 

 

[magicwormman]

Great report and pictures as well! You definitely have them figured out!

[Bill Babler]

After that report, who can guess what I'm thinking?

It might involve a pretty small bait. 😄😄😄

[Dock-in-it]

The K's were full of Float-N-Fly size shad and lots of LM were postured just right in the water column. Just have to keep an eye on the bobber. I seen a very large fish flash twice just below the surface about 20ft from the boat. That bobber would be out of sight in no time.

[Bill Babler]

You have read my mind Dock. Kind of easy reading. 

[Quillback]

Nothing else better to do, so I am going to poke around and try and find my FNF stuff.  It's fun to watch that bobber go down.

[Dock-in-it]

Has anyone tried the Float-N-Fly with Live Scope? I do not recall any report with the combination. 

[196champ]

Bill, If the float n fly bite fires up let me know, id like to try a trip around that presentation!