Cape Fair 9/19/22

[Dutch]

My neighbor and I went this morning.  We fished above the marina up almost to Carrs.  The fish were on a variety of banks and points.  We used homemade tiki sticks, shaky head and Ned.  We only had bites on the shaky head.  We caught fish on every color that we used, green pumpkin, dirt, watermelon red, junebug, Alabama craw and California craw.  California craw was by far the best color today.  We only boated 23 and they all had one thing in common (their eyes and butts were too close together).

We fished from 7:30-1:30.  There were several rigs when we arrived.  There was only one besides us when we left.  The air temp started at 69° and ended up at 93°.  The water was a constant 82° everywhere we went.

[Bill Babler]

23 sounds pretty good to me. Question, how in the world did you go through that many colors of shaky heads?

I don’t think I have that many colors and were you just grabbing or intentionally changing colors?

As Bill Beck would say, if they’re that onery I’ll just go play golf. 

[Quillback]

Thanks for the update, haven't been to the Rock in a while.  The 1 lb. bass are biting well here in Bella Vista so it is hard to get motivated to drive 50 miles to TR.  Maybe next week, I like fishing the big lake.

[Dutch]

45 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

23 sounds pretty good to me. Question, how in the world did you go through that many colors of shaky heads?

I don’t think I have that many colors and were you just grabbing or intentionally changing colors?

As Bill Beck would say, if they’re that onery I’ll just go play golf. 

Bill I don’t know how many colors I have.  I buy in bulk.  I bought out a mom and pop that couldn’t sell Elaztech.  When the Lew’s store quit I bought their inventory.  Last month I got 65 packs from a guy that I know who knows a guy.  I fish in brush where you wouldn’t send a bird dog on land.  When I get hung up I break off.  I don’t retrieve baits.  When I retie I normally switch colors.  You never know which will be today’s magic.  Today it was California craw.

[bobby b.]

2 minutes ago, Dutch said:

When I get hung up I break off.

Last week I was in the brush often - Because I am so frugal (wife says cheap), I try to retrieve my Ned - last week doing is I put my first serious mark on my motor skey and after vowed to just break off rather than scratch my new (2 year old) boat ever again.  

[Dutch]

23 minutes ago, bobby b. said:

Last week I was in the brush often - Because I am so frugal (wife says cheap), I try to retrieve my Ned - last week doing is I put my first serious mark on my motor skey and after vowed to just break off rather than scratch my new (2 year old) boat ever again.  

I make almost every thing except Elaztech.  Break offs don’t cost me much in the scheme of things.  Most of our fish were shallow and in the shade.

[bobby b.]

Yes I found shade to be important last week.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

We were down there yesterday too, It def was tough. we were in a small club tournament and no one brought in more than 2 keepers, each boat had 2 and they werent big.  We had enough keeper bites but they just weren't getting the baits very good.  Spoon was the most productive, Top water and jigs got us a few bites too. I think everyone with a wakeboard boat decided to come out yesterday for one last wake fest of the year

[Dutch]

I only saw one bow rider up James yesterday.  It was a man and a woman just out riding around.  He was actually courteous.  He slowed down to an idle speed both ways when he came by. 

[Bill Babler]

Our 2 dock group here at SK only has 9 boats in its total of 24 slips and I don’t think any of them have been off the lift all Summer. 

The Summer crowds have hit the road till next year around here for the most part. If the water chills down next week I think that will be almost the total end of the wakers. 

Dutch I totally understand your logic on non-retrieval of low cost baits. If I think there is a fish lurking in that jungle I usually will snap off a soft plastic and retie. 

I have never been an advocate of slight color changes. I fish color that conforms  to conditions.   I more acknowledge that a change of location is way more important than a slight change in natural lure color. 

Thousand and thousands of both guide and fishing trips have sent me in this direction. 

Not popular with bait manufacturers but pretty accurate. 

Don’t know if you all remember the old water color meters to select colors but the range was pretty easy to follow. 

Trout are a very good example.  If your fishing in a location with trout present and you see them refusing the fly and you see a guy 200 yrds. down the river catching one every throw you assume he is using something they really want.

99 times out of 100 they are feeding there and if you moved next to him you would have the same results on the fly that is currently being turned down. 

I’ve had as many as 5 clients drift thru a stretch all with different flys and all be hooked up. 

Same thing with bass. Topwater prop baits, walking baits and wake baits, all hook up. I’ve also done as many as 4 different color drop shot worms all at the same time and the catch rate is the same on any. 

I can see if your fishing a small stretch of bank repeatedly or a small pond  that changes where fish are seeing your presentations multiple times, it can and will make a difference. 

I just find it easier for me to slightly change locations instead of constantly changing bait colors. 

Bottom line is there are lots of ways to scale the same fish and what ever works best for you and you enjoy doing is the way to go. 

Love those James River post, keep up the good work guys. 

Good Luck.