Kim City - June 21 - Deep bite (Jewel Live Spin helped)

[Dock-in-it]

The deep suspended morning bite is still going good. The chance for a quality topwater bite (out deep) normally happens before 6AM and then you can still have a few keeper opportunities until 6:30ish. I normally work a walking bait real fast.

My starting area this morning had trees and bait with gizzard shad mixed in. I think the presence of gizzard shad makes a difference in having quality LM in the area.

Some days they want a slow swimbait presentation and other days they want something fast. Today, the fish wanted a fast dropping presentation. The thing about a fast dropping bait is it really moves the location of fish in the water column. 

I have experimented with the Jewel Live Spin several times and it has been in the bottom of the tackle lately. I read a few recent reports about the lure and decided to try it today. It produced my best LM and other decent fish. With this bait, you have to change the factory hooks with split rings and quality hooks.

Also with FFS, I locate the fish then turned the transducer off of them to avoid spooking both bass and bait. 

The rotation of your morning milk run is important because this bite fizzles as time ticks away. 

I do not use a dropshot but I know it will catch the fish I target. 

Today's pics and the WT is 80ish.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

How do you know there were gizzards around? I ask because i cant tell the difference on the scope, but i did hook a big one in the KC Area so i know your accurate.  Today we caught the crap out of them, 9 keeps but nothing big, Had and amazing first hour of topwater and then caught them 20+

[Quillback]

Some great fish!

Checked out that lure on TW, they want close to $10 for one.  Resisting urge to purchase....must not buy....I have too many lures, don't need more....

 

[Dock-in-it]

Regarding gizzard shad.

In the first hour of a calm morning you can see individual gizzard shad barely break the surface and create a small ripple. Some individual gizzard shad are more aggressive at the surface and make a bigger ripple or swim in a tight circle for a few seconds. You can also see them on FFS very near the surface and they will not react to a bait. 

Regarding the Jewel Live Spin.

At the present time, it will catch fish in the first 90 minutes of daylight if you are around active fish. This bait may or may not work on pressured fish and the non-pressured fish get educated real quick. To try it in clear deep water, find a group of fish away from the boat suspended at 10-15ft. This morning, I seen a group of 4 fish about 40ft from the boat about 10-15ft down and tried a 2.8 Keitech and they ignored it. So I threw the Jewel bait and caught 2 of them on consecutive cast. Then I did a few fan cast and caught another. 

You must keep your rod down when fighting a fish or they will jump and spit this 1oz bait. Also, make the lure rise and fall.

[Quillback]

I have found that this time of year they like 3.3 and 3.8 Keitechs and not the 2.8.  

[Bill Babler]

Great explanation on the Gizzard Shad by Doc. At times you will see them porpoise and come complete out of the water. 
Most times I believe this is just a joy of life swimming event for them.  That is until there is a big swirl where they’re playing. 

On FFS you will see them as individual fish, a lot of times in an egg or cat eye, oblong shape school.  Unlike Threadfin which are a mass on the interior of the school and hard to identify as individuals. 

It is not uncommon in TR for Gizzards to reach 12” in length and weigh 8 to 13 oz. 

MDC says they can weigh up to 1.5 pounds however I have not seen one that big. 

On 2D they look like crappie with the exception most times larger numbers within the school are moving more rapidly and are in a more oblong school.  Crappie tend to stack. 

From the mouth of the Kings River to Long Creek  in October to Thanksgiving, depending on the year Big and I mean BIGG.  Small jaws will chase these gizzards in the deep bends above Baxter and the long run out flats from Baxter downstream.  You can also see them chasing in the big coves and creeks in the KC area on the surface after these big belly buster targets. 

Beck and I used to catch some total monsters in the Campbell Point area in early November chasing Gizzards.  Mostly deep channel swings. 

150’ of water is not a problem in the Fall for these jaws up the White, where ever the Gizzards are they are watching. 

Pushing at times to the surface but running thru them at depth. Have not had great success on topwater even though they are busting. I’m going to try a glide bait this Fall. Best bet is a Flutter spoon or Becks favorite was a 5” C-tail on a 3/8 oz. head.  I have however seen  him catch some huge ones on a big jerk bait  

The jaws aren’t in big schools chasing these Shad but ones to threes hanging out. Another 100 yards or so maybe another 3 just scattered around an entire channel swing. 

Fun time I’m going to work it hard this Fall. 

Good Luck






 

 

[Smithvillesteve]

A buddy of mine sent me a Youtube video of Mike Iacanelli describing the Hover Strolling technique. Basically a minnow type bait on a 90 degree eye hook with a nail weight in the nose. It looks like to me that could be deadly at Table Rock. If you get a chance check it out.