Mid Lake - 12-16-25 Deep site with 2.8 SB

[Dock-in-it]

I fished this morning and landed on a good group of fish that lasted all morning. I could see fish somewhere around the boat all morning. There was shad in the area but not a ton. Also lots of trees, but the fish do not hug the trees during the first couple of hours because they are constantly moving. When 9am rolls around they start hanging around the trees.

The last time out I used a 7/8 spoon and 5/8 jig head with a jerk minnow bait, so I started with those baits and quickly realized they were not working. I ended up using 3 different jig sizes (1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 oz) with each having a 2.8 Keitech. My favorite was the 1/2 oz and it was very productive because of its efficient drop speed in deepwater. I kept the boat in 40-50 FOW and would pitch the 1/2 oz SB to groups of fish that were postured near the bottom, then just reel the SB straight up thru the fish and they liked the bait moving upwards. Sometimes they would react better if I speeded up my retrieve. I did not catch many deep fish using a horizontal retrieve. 

There was also some surface fish chasing small pods of shad and I was able to catch a few with the 1/4oz SB.

Caught plenty of fish and most were K's with a few LM & SM in the mix.

I alternated between 2D & FFS and each technology works great for deep winter fish that are grouped up. I attached a 2D picture and I could have taken dozens of 2D pictures showing groups of fish under the trolling motor.

WT 52.5 - 53

 

 

[Bill Babler]

Looks like you had em worming big time. Congrats.