Kim City 12-22-25 Deep bite suspended

[Dock-in-it]

I fished this morning and the deep bite was really strong. The 1st location(creek) had lots of fish and I had it to myself for about an hour. Then an extremely good guide (Eric Olliverson) pulled up and I let him know he was welcomed to fish anywhere around me. His consistency on the winter bite is just amazing with clients that have different skills each day.

My 2nd location (creek) included several loons and was loaded with fish. The action was non-stop....I left them biting.

The best bait was a 1/2oz tungsten queen tackle jig head with a 2.8 Keitech. The ice jig worked as well.

All the fish were suspended deep and I encountered numerous large schools. I would throw the 1/2 oz Keitech to large groups (10-15) that were normally 40-50 ft from the boat and suspended down around 40-50 ft. The overall deep was in the 60-80 ft range. The suspended fish wanted the Keitech moving upwards at a 45 degree retrieve. 

I tried to catch fish postured below pods of surface shad but they would follow and not commit. 

WT 52-53

 

 

 

 

 

[Bill Babler]

Neighbor and I got out yesterday afternoon at SK. second creek we went in Eric Olliverson had a 3 party trip.  
I yelled over at him and he waves me in saying there is a school of big LM in a dock size area his clients are fishing.  
Friggin does not hesitate to invite us in. 

Best fish this one a shade under 5 lbs.  Fat as a pig. 

I asked about 5 other locations and he said he had been in all 5 today.  Guy is just a total HAMMER. 

We ended up with about 20 in 3 different locations. They were deep for us 60 plus feet. Surface temp at SK 54/55 degree, late in the day. 

Caught everything on an Armor Shad 1/2 oz. Tungsten ball head. 

[Dewayne French]

I got try that 45 degree retrieve. I had the same thing the other day on the lower end. You could see them under even feeding, but I could not make those fish commit. I will borrow that😉. 

[Dock-in-it]

I fished this morning and wanted to share a deep fishing scenario I routinely encounter throughout the winter.

I show up at a location just before 7AM and put the trolling motor down to look for bait and fish. Today I started seeing unlimited bait for a 200 yd stretch and only seen 2 fish. But I know from experience not to leave until I see if the morning light activates the fish in area.

I am just about to run out of patience and move to my next spot. Then I see about 10 fish stacked together and put 3 keepers in the boat real quick. Now my attitude is better.

In a matter of minutes the 200 yd stretch has fish everywhere. Some are at the surface and others are using the entire water column (I am in 50 FOW).  I no longer see any bait schools except small pods just under the surface, but the fish are actively feeding throughout the water column (on bait I can not see).

So patience is key in the first 30 minutes of good light especially when bait was present before daylight. 

After 9AM most of the fish disappeared, so your milk run rotation is key.

 

[Champ188]

On 12/23/2025 at 7:38 AM, Bill Babler said:

Neighbor and I got out yesterday afternoon at SK. second creek we went in Eric Olliverson had a 3 party trip.  
I yelled over at him and he waves me in saying there is a school of big LM in a dock size area his clients are fishing.  
Friggin does not hesitate to invite us in. 
ro
Best fish this one a shade under 5 lbs.  Fat as a pig. 

I asked about 5 other locations and he said he had been in all 5 today.  Guy is just a total HAMMER. 

We ended up with about 20 in 3 different locations. They were deep for us 60 plus feet. Surface temp at SK 54/55 degree, late in the day. 

Caught everything on an Armor Shad 1/2 oz. Tungsten ball head. 

I would have big-eyed that fish at close to 6. Of course, it helps to be "petite" in fish pix. 
Two things to say here ... When you've been called an all-caps HAMMER by one of the all-time Table Rock HAMMERS himself, you are grazing on elite ground. The second thing is, I've only fished against Eric a few times at BFL and maybe some Central Pro-Ams, but every word I've heard about the guy has been positive. Every guide client I've heard talk about him says they'll never hire anyone else in this area. High praise and just the type of reputation that is so very needed in today's bass fishing climate. 

[Champ188]

On 12/24/2025 at 12:33 PM, Dock-in-it said:

I fished this morning and wanted to share a deep fishing scenario I routinely encounter throughout the winter.

I show up at a location just before 7AM and put the trolling motor down to look for bait and fish. Today I started seeing unlimited bait for a 200 yd stretch and only seen 2 fish. But I know from experience not to leave until I see if the morning light activates the fish in area.

I am just about to run out of patience and move to my next spot. Then I see about 10 fish stacked together and put 3 keepers in the boat real quick. Now my attitude is better.

In a matter of minGutes the 200 yd stretch has fish everywhere. Some are at the surface and others are using the entire water column (I am in 50 FOW).  I no longer see any bait schools except small pods just under the surface, but the fish are actively feeding throughout the water column (on bait I can not see).

So patience is key in the first 30 minutes of good light especially when bait was present before daylight. 

After 9AM most of the fish disappeared, so your milk run rotation is key.

 

Good lesson for us all. I fight the tendency to leave fish biting to go find others. My feeble mind tells me, "Hey, listen ... if the 2-pounders are biting here, I bet you could catch 15 or 20 pounds off so-and-so-spot." 

I think that's rooted in the fact that my satisfaction comes more from finding fish and figuring them out than actually catching them. Oh, I still love to stick a hook in every one that I can, but that's not the true source of my enjoyment.