Matt_Magnone
07-18-2013, 10:11 PM
this time of year, every year, we start seeing a lot of people come into the tackle shop struggling with catching fish on diamond. the easiest answer for most is "the lake is on a downward spiral" "the lake sucks" or many cover the fact that its tough by saying "i could go out and throw a senko and get bit, but who wants to do that".
ive been working pretty heavy at the shop this past month not having the ability to get out fishin but have had the opportunity to fish 2 of the night events this year. i will totally admit that its tough right now. the last event i only got 10 bites and smacked myself in the face with a swimbait. it is what it is.
dont let this time of year discourage your decision on hitting the lake though. the fish are still there, they still have to eat and this winter you'll still see pictures of double digit fish from random guys. if these fish are still in the lake ; where did they go?
the way the lake acts in the summer is textbook year after year. once the night tournaments start you'll start seeing daytime fish between 15 and 40'. fish will be up high in the water column in the low light then once the sun starts baking the water you'll see fish relating to the shade of tree lines and working their way out off the bank to main lake points, humps, and otherwise edge spots. wind picks up; bite picks up and fish will move up again. this time of year i'm real active in my efforts. there are plenty of fish that stay high and tight to the bank. all you gotta do is follow the predator and prey scenario.
what are you fishing for?
what are those fish eating?
where is the most optimal part of the water column to find both species?
go cath em!
all species favor the most oxygen rich part of the water column. bait will move first then the bass will follow suit. this level changes everywhere but this time of year i always notice the 30' zone being the most productive. i'll start on wind blown banks and then expand from there.
if i were to reccomend a few baits for you guys to play with right now it would be:
swimbait:
this time of year you'll start seeing the fingerling bass growing. you'll start seeing them reach the 5 to 7" size. you'll also see the bluegill swarming whatever piece of shallow cover available. with all the life up on the bank, you'll most definitely see big momma lurking near. there's no reason for bait to be high in the water column and no predator fish around them. what i would do is pick your moment. dont go down the bank blind casting or limit yourself to the first hour of the morning for the big bait. if you got a shade line coinciding with a brush line; throw it. if you have a grass edge that seperates shallow water to deep water; throw it. if the winds howling; throw it. know when to throw and when to put it down. i was given the other day off when megan and dan came back from their trip and took advantage to dust the cobwebs off the boat. hit up skinner and found the fish were eating baby bass and i was able to find a good batch of quality fish. fish would only eat on the shady side of every grass patch i could throw on. once locating the fish i matched the hatch by throwing a bait in the same shape and size of the baby bass. bingo. game over. while still hard to figure out, when you break it down its very simple.
what are you fishing for?
what are those fish eating?
where is the most optimal part of the water column to find both species?
big worm:
the big worm always shines in the summertime for me. i always go with the lightest weight i can possibly get away with. let that bait get down to the right depth and shake away. shake it like you mean it. ha! i tend to focus my efforts on main lake points and deeper structure. when those fish move off the bank they're relating to something. they're relating to cover on top of structure. find the structure, locate that key piece of cover holding the fish and bingo you've got it. keep your color choices simple. dont be throwing 50 different colors or 50 different shades. pick your 3 basic tried and true colors. a starting point for me this year is a 9" upton or bass chow worm in anything purple.. throw it on the lightest weight you can get away with, the smallest hook you can get away with and the lightest line you can get away with. think a lethargic big fish wary as all hell that has been around long enough to know motor noise and know fishing pressure. the big worm shaking helpless down deep isnt abrasive to the fish but still offers a big high calorie meal without that fish needing to expend a lot of energy.
drop shot
well, as lame as it is, everyone needs this rod this time of year. when fishing gets tough, pick this baby up. it will ALWAYS save your butt.
hope this helps out a little.
-matt
ive been working pretty heavy at the shop this past month not having the ability to get out fishin but have had the opportunity to fish 2 of the night events this year. i will totally admit that its tough right now. the last event i only got 10 bites and smacked myself in the face with a swimbait. it is what it is.
dont let this time of year discourage your decision on hitting the lake though. the fish are still there, they still have to eat and this winter you'll still see pictures of double digit fish from random guys. if these fish are still in the lake ; where did they go?
the way the lake acts in the summer is textbook year after year. once the night tournaments start you'll start seeing daytime fish between 15 and 40'. fish will be up high in the water column in the low light then once the sun starts baking the water you'll see fish relating to the shade of tree lines and working their way out off the bank to main lake points, humps, and otherwise edge spots. wind picks up; bite picks up and fish will move up again. this time of year i'm real active in my efforts. there are plenty of fish that stay high and tight to the bank. all you gotta do is follow the predator and prey scenario.
what are you fishing for?
what are those fish eating?
where is the most optimal part of the water column to find both species?
go cath em!
all species favor the most oxygen rich part of the water column. bait will move first then the bass will follow suit. this level changes everywhere but this time of year i always notice the 30' zone being the most productive. i'll start on wind blown banks and then expand from there.
if i were to reccomend a few baits for you guys to play with right now it would be:
swimbait:
this time of year you'll start seeing the fingerling bass growing. you'll start seeing them reach the 5 to 7" size. you'll also see the bluegill swarming whatever piece of shallow cover available. with all the life up on the bank, you'll most definitely see big momma lurking near. there's no reason for bait to be high in the water column and no predator fish around them. what i would do is pick your moment. dont go down the bank blind casting or limit yourself to the first hour of the morning for the big bait. if you got a shade line coinciding with a brush line; throw it. if you have a grass edge that seperates shallow water to deep water; throw it. if the winds howling; throw it. know when to throw and when to put it down. i was given the other day off when megan and dan came back from their trip and took advantage to dust the cobwebs off the boat. hit up skinner and found the fish were eating baby bass and i was able to find a good batch of quality fish. fish would only eat on the shady side of every grass patch i could throw on. once locating the fish i matched the hatch by throwing a bait in the same shape and size of the baby bass. bingo. game over. while still hard to figure out, when you break it down its very simple.
what are you fishing for?
what are those fish eating?
where is the most optimal part of the water column to find both species?
big worm:
the big worm always shines in the summertime for me. i always go with the lightest weight i can possibly get away with. let that bait get down to the right depth and shake away. shake it like you mean it. ha! i tend to focus my efforts on main lake points and deeper structure. when those fish move off the bank they're relating to something. they're relating to cover on top of structure. find the structure, locate that key piece of cover holding the fish and bingo you've got it. keep your color choices simple. dont be throwing 50 different colors or 50 different shades. pick your 3 basic tried and true colors. a starting point for me this year is a 9" upton or bass chow worm in anything purple.. throw it on the lightest weight you can get away with, the smallest hook you can get away with and the lightest line you can get away with. think a lethargic big fish wary as all hell that has been around long enough to know motor noise and know fishing pressure. the big worm shaking helpless down deep isnt abrasive to the fish but still offers a big high calorie meal without that fish needing to expend a lot of energy.
drop shot
well, as lame as it is, everyone needs this rod this time of year. when fishing gets tough, pick this baby up. it will ALWAYS save your butt.
hope this helps out a little.
-matt