WaterChap, Chick, Bass, 07/06/18, Solo

[WaterChap]

Well, if you’re reading this hoping to learn something about fishing you’ll probably be disappointed. I’ll tell you a little something, but it probably won’t help much.

I got to the ramp at the dam around 8:30 in the morning. My intention was to leave at safe light, but an accident that I’m too embarrassed to describe right now meant that I had to go by Walmart at 7 before picking up my boat. When I got to the ramp, the parking lot was empty of people and there were only a few trailers. As I was prepping my boat, some fellow came in to the dock and tied up on the corner nearest the ramp, which left him hanging across one of the lanes at the ramp.

It almost irritated me, but I reminded myself that there were three lanes and it didn’t matter (I may not be a great fisherman, but I’m an A+ judgemental grump).

The fellow came up towards his truck and I asked him how it went. He said it wasn’t too good as his dad passed out on the boat. Turns out that he was in the middle of a medical emergency and I had briefly thought about saying something to him about his boat parking! Anyway, we got his boat on the trailer and his dad loaded up and it seemed like everyone was going to be ok.

The Lord reminded me that I should be very slow to be irritated with others because I don’t ever know the whole story. I also thought that if I didn’t have a pretty dumb accident the night before, he wouldn’t have had any help when they got to the ramp. So it was all the Lord’s timing.

I had intended to work on ledge fishing, about which I know close to zero. I first ran topwater in a cove and missed a couple of hookups. Then I ran a shoreline with a jerk bait and had one follow it, but not strike. I found a ledge with some fish sitting on it (I think) but wasn’t able to get them to bite. I think I tried a plastic green shad (on a heavy jig head) at one spot and a plum 10” worm Carolina rigged at another. But don’t take that as evidence that they won’t hit them.

Long report short, get your ledge fishing advice from alicia!

 

[Strato-G]

Sounds as you performed as needed...fishing will be there later, be thankful you will be able to return.... emoThumbsup ............... emoGeezer emoUSA

 

[Lx545]

Great report and some advice we all could heed in moments of frustration.

 

[alicia ayers]

hey Waterchap , sorry you were late getting out but as you said there was a good reason you were held back ! Thank you so much for helping in an emergency and being there , you just never know what will happen any given day on the lake hooks flying around, heat, aggresive boaters just like on the road with road rage, there is water rage out there too . Anyway thank you for comment about asking me @ ledge fishing ! In my opinion you can never go wrong with throwing something in the green family in plastics and if I'm in open water like ledges, I really like throwing a very large bait like a brush hog, magnum lizard, 12-14' worms and carolina rig is old school . I throw it year round with large baits and I always try different depths usually have 2 on deck one short leader and other a long leader . lots of guys don't like to throw them including the 4 guys I fish with , and I never go out there w/out my gold jigging spoon made by war eagle. It has a swivel on top and other brands don't have that > Keeps your line from twisting and if you come to schooling fish or fish busting top of water , its a winner every time , and of course we all know at night gotta make some noise and I throw a pink and purple 3/8 spinnerbait W/#5 short arm gold colorado blade( Soddy custom tackle) These baits work for me every time and I don't always catch a big girl sometimes little guys in there too, I throw a finesse worm called a mojo rig also, using a #2red hook and 1/4 oz. tungsten weight pegged about 5-6 " up . This will come thru the grass and I have caught big girls with it , so I know the hook will hold . These baits work for me, . I know we all have our favorite baits and ones we all have confidence in so that's my go to baits all year long seriously

 

[WaterChap]

Wow, that’s super helpful alicia! Thanks for the kind words and taking the time to give me a little direction. I’m fishing with 12 lb Seaguar flouro and using the same to Carolina rig big plastics with heavy weight to get it down to the bottom. What determines your leader length? Should I be using different weight line?

 

[alicia ayers]

Good morning chap, I do not use anything less than 17 lb. as my leader on carolina rigs and as a matter of fact its berkeley vanish flouro in the red shade it completely vanishes under water . As far as leader length that depends on water depth' that's why I have two rigged up. If in deep water leader is 14-18 " I don't measure just guessing and the reason I use 17 lb. is the strength these florida bass have! it's amazing. And the same with shallow water, 17 lb. I'm guessing here again , leader is about 10-12 " long and if in 6ft., leader would be even shorter. I know everyone out there all have different preferences for line use and weights and etc. , but has worked for me for upteen years . you may not know, but I used to fish the bass n gals circuit, and any time I can help you I will > After all someone had to help me, and I could learn new tricks and tecniques from anyone that fishes its an on going learning process ! Those fish can move within an hour so sometimes my baits work and sometimes they dont I like Spro crankbaits and shadalious swimbaits w/an underspin as well Hope my ideas will help you and hope you catch a big girl

 

[alicia ayers]

Most of my reels have 12-14 lb flouro , with exception of spinnerbait and topwater, and braid in grass My spinning reels are backed with 30lb. fireline in the color that looks like bright mustard yellow and about a 10" leader in 14-17 lb. in berkeley vanish and I use a swivel to tie on all my leaders I dont trust a blood knot or a uni knot I think its called I dont like to lose fish so again this is my preference . Ask some of the other guys you fish with , you may not like my techniques , but again has worked for me for upteen years

 

[Rob Lee]

Great story, better lesson to all. Moreover, the techniques provided by Ms. Ayers is off the chart. I don’t think I’ve ever read such a detailed account of presentations on this forum. Kudos to you Ms. Ayers. I would love to read more posts of this nature. Thank you.

 

[WaterChap]

Alicia, you are the absolute bomb! Thanks! I’m going to try your suggestions. I’m not sure if my problem is not finding the fish or fishing them poorly or both. Like lots of people, I can do ok in shallow water. I look for a likely place and toss the marker buoy where it seems I’m looking at fish, but nothing yet. Pretty sure when I finally hit em, it’ll give me a confirmation between what I’m seeing on my screen and where the fish are. My sonar’s pretty basic, but I think I can see the column pretty well. I’m just not sure how many fish should be sitting there for me to work it and whether I’m looking at catfish, bass or crappie.

I probably have more questions than anyone would want to answer.

Great reminder about spoons. I think I’m going to put a Dardevle back on a rod (I have not yet build my rod collection up yet, so I can have four on the boat counting my spinning rod).

 

[porthos33]

Don't feel bad Chap. It's that time of year. It can be tough even if you are looking right at the fish on the sonar. I fished a tx monday night and got 1 bite in 3 hours. It was killing me b/c that 1 bite was a 7.38 and I couldn't put any fish with it. This time of year that 12-6 bite can be awesome if you can suffer from the heat. I just can't handle it very often. Mrs. Ayers definitely knows her stuff! She caught 3 fish this time of year over ten pounds. You can't go wrong with a big worm this time of year. At some point late in the summer I have noticed that instead of just pulling a plastic on the bottom, You can take a brush hog and just cast and reel and thats how the fish want it. Top water bite is starting to get good too.

When you see fish on the screen just stop and try it. A lot of times they will start biting the first cast if they are active. If you don't get any bites don't write that spot off. It might just be inactive bass. It is trial and error and #1 time on the water. Last night I was working a spot in about 21ft and they were coming up in the jumps. So have that spook or something ready b/c I caught more fish on top than I did dragging. And if you really want some fun head up to parksville and throw that spook over 60-80ft. You will be amazed at what you find!

 

[WaterChap]

Thanks Porthos! I was thinking about Parksville today. I’ve canoed it, but not put my boat on it. There’s some deep grass there.

 

[alicia ayers]

I caught one on top water last week with my white Teckle frog and have been catching them on my magnum fluke top water for about 3 weeks , but it is slow to none right now The heat is almost unbearable even at night !!!Need to be sure you all are drinking plenty of liquids ! We all get excited about getting to go out there and stretch a line , so be sure you load up a cooler with some liquids > May not want to get all sunburned either so be careful ! Yep, you can be looking at them on screen and throw everything in the boat and sometimes they will not bite or just not feeding at that time . Go back there in a bit and try again , and then try grass if no bites deep , but it really is tough right now. i've found that the slower you can work plastics the better the bite for me, I mean painfully slow like throwing a jerk bait in the winter time LOL!!! See yall out there !!

 

[WaterChap]

That makes me feel much better about Monday. I didn’t even get a strike. They ran from my spinner bait on a grass flat! [post 99!]