are using. i will look for structure at that depth and once i locate a hump, secondary creek channel, main creek channel, or a long extended point that dumps into the main or secondary creek channel. and if the bait is close by and there are fish arches, i will start getting excited.
I will position my boat over the structure with my Motorguide and using my HD-10 on my bow, i will go to work with a spoon. There are a large variety of spoons to choose from; there are Hopkins spoons, Mega Spoon, there are lead spoons that you can put a bend in it and it will change the flutter, there are flutter spoons, and Kastmasters. My favorite is still the old original 3/4 oz shorty Hopkins spoon. i start by dropping it vertical until it hits the bottom, using quick jerks up and letting it freefall down. i will watch my line for any movement or if it stops i set the hook immediately. What i am looking for is a reaction bite.
also when i meter schools of bait and fish underneath the bait suspended, it could be over 50 feet or even 100 feet. i will make a long cast and count my spoon down. once i hit the zone that the bait fish are in, i will jerk it through the schools and keep it on a horizontal plane. Sometimes this will be very effective, but generally you need to use a 1/2 oz or lighter spoon. When using my spoons i use 15 to 20 lb test Seaguar fluorocarbon.
i f the bass are not co-operating, I will drop shot with a 4” Roboworm crawling it using a light shake and sometimes just dead sticking it in the fish arches i see on my lowrance. You need to realize that when you are dead sticking or work drop shotting, there are still subtle movements from the boat drifting, currents and more. Sometimes this is more natural when the water temperatures drop down to the high 40’s and low 50’s. if you have ever watched the bait fish in these water temperatures you will find they are hardly moving. So you definitely during this time want to try to dead stick more. You will put more fish in the boat.
If this does not give any response I will drop the camera down to see if they are bass. if the camera lets me know the bass are there, i will GPS the spot and come back later because sometime during the day, those bass will bite.
i have been asked why i don’t drop the camera on the fish first to see if they are bass and i have found that it is hard to catch bass after they have been disturbed by the camera probe. So if i want to fish the
Issue 5 December 2011
spot i always use the camera last, if i don’t catch any.
another method that is very effective at times is the doodle shake which my friend don iovino introduced me to in the late 70’s. We were following each other to lake oroville for a Western Bass tournament. i let my partner drive and i hopped in don’s car because i wanted to find out how to doodle shake. on the way to the lake don gave me a full seminar. i’m sure his biggest motive was to sell me a rod, reel, line, painted 3/16 slide sinkers, and Smitty iovino doodle Worms. But little did we know that i would be fortunate enough to go out and win the tournament at lake oroville doodle shaking. We have been great friends ever since.
PS: When you locate an area the fish are using, try to find the hot spot which could be a rock pile, brush pile, sharp turn on the break or a steep break in the area. Generally the fish will be relating to the steeper side of the structure. Pay attention when you get your bites and look at what the Lowrance HD is telling you. It is your eyes.
See ya on the water!
Repair Shop
We specialize in high quality propeller repair and sales of both new and used marine propellers in stainless, aluminum and bronze. Also we have the ability to repair skegs and cavitation plates on both out- boards and I/O’s and offer quality instalation of marine electronics,
trolling motors, downriggers and deep cycle batteries.
Tackle Store
At Phil’s we carry a large selection of fishing tackle for all species
(including live bait) in both fresh and saltwater. Brands like Yama- moto, Roboworm, Shimano, G-Loomis, Lowrance, Gamakatsu and LuckyCraft just to name a few can be found in store or on the web at
Philsprop.com where easy online ordering is available.
3037 Twin View Blvd. Shasta Lake, Ca.96019
800-462-3917 530-275-4939
www.philsprop.com
info@philsprop.com
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