FS Digest

I just went out for the second time this week yo one of my favorite lakes. They’ve drained it for rainy season in the last few months and the bite has been pretty rough. I used to mainly be successful on drop shot/Texas rig. With various colors. But these last two I got skunked out HARD. And I’m talking about all day boat rental and all. Today I broke out of my comfort zone and threw jigs, chatterbaits, spinners, jerkbaits, cranks. I’ve been told they went deeper sitting at about 15-20 feet and the only effective way that I can really fish the bottom is slow rolling a chatter or yoyoing a jig. What is there to do when the bite is that hard. Side note I’ve been hitting hard drop offs with rock faces. Trying to find channels. Most of the cover is exposed above water now and that’s usually my go to.

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by Reese_Chu

FS Digest

Speedworm

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by Fishaholic526

FS Digest

What rig?

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by Reese_Chu

FS Digest

Depends on the day, it can be fished anyway. If they are deeper C-rig or Texas rigged, I like burning them through surface vegetation like a buzz bait too. Super versatile.

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by Fishaholic526

FS Digest

Has the water clarity also changed?

In dropping water levels look for isolated cover and rocks out deeper, seems you're on the right track. Just perhaps not with the right presentation.

I'd go back to dropshot, football head hula grubs, heavy tubes... use some scent. Maybe even weightless/light-belly-weight senkos if the water is clear enough - slow going tho.

Ned rig might be whats up too.

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by HookedAZ

FS Digest

Never threw a ned or hula. I’ve drop shot with different colored worms, short , long , ribbon. Can’t seem to get at em. What’s your retrieve recommendation with drop shot maybe I’m doing it wrong. As for isolated cover how can I find them without electronics?

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by Reese_Chu

FS Digest

I'll second trying out the ned rig. There's a lake I fished quite a bit that had water levels fluctuate frequently and had rock faces like you're describing. I could usually get a bite or two with the ned rig.

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by Cambone

FS Digest

What's the water clarity?

If draw downs are a regular thing, check google maps satellite view... google maps has a free desktop software download where you can go back and see satellite images from the past 20 years - odd are you can make something out. Also check to see if there is a contour map (free) on the navionics website. You can also look at the structure on shore (or a topo map) and imagine how the ridges would continue down into the water.

Look for rock reefs and the base of bluff walls and dropoffs near creek channels... maybe even old roads/bridges. You can feel around with a heavy football jig or carolina rig and learn/feel the bottom for yourself.

For dropshot, leave it in place for 5 to 10 sec, slowly lift rod from 3 to 12, and let fall, reel up slack - repeat. The wind, the water current, and just regular body shaking/movements will put enough action on your worm... no need to give it extra.

Definately read up on the ned rig, midwest guys depend on it for times like this... well, we all do now thanks to zman. Lol

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by HookedAZ

doc 1

[quote=FS Digest]Never threw a ned or hula. I’ve drop shot with different colored worms, short , long , ribbon. Can’t seem to get at em. What’s your retrieve recommendation with drop shot maybe I’m doing it wrong. As for isolated cover how can I find them without electronics?

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here in southeast ky we jar fish on tough days


quarter stick powder electric gap works every
time lol

doc 1

excuse typing trying to tye a stick

E.pa.al Loc: Martin's Creek

Ned rig it super slow!!seems to work here when the bite turns off

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

I'm drop shottin in 40 to 56 feet of water and doin good. Our lake is clear and bout 55*. I've been usein a morning dawn color robo worm whacky rigged. I put the worm bout 2 feet above the weight and try NOT to hop the weight off the bottom too much. I fish straight down and just tighten it up enough to feel your weight on the bottom and just let it sit for bout 5 to 10 seconds and then just twitch it a little by raising your rod and lowering it just so the weight stays on the bottom mostly. It will hop a little but try to keep it on the bottom and just move your worm. You can also use a small swimbait instead of a worm and that works good sometimes. Was killer on our lake bout 2 weeks ago.

Jimmyking Loc: Desoto , Missouri

You have a lot to learn . The answers you seek are not in your lures . Use structure as your guide to get started in the right direction!