TWMstr

Solid day of rain today in Fayetteville NC. Not sure what the water temp is here but I'm pretty sure the bass are feeding up to spawn. How should I handle a trip to a 6 acre pond tomorrow? After a warm rain, tomorrow being sunny and a little windy. Thanks for all advice!

You've just arrived at a new water hole that you've never fished before, and have heard only good things about it. How would you fish it? What are some of the things you would do to evaluate how to fish it in order to have the most productive day? Share your advice and opinions here!

I've never really tried to tackle this time of year. Leading up to now, swim jigs have been killing it here. But now the water temp is no longer in the 70* mark. Surface temps are 83*. My last trip to the lake ended in disappointment as I tossed around a swim jig for half of my trip then I realized that all the bass were suspending. Water depths range from 15-17' deep. Some of the bass were suspending at around 5' on the thermocline. But most were at about 14-16', about 2 feet off the bottom. So I switched to a carolina rig. Nothing.. Texas rig, nothing.. Now I've heard of dropshotting, but I'm a little scared of this technique due to the heavy submerged grass that lurks on the bottom. I don't want to throw away money on rigs. So how would you all tackle this situation? Open to all advice. Thanks, TWMstr

I took a look at the pictures. Looks like a honey hole. But the water is likely still lingering in the upper 40's being that your in VA. First question : How deep is the pond? --Most likely it looks to be no more than 4-5'. If so, I'd approach it with a slowww shallow running swim jig. I'd hop it and crawl it first, if that fails, swim it slowly. A 1/2 ounce lipless crank, and or a spinner bait. I'm guessing if the pond is shallow, their most likely on the bottom where the warmest water is. They wont be up shallow until its been warm a week or so. Then it's spawning season. Let me know if you have any questions about any of this, I'd be glad to help

I have a 12' jon boat I fish with there every time I go. Used a drop shot before and didn't have much luck. Only problem is the grass is pretty dense on the bottom.. sometimes up to 3' thick.

If you all have the time, take a look at the picture I've attached. From mid April to Mid July is a killer at this lake. The lake is about 250'x1000'. The shallows up to about 10' out are covered with silver dollar lily pads. Generally the depths run up to 16' deep, and most catches are 1-3lbs. I've caught some 4lbers and one 5lber, and I know that their has to be even bigger ones out there but I don't quite know what to use for this lake. A carolina rig in mid summer caught me all those 4lbers, but now it's not working anymore. All my recent trips have been all failures to catch even the smallest fish. I've tossed jigs, crankbaits, carolina rig, senko, chatterbait, etc. Tried all different techniques with each one and nothing. I know that normally during the early spring months the bass are either spawning or holding on the drop offs just before the "spawning bay". But nothing is getting them to bite. Not sure about the water temp but here in fayetteville NC it should be somewhere around 50* surface temp. Just to add a little more information about this lake, the water is stained ( 6' deep visibility with a white lure ). The bottom is covered with medium/heavy grass with some sandy spots so it sometimes makes it difficult to toss anything if it reaches the bottom, it is manageable but sometimes difficult to deal with. Any advice is much appreciated!!

Wind and 100* sun beating down on your neck and shoulders. Cant stand either one. LOL

Cane Thumpers work awesome rigged as a trailer on a swim jig. Unbeatable action. Guaranteed to catch. Other than that, maybe rigged as a swim bait might also work well.

Dirty Jigs Baby Bass Color Swim Jig 3/8 ounce, Strike King Rage Tail Craw Green Pumpkin Blue Trailer, and just slowly dragging and yo-yoing it. Just seems to be the only technique I have in my arsenal.. and it works!

I'm going fishing this coming Wednesday seeing as how it's going to be 70-75 degrees. Should be a fairly nice day to go fishing I think. When it comes to fishing during the spawn, I've forgotten how to fish these conditions. Cold water temps, shallow fishing.. what should I be using? I'm thinking swim jigs and spinnerbaits? What do you guys think? Give me some advice please!! Sorry about the crappy illustration, but this is the pond/lake that I fish. It is 250'x1000'. In the creek channel is where the bass normally spawn; of course in the shallow areas. Basically no cover in this pond, only the med/heavy submerged grass during the summertime.

Already spent $1000. Haha. 12' Alumacraft Jon Boat AutoCraft 600CCA DeepCycle Marine Battery MK troling motor 16' LongBoy Trailer 6'6" Abu Garcia Vendetta Medium Rod Abu Garcia Revo S 6:4.1 Low Pro Reel and about $300-$400 on lures, hooks, etc. Had it all planned for about 6mths now. Haha. Funny how that goes.. Happy Fishing to everyone this year!

Is there a chance that the particular lake that I fish is not inhabited by crawfish? For some reason, and yes I've tried everything, these bass will not hit a jig. Flipping, pitching, dragging, dead sticking, hopping.. Nothing works. For some reason the only thing I've has luck with at this lake, especially, is the Carolina rig. 1/2 ounce tungsten weight, 2-1/2' leader, 2/0 hook, and a trick worm. To include a little more info, this lake is only about 250'x1000', with med/heavy submerged grass with some sandy spots. So crank baits, spinnerbaits, drop shots, and shaky heads are out of the question. They all get stuck in this heavy grass. Help?!

Topics across the board are discussing what bass are doing in the early to fall months. Discussing things like bass following shad into the shallows. What if your pond doesn't have shad. The pond/lake I fish typically has no baitfish, only crappie and brim, and baby bass. No crawfish, etc. Mostly every bait type out there mimics a crawfish, or shad. How can I use a jig when the bass in this lake don't know what a crawfish is? Have had zero luck on the hundreds of jigs I've thrown there. How can I use a lipless crankbait that mimics a shad? They don't know what a shad looks or tastes like. Feeling pretty frustrated, and about to give up on bass fishing.. The only thing I've been able to catch these fish on is a trick worm, or senko. That's about it.

Really appreciated the feedback. I'll give it all a try. thx. Also, I'm boating today. Normally I'm a bank fisher.

Must be an inactive subject. I thought this was a forum website. Has to be interesting to comment I suppose.

Solid 4lber man. Awesome job. Wish you future luck in with all your catches.

I live in Fayetteville, NC and today a small cold front has started to make its way into the state and should last through Sunday. I guess my question is, Should I go fishing tomorrow afternoon, and what should I be looking for. What to use, etc. Thanks ahead of time to all! Attached is a picture of my lake. The ONLY COVER is med/heavy submerged grass on the bottom, and tiny silver dollar pads for up to about 6' off the bank. Other than that, the bass are exposed. Water color is stained, up to 3' visibility. Green pumpkin usually works well. Any help or advice would be great on techniques or lures that may work for me. Thanks!

Literally there is no cover at all, other than the heavy submerged grass on the bottom

If you all have the time, take a look at the picture I've attached. As some of you know, I'm a bank fisherman. From late February to Mid July is a killer at this lake. The lake is about 250'x1000'. The shallows up to about 10' out are covered with light lily pads, not the giant ones, but really small ones. Generally the depths run about 10' at the most, and most catches are 1-3lbs. I've caught some 4lbers and one 5lber, and I know that their has to be even bigger ones out there but I don't quite know what to use for this lake. A carolina rig caught me all those 4lbers, but now it's not working anymore. All my recent trips have been all failures to catch even the smallest fish. I've tossed a jig, crankbait, carolina rig, senko, etc. Tried all different techniques with each one and nothing. I know that normally during the early fall months the cool nights and cold fronts bring the fish shallower and shallower as the months pass, but what should I be using? Also topwater has been a huge failure. Just to add a little more information about this lake, the water is stained ( 1'-4' visibility with a white lure ). The bottom is covered with medium/heavy grass with some sandy spots so it sometimes makes it difficult to toss anything if it reaches the bottom, it is manageable but sometimes difficult to deal with. When it comes down to it, I just need help in lure or bait choice when it comes to this lake. Also how to find the fish period. Thanks for all the advice before hand!

braid with no leader? can't the fish see the braid?

So I should use a swimbait as a trailer and not a craw trailer or grub?

Need a little advice on swim jigs. I am a bank fisherman. My lake is about 250'x1000'. With some sandy spots, mostly med/heavy submerged grass on the bottom. Deepest parts are about 10' or more. What line should I use? What size jig? What color? ( water is stained 2-4' visibility ) What trailer should I mostly use? Also what techniques. Thanks for all comments ahead of time.

Again, I made this post to bring attention to the ones who don't take care of their fish while out of water. Not to be statistically correct. Just sometimes seeing people breading fish in dirt infuriates me. Take care guys.

Truly that is a figure of speech, but not all people take the precautions you all take when catching fish. I can't tell you the videos I've seen where people are (whether they know it or not) purposely killing the fish by either keeping them out of the water wayyyy too long, or letting them flop around on the grass. It does remove their natural protection, and not all fish float when they die. But truthfully what do I think happens to the 10 fish that someone catches after taking several pictures of them on the ground? At least 1-3 actually either die or barely survive. I mean no harm to anyone who actually takes precautions, but to those who don't you should heed to advice and think twice before stringing up your pole and going out to a local lake to kill fish. Again I apologize for the exaggeration, I was a little ticked off after seeing all the photos and videos of people doing this.

Most people don't know this about bass, or even fish period. I've been noticing alot on the forums lately that hundreds of people are taking pictures of their bass lying on the ground next to their feet, fishing poles, tape measures, etc. Just a reminder! Your killing 5 out of 10 fish that your catching and doing this to. Every fish has a slime coating over their entire body that protects them from infection.. and guess what your rubbing off when their flopping all over the ground or even taking 30 some pictures while their lying there. Why do you think its a penalty during tournaments when the bass hits carpet? Just my two cents and a reminder.