reerok

I'm not 100% on the lake type. It's an impoundment (1938) for flood control. If I had to guess I would say it's a hill-land rez. The one hesitation I have is that the water is typically quite stained (more than what the definition of hill-land rez suggests). Thanks for the support!

This is great detailed info. It's funny, I've fished nearby this compression area quite a bit. Just not exactly where you've mentioned. I've fished on the right side (upstream?) of the compression bridge/rip-rap and on that southern bank. Again, my addiction to lay downs has kept me coming back. I've seen shad stack up on this shore a bit and it has some lily pad sections (albeit they are thin and sparse and without weeds). But I've not had much luck here. A few bass a day maybe. Now where you're pointing me to up McFaddens run and the adjacent rip-rap and submerged bridge areas have gone untouched by me. They make a lot of sense based on what you're saying so I'll be sure to focus on them. There is no current on this lake. While the dam is a flood control dam, I'm guessing the Watershed District that controls them has this lake down the priority list because while other local lakes often outflow prior to or just after storms, as far as I can tell this doesn't happen very often here.

Amazon Prime will be put to use today. Thanks for these. I plan on spending a weekend soon at the lake cabin/cottage with no internet, no TV, and a lovely fireplace. These books will make the weekend fly. This is how my mind works too. So thanks for the input and motivation.

Yep, for years I used to beat the bank right over that point and miss that underwater structure. So I literally missed the point. Then the last time out I watched practically 1 of only 4 other boats on the entire lake anchor out off that underwater point you're referencing and land a 4 pounder. The light went off when I saw that and I looked a lot closer at the map the next time noticing exactly what he was fishing and you have highlighted. Yeah, our docks are just floating marina docks too. There actually aren't any other docks on the entire lake except these DNR slips (because it's a "natural shoreline" lake and they don't allow private docks). But yeah, your approach makes sense. Cast the corners and pitch and flip the slips.

Hi Tom, Thanks for this input. Unfortunately I put in my boat at the southern end of the lake (marina) and that long run up to the dam is something I almost never do. In a full decked, 17.5' heavy 9.9 boat, it takes nearly an hour to get there. That's my excuse. A poor one at that. But for my goals for 2017, learning that area near the dam is close to the top. The midlake area with the Y road and submerged bridges is the one area I've accidentally (and consistently) found productive. Again this was just beating the banks as it also has some great shore cover. I'll be sure to survey it more closely trying to find the bridges, road bed, and watching the sonar for where the fish hold. Thanks!

Thanks Catt. In an attempt to learn, what's your thought process behind saying Coleman Run? I fish it fairly regularly but if I understand why you suggest it, I then can figure out how to approach it differently and better. I'm not sure why but I've never fished the docks. The boats are tight and it's nearly impossible to get a line between them. But in that I should see an opportunity - to learn to flip even more accurately. Every year I swear I'm going to target the docks. It's time to grow into it and learn to fish them. Exactly this. I want to know how to target deep points and not be afraid to cast into open water vs. the bank targets I'm so comfortable with. This is where the fish in this lake have to be. FYI - this lake is widely considered one of the top bass fisheries in the state. But it's a nearly hidden gem. The 9.9 hp limit keeps many away. And the fact that it's so far in the middle of nowhere keeps most of the rest away too. Some really valuable stuff here. I don't have marker buoys - and that's a cheap and simple way to improve. I mark spots on my GPS fish finder but it's a whole lot easier orienting myself towards a target in the water (the marker buoy) than it is one on the screen in front of me. And I agree. Putting in the time to find, mark, and fish the structure - especially those road beds and submerged bridges will prove valuable. It's funny to say but I really need to spend a day just scouting my own lake. Ignore the banks, find the structure, mark and observe. Thanks Scaleface. Excellent input.

This is great stuff. Thanks for taking the time to write such a thorough reply. A-Jay, I'm with you. I'm a recreational fisherman. This desire to learn and find fish is purely to enjoy fishing more with my friends and significant other. I know it's a lot easier getting her to put a long shift in on the water if the bass are biting! And importantly with all that I've invested into this addiction (boat, equipment, lures, time) I want to get good at it and enjoy it even more. I'm the type that will geek out on this. So if you have book or resource suggestions, fire away. I assure you I'll put the time in reading and studying them. And like you, catching a bass "accidentally" is far less fun than the pleasure I get from catching one and knowing why it was there and why it reacted to the presentation I put in front of it. Thanks A-Jay. -reerok Well I do own a 4 season cabin on this lake so if you guys find the lake THAT attractive I know a guy and a place and a boat and... This is part of what I love about our habit. Thanks Jigking. That's pretty much exactly what I've been doing. The lay-downs are addictive. I can't get away from them no matter how unproductive they are. The look so much like they HAVE to produce. But they haven't. And that's why I'm here, trying to understand what I need to do differently in order to improve as an angler and have more fun on the water.

It really is one of the fishier looking places I've ever been. The shoreline is covered with great looking laydowns. And then there's everything you've mentioned. I do believe that a lot of the bottom cover has silted over tho as I have yet to find any of the bridges that navionics has marked. Granted I just got a DI fish finder mid summer so I haven't had much chance to hunt the bridges and road beds down with the better electronics. Thanks for your input, Catt. Looking forward to your thoughts.

I like this idea too. How do you rig them? Just a Texposed EWG hook (appropriately sized for the fluke)? or do you use a screw lock style unweighted hook?

Great thread, Glenn. 1. Enjoy the time on the water with friends and family - always priority 1 2. Learn how to read a lake better and find the fish 3. Learn how to adapt on the water - when one approach isn't working, know what to switch to next 4. Always remember to be thankful. Fishing is a luxury and love it, respect it, and appreciate it as such.

Good call on the GYCB hula grub. That looks like a perfect plastic for this technique. I've never tried a tube this way but it makes sense too. Thanks guys. Has anyone ever tried any type of worm other than a senko?

Glenn's Fishing Goals thread got me thinking... (And sorry for the loooooong post). As my 2016 bass season has ended here in Ohio, it's time to put in the work and study during the offseason to be a better angler next year. I like to review what I learned this past year, what I was successful at, and most importantly what weaknesses I can improve. The answer to that last question is clearly: I need to learn how to locate fish on a lake. While I'm constantly improving the technical side of fishing (casting, boat control, lure choice for specific conditions, etc) I am total garbage at showing up at the lake and knowing where to go to find the fish. And I say that with a decent amount of knowledge of the lake given that I have a boat on it and fish 95% of the time on that lake. So I need your help: what can I do to improve my skills at locating fish? I had way too many days on the water this past summer putting in 8+ hour sessions and catching 1, 2, or sometimes no fish. It was frustrating. I know I can improve technique but I'm much better than I used to be. It felt more like I was fishing where the fish weren't, beating banks that held nothing. And so I want to learn how to be a whole lot better at reading conditions and eliminating areas instead of wasting time fishing unproductive waters. A little background: I fish an 1800 acre man made impoundment. It's 9.9 hp limited and I have a 17.5' Tracker decently outfitted with GPS/DI/Sonar electronics. The lake is long and narrow (40+ miles of shoreline), relatively shallow (20-25 ft main lake typical depths), typically stained water (less than 1 ft vis), has almost no grass in it, filled with great shore cover (mostly lay downs, some boulder sections), and has only a few very sparse and thin lilly pad areas. Here's a link to the lake: http://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@10&key=azvtFh_vnN LM bass are the target. DNR claims there are smallies although I've never seen one in fishing for over 10 years. So this thread isn't specific to that lake (although I'd take any advice you have regarding it). It really is about this: How do I improve my skills at locating fish on any given day? I have all winter to study, read, and learn and I'd love your collective knowledge to get me started. Thanks and fish on. -reerok

I started mojo rigging (or split shot rig as some know it) this past fishing season with some success. I mostly used 4-5" single tail grubs and 5" senkos on medium wire 3/0 gammy hooks. What are some of your favorite baits to use for mojo rigging? -reerok

I've been using InvisX 6lb on a Stradic FK 2500 the last few months and haven't had any trouble. I fish my drop shot more horizontally so I'm casting a good bit and it's performed well. That said, the braid to flouro is tempting but as of now I have 100% flouro.

Hello and thanks for the welcome. I'm in New Philadelphia in the East-Central portion of the state. My boat and cottage are on Clendening Lake which has a good reputation for bass (for Ohio) but it's been a tough year. Good thing I'm patient! If you ever travel this far I'd love to spend a day on the water with you. -reerok

Gentlemen and Ladies, I've been lurking on BassResource for a while and have been enjoying all of the discussion and education. It's time I introduce myself and contribute as well. While I've been fishing casually most of my 39 years, I've been fishing more seriously the past 3 years. The first 2 were spent mostly fishing a 16 acre pond. Then last summer I purchased a 17.5 bass boat and a lake cottage on an 1800 acre reservoir. Other than a few trips to Canada, that reservoir is where I fish almost exclusively. The learning process has been rough. Ohio in general is tough for bass fishing and this year has been particularly difficult for not just me but for many of the local bass guys I've spoken with. I love the learning aspect of this. I'm content fishing for 8 hours and only catching a few. As long as I learn something along the way. Where I am now in the process is learning how to locate fish. And I'm at the very beginning of this process. I have a decent fish finder (Helix 7 DI GPS) but I am not good at using it. So I'm enjoying all of the input from the board about how to locate based on conditions and the water I'm on. I look forward to the day I'm a whole lot better at this. And I look forward to contributing here and learning from all of you. Kind regards, reerok

Great advice. I've noticed those submerged bridges and roadbeds on the map. I believe the roadbeds have mostly silted in as I haven't found them with my Helix. I've not actually targeted the bridges tho and I'll spend some time trying to find them. I have fished the southern end of the lake including large rip-rap sections extensively with not much luck. I'm going to try to spend more time at the northern end (nearer the dam). The lake has almost zero current at the southern end. Perhaps up closer to the dam there will be more although I have never once fished it while the dam was generating water (at least that I know of). We've had a stretch of cooler nights lately so I'm hoping when I get to the lake this weekend that the water temp will be in the 70s after a long hot summer. If so I'm going to target the transition points into some creeks and bays. Interestingly DNR lists smallmouth as inhabiting the lake. It is a very rocky lake and one that seems like perfect (at least for Ohio) habitat for smallies. I have, however, never seen a smallie there or heard of anyone catching one.

Thanks. I try to follow the shad and have seen the results when I do. But that's a good reminder as I often times get tunnel vision and just fish lay down after lay down. Any thoughts on locations on the map? I'm new to reading maps and would love some ideas on where to focus.

Hi All, I've been fishing this lake quite a bit (Clendening Lake) but haven't seen much success. https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating@11&key=qustFxcunN It's a man-made, 9.9 HP limit reservoir that is known for big largies (at least by Ohio standards). I've spent a fair amount of time on it this summer but haven't had much luck beating the banks. It is loaded with natural laydowns along almost all of the shore lines and this is where I've fished mostly. I'd love to get a collective view from all of you of how you'd approach it and what areas you'd target. What would your approach be? Thanks everyone! -reerok

Up here in Ohio it's the 17 year Cicada year. They're just starting to come out. Is anybody else fishing in an area with cicadas? If so how's the fishing and what presentations are working? I'm headed to the lake for the weekend and will report back. Hopefully with lots of fish. -reerok

Good point and I am aware of the "cheaters" out there. That said my boat probably doesn't top 5 mph. Even a 9.9 on a heavy boat should get a good bit more than that. And the sound of the motor just never gets that high pitched hum of a 5000 RPM 9.9 motor. Thanks for your thoughts!

Hi All, I'm a big fan of all the input here at BassResource.com. Been a lurker for a while and it's time to join in. So I'll start with a question: I picked up a 1999 Bass Tracker Pro Team 175 with a '99 Merc 9.9 (my home lake is a HP restricted lake) at the end of last year. While it runs great, it's so slow - significantly slower than similar size/weight boats in my lake. My tach is sticky so I can't be too sure on true RPM but my best guess is around 3000. I'm assuming it's a prop issue (too much pitch). I've removed the prop trying to find what pitch it is but there is no stamp anywhere on it. Do any of you know what pitch prop would be best for this boat setup? Or any other ideas why it might run so slow? Thanks in advance! -reerok