I've tried cranking down to them, especially the tactical crank method all be it without the exact tactical crankbaits best suited for it.   Tried a dropshot a little, but I dislike dropshotting so I'm not good at it.    Tried a few other things as well.

 

That said, I learned recently about using your 2D sonar and Damiki rigs to dead stick or jig this right above the fish's heads.   Why I don't like the idea of drop shotting, and yet like the idea of this is a mystery of the human brain.

 

If not Damiki Rig, how would you catch these offshore fish in 20-30ft of water feeding on bait balls that are now being pushed deep to winter weather coming?

 

Normally during the other parts of the year, I see lots of what I think are high quality fish sitting a foot or two off the bottom but they aren't relating to forage or really even cover.    However, over the last two weeks, I've seen these same sized fish but now appearing to be actively feeding on deep forage.  I know big fish are under those balls because a few weeks ago they were mid column and I got a nice 5lb+ underneath them offshore just like these fish/bait look like on sonar but up 10ft.

 

I'll find a number of areas exactly like the pic below, and those areas appear to have so many fish stacked.     

 

 

I don't have electronics, but damiki rig looks to be a good choice.  I'd also look into blade bait, flutter spoon, jigging spoon, ned, and hair jig.  

 

This "advice" is not sponsored by the bait monkey.

 

scott

10 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

I don't have electronics, but damiki rig looks to be a good choice.  I'd also look into blade bait, flutter spoon, jigging spoon, ned, and hair jig.  

 

This "advice" is not sponsored by the bait monkey.

 

scott

Haha.....yeah the blade bait and jigging spoon are next options up.   Buying a Damaki Vault and a good Flutter Spoon.       

16 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Haha.....yeah the blade bait and jigging spoon are next options up.   Buying a Damaki Vault and a good Flutter Spoon.       

 

Maybe a tail spin or stroke a tiny underspin as well, so many bait monkey options, hahaha.  I hop blade baits and coast or pendulum a lot of little baits in cold water on blind casts, and do pretty well.  In my mind's eye, these are bass set up underneath schooled fish but I never really know.  Just happy to feel the thunk.  Or my fingers.

 

scott

Spoon, fluke, bucktail 

I prefer an underspin, specifically the Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad.

2 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

I prefer an underspin, specifically the Sworming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad.

Thanks, how are you fishing that, vertically.....or casting it and letting in pendulum down?

19 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Thanks, how are you fishing that, vertically.....or casting it and letting in pendulum down?

Cast and let it fall to the bottom. Lift your rod from 8:00 to 12:00 and let it fall on slack line.

100% of the strikes are on the fall. As a side note, at Pickwick on a Bassresource Road Trip

I caught 78 bass the day after a MAJOR storm. Best numbers day ever!

14 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Cast and let it fall to the bottom. Lift your rod from 8:00 to 12:00 and let it fall on slack line.

100% of the strikes are on the fall. As a side note, at Pickwick on a Bassrdesource Road Trip

I caught 78 bass the day after a MAJOR storm. Best numbers day ever!

What...BR roadtrip, Pickwick, 78 Bass......definition of epic ?

 

Appreciate the knowledge, will certainly try that out.   

Go old school with 1/8-3/16 dart head jig w/ Roboworm 4 1/2” -5 1/2” prism shad curl tail worm.

P-Line 3/4 oz Laser spoon, chartreuse blue or blue silver shad w/ Owner or Gamakatsu size 2 white feathered treble hook. 

Tom 

43 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

What...BR roadtrip, Pickwick, 78 Bass......definition of epic ?

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2015/04/30/nashville-flood-20-things-to-know/26653901/

 

Pickwick rose 9.5' overnight on Sunday.