thediscochef Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 I've caught bass just about everywhere but the swim beach in that screenshot, had two 4+ back to back casts on the sandy creek to the north in October. The area to the south has a real good laydown near the ripraps on that point, and across the point is an excellent rocky shallow during shad spawn. Right now I'm focused tight up on the ripraps because they stay warmer and that's where I'm seeing fish caught + working birds. I'm in the right place I think. I'm just not throwing things right, or maybe not the right stuff. 7 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: Hahaha well that’s a lot more to explore . With a bathroom to boot! Bathroom closed for the winter. Bunch of pipes busted and they're having to redo the sewage. In fact there is a man on a bobcat out there right now 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted January 26 Super User Share Posted January 26 I have to admit @thediscochef, you have a pretty good humorous outlook on it even after 7 trips of complete failure. Definitely a lot more will power and a much better attitude than I would. I'd probably give it two attempts. If I failed a second time, that would be it. No more. I'm sure things will turn around at some point. Maybe some warmer weather would help. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 26 Global Moderator Share Posted January 26 Any dying threadfin ? Maybe dead sticking a fluke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thediscochef Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 9 minutes ago, gimruis said: I have to admit @thediscochef, you have a pretty good humorous outlook on it even after 7 trips of complete failure. Definitely a lot more will power and a much better attitude than I would. I'd probably give it two attempts. If I failed a second time, that would be it. No more. I'm sure things will turn around at some point. Maybe some warmer weather would help. I appreciate that, thank you. It's not a great time right now but when it gets good it gets good. Warmer always helps, there's only been Florida genetics stocked here by tpwd. I've worked a few other places around the lake this week but this is the only area I've seen signs of life close enough to shore. I think I just need a nice sunny day to go cast around the ripraps. That's the common factor in the 7 trips so far this year. The only sunny day I've gone it was blowing 30 2 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: Any dying threadfin ? Maybe dead sticking a fluke I saw one dead floating around the tip of the pier yesterday. Have been throwing a weightless mag fluke and working it up the hill but that's always gonna be a tougher bite than a normal sized fluke 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass Rutten Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 I fished Lake Harris in central Florida last Sunday, morning temp was 36, I'm not sure I actually fished with my partner, I think it might have been Kenny from south park because he looked just like the pic below. Meanwhile, as a recent transplant from Illinois who's endured 25 years of Chicagoland winters, I show up in a beanie, a base layer, khakis, a fleece vest, and a light but windproof jacket and was fine, ain't my first frozen rodeo. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipzLipz Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 @thediscochef I, too, like that you’re keeping a sense of humor about less than desirable results. I try to do the same with anything frustrating in life. If you don’t mind me asking, what have you been trying recently besides the fluke? Bass should be close to prespawn if not there already, regardless of recent temps. Jigs, RES (obviously), jerkbaits & cranks I would think all draw some attention. Might have to really creep things along until some warm rains arrive to help get them more aggressive & in a chasing mood. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thediscochef Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 3 hours ago, RipzLipz said: @thediscochef I, too, like that you’re keeping a sense of humor about less than desirable results. I try to do the same with anything frustrating in life. If you don’t mind me asking, what have you been trying recently besides the fluke? Bass should be close to prespawn if not there already, regardless of recent temps. Jigs, RES (obviously), jerkbaits & cranks I would think all draw some attention. Might have to really creep things along until some warm rains arrive to help get them more aggressive & in a chasing mood. Been working pointer 100s, 110s, stunna and sixth sense slow sink. Also the krej, a red eye, and a mag fluke. I haven't been able to pick the sunny days as well cause of work and I think that's a major part of my issue And if I'm gonna gripe I might as well be good at it 😂😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipzLipz Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 @thediscochef You do you, by all means. I see all as minnow/baitfish imitations. Maybe offer up something different if possible. Consider the jig & craw (especially around rocks if snagging isn’t an issue) or spinnerbait/chatterbait worked meticulously slower than normal given the severe drop in temps you’ve recently experienced. Vary the spinnerbait/chatterbait retrieves from slow rolling to yo-yo’ing to ripping off bottom (again if snags aren’t issues). Can do those with RES as well. Also slow retrieve swimbaits - paddletail, under spin or choice of weighted rigging or other like a hard swimbait type. Could also consider downsizing & seeing what smaller bottom contact offerings might do (Ned, et. al.). You already know what’s in there, just a matter of running into one. Chances will obviously increase once temps get more favorable. Not wanting to be rude by any means, just brainstorming for ya a bit. They might be feeding on something really small. Hope you stick one soon. I’m still waiting on iceout but should be soon I’m hoping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User GreenPig Posted January 27 Super User Share Posted January 27 I used to keep records of air temps and eventually quit because for me only the water temperature matters. If the waters above freezing I'm fishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazoo Posted January 27 Author Share Posted January 27 I think I went about 3 weeks without catching anything, might have been 4. I don't know how many times I went during that period. At least twice a week. It's just part of it. Caught 2 largemouth today, and my buddy caught 1 largemouth bass and 3 crappie. On crankbaits no less. To begin with we were throwing nedrigs, texas rigged craws, jigs, then I started in on the crankbaits and bam! He tied on a bitsy crank and it was on. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thediscochef Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 5 hours ago, RipzLipz said: @thediscochef You do you, by all means. I see all as minnow/baitfish imitations. Maybe offer up something different if possible. Consider the jig & craw (especially around rocks if snagging isn’t an issue) or spinnerbait/chatterbait worked meticulously slower than normal given the severe drop in temps you’ve recently experienced. Vary the spinnerbait/chatterbait retrieves from slow rolling to yo-yo’ing to ripping off bottom (again if snags aren’t issues). Can do those with RES as well. Also slow retrieve swimbaits - paddletail, under spin or choice of weighted rigging or other like a hard swimbait type. Could also consider downsizing & seeing what smaller bottom contact offerings might do (Ned, et. al.). You already know what’s in there, just a matter of running into one. Chances will obviously increase once temps get more favorable. Not wanting to be rude by any means, just brainstorming for ya a bit. They might be feeding on something really small. Hope you stick one soon. I’m still waiting on iceout but should be soon I’m hoping. I've worked a jig and a texas rig some. That riprap is big chunky, so if I'm gonna keep my jig I can't really work it along most of that pier riprap. It falls in the gaps too easy. The Texas rig does too, but it will usually come out and it's cheaper than a jig if not. A structure head jig does ok but doesn't get bit like a football does. I've also thrown a kvd j200, an s waver 168, and a few crankbaits. I did finally learn when to stop for the day though, usually if I can't get bit in 90 minutes it's probably not happening. I'm definitely not as gung-ho as I was last year or the year before but I'm also spending less time failing 🤷♂️ Just haven't been out there on the right days I think. But if I dont gripe and self depricate enough, it won't change 😂 I don't leave the house without a combo that has a red eye on it, that's my favorite lure the last two years or so. Night time with a red eye up against that riprap is where it's at. But it got thrown the last two days in a few different colors and sizes. I keep probably 12+ in the backpack. Best lure value for the money out there IMO. It just flat out works. Been enjoying the nomad swimtrex 88 3/4 too. But you're probably not wrong about downsizing. That's almost always worked for me in the past. The 2" creme Maxi Tail is my go-to bitsy bait. Paired with an eagle claw 1/16 tube jig and you've got yourself a catchin machine for like $3.50 Sunday is supposed to be sunny so I'm thinking that's probably my day at roberts. I'll be waking up in about five hours for a striper trip on texoma so I'm getting bit this weekend one way or another. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bankbeater Posted January 27 Super User Share Posted January 27 I've fished when the air temp is in the mid to upper 20's, as long as my guides aren't freezing. There's no way I'm going out there when it is 15 outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thediscochef Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 Alright which one of y'all cursed me because that striper trip was cursed Weather didn't cooperate, fish didn't cooperate, and neither did the gas tank vent line check valve That guide was working his butt off, it just wasn't meant to be 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 27 Global Moderator Share Posted January 27 @thediscochef, did you dig up an ancient burial ground to make a swimming pool recently??? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thediscochef Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: @thediscochef, did you dig up an ancient burial ground to make a swimming pool recently??? You know, I was just thinking that stuffed clown on my rocking chair was lookin at me kinda funny (honk honk 😂) the other night 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thediscochef Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Looks like January is gonna be a bust for me. Couldn't get bit with a guide yesterday, sunny today but flat calm and no signs of life close enough to shore. Just working birds in open water 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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