In case you don't, this is a 75 acre lake/ reservoir. There are some creeks draining into it. The entire shoreline is covered with lily pads (right now, anyway). Maximum depth near the dam is about 15 ft or so. I couldn't find a thermocline when I was last there (about a fortnight back), although the depthfinder did show a bunch of fish just over a weedbed or what looked like a weedbed on my fishing buddy to my inexperienced eyes, on the river channel.

Every single angler I ever see there beats the hell out of the pads or the outside edges, somewhat indiscriminately, IMO. I did so too, for the first couple of times I went there. Got some strikes with a frog, and a few fish. One pattern I found was to key in on the structures on the shorelines (like brush, or small coves) covered with pads of course.

I did try the deep water the last two times, with cranks and senkos. Didn't even get a strike. But then, I didn't, or couldn't find any structures either, other than the said weedbed.

Any help? Thanks.

Do you mean Bowlers Mill Lake?

Yes, PM sent

Yes, I meant Bowlers Mill Lake. I read your PM. Thanks a lot.

I'll try out the patterns you suggested the next time I'm there. Already tried the frogs on pads, with some good results. Would you suggest any special colors for the cranks? The water seems really dark there.

(Looks like I can't send a PM yet.)

Bowlers Mill is getting more and more pressure each year it seems. I haven't fished much in the past 2 years but before that I used to go there 2-3 times a week in the evenings and not see a soul on the lake. Spring time has always been bad for fishing pressure there but this spring seemed worse than normal. When arriving there, on two separate times this spring, I counted over 15 trucks/trailers in the field each time. I hear there are weekly tournaments there as well now. Too much pressure for such a small lake in my opinion even though the pressure does slack up in the hot days of summer.

Anyway, Wayne I'm sure pointed you in the right direction. I've found Bowlers to be a very tough lake to fish at times. Most of our luck has came on spro type frogs in the pads, senkos/flukes/worms thrown into the pads, shallow cranks, and topwater used to be deadly in the evening, but not so much anymore.

deep, an additional PM sent

Read your PM, Wayne. Thanks once again.

Yes, it's probably the closest big-bass lake from where I live. I'm a little mad at getting skunked there the last few times; and if I can catch them away from the pads, it'll be so much more satisfying.

p-funk: I tried some poppers (my favorite topwater) and buzzbaits, but no strikes. Thanks for the encouragement.

I am pretty sick of this lake getting the better of me time and again. I gotta learn enough and catch those bigones.

Chris Green, Rivanna Res, and Walnut Creek have some very large bass also.

My PB largemouth in weight was caught at Chris Green, 10#-6 ounces and I caught a 9-0 the day before.

I know of several 8#-10# + bass caught at Walnut Creek.

I go to Chris Greene pretty often. Never had much luck with size. Catch a lotta small ones though. I tried the weedbed near the point on the dam, and the cove with the beaver hut. I remember about your PB from another thread.

Rivanna seems just too big to tackle on my kayak, but will give it a shot sooner or later. I need to take my Kayak to Walnut creek. Just shore-fished there.

Well, I started bass fishing this March, so I guess I will learn more and more with time.

Pretty much off topic, but I love Sugar Hollow. I got my best 2 bass there (6.5 lbs, 4+) within a couple of days of each other. My third best was caught in Lake Orange. (All three were carefully released.)

I just noticed this site on Weather.com. You can find just about all the water in your area:

http://www.takemefishing.org/fishing/select-a-state?utm_source=Weather&utm_medium=300x250&utm_term=RunOfOutdoorsTOP&utm_campaign=XMarkstheSpot

I just noticed this site on Weather.com. You can find just about all the water in your area:

http://www.takemefishing.org/fishing/select-a-state?utm_source=Weather&utm_medium=300x250&utm_term=RunOfOutdoorsTOP&utm_campaign=XMarkstheSpot

Thanks.