Hey there, I just got finished rigging up my tarpon 120 with a trolling motor and a load of other fishing extras, and was planning on fishing this weekend, however it has rained all week and on top of that the te pride has dropped from a consistent drought of 98-100degrees down to an average of 57-64degrees all week long. Before the rain, the large creek where I kayak fish had dropped its level quite a bit and I had caught the largest largemouths during that time that I have ever caught in super clear water on a strike king green pumpkin stick worm with black flakes rigged on a gamakatsu weighted shaft 3/0 hook using 8pm line on a spinning reel.

If the rain stops, I will still go out, however, I wonder what types of baits will work well and do I focus on the same spots or should I venture to new locations because of the remitted drop and/or rise in the water level.

I fish the Elkhorn Creek in Georgetown KY that is known for it's smallmouth, however, I catch more largemouth than anything and have only caught a few smallmouth of any size. I would love to catch me some smallies but I love to catch largemouth as well.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated, and I figured this would e a good topic for those who don't have this knowledge thatsearches through these forums as do I. As always...thanks for the advise and tight lines to you all!

Funny you to make this thread. I'm also from KY and having been wondering about the same conditions. I've been wanting to fish Elkhorn all summer but have yet to take the drive up there. From some of the articles I have read, temperature drops and rain around this time of year can make the larger bass that have been on the bottom rise to the top to begin feeding for the fall and winter months. But I would love to read some other people's opinion on what this kind of weather does for them. Thanks for the new topic!

What are the areas like that you have previously fished and done well at? In my experience when the temperature drops like this the fish will become a lot less active and they will have a much smaller strike zone. Try fishing closely to any type of structure with something that sinks slowly (like a 1/4oz jig or a weightless plastic) and be sure to make multiple casts to the same piece of structure because a different angle can make a world of difference when the fish aren't active. Also be sure to slow down your presentation. Hope this helps.

Stay home and watch some SEC football.

When the barometric pressure stabilizes or rises go back out to fish.

Cold fronts turn off the bass so wait a day or two after the front passes and the weather stabalizes to go fishing.

Stay home and watch some SEC football.

When the barometric pressure stabilizes or rises go back out to fish.

Cold fronts turn off the bass so wait a day or two after the front passes and the weather stabalizes to go fishing.

Must be true, lol. I went today with the wife and I only landed three on wacky. Lost two. The wife a few bites. The bite was not on here but also went to a place I wasn't sure of and only been there once. Man I wanted to land a buzzbait fish as well but no hits. Out in the ope there was seem to be a nice one jumping but sure if bass or what else this small lake hold far as species but couldn't get it on topwater. Overall annoying but nice time with the wife. She had a blast but landed nothing. Her second time bass fishing though. The hits seem to come off the first cast and bites was more like pull than tap or jerks. If try good luck to you! The best I did today.

Rivers are all about current and current breaks. Rain changes the curent rate, water clarity and water temperatures. Unlike a lake, the river LMB bass tend to stay in small areas unless their food source moves, the smallies will roam more.

You are catching more LMB becuase of the type of current eddies you target; backwater areas and big laydowns that create slack water zones the LMB prefer.

The hot weather doesn't affect the moving river water as much as cold rain will, the combination of cold rain and colder weather can have a big impact on bass activity. The bass become more inactive until they accilamte to the changes and you need to target them with smaller lures like a jig or jig/worm presented close to their nose.

The smallies should be located where the river creates a current break away from the bank, deeper water runs slower than the shallower water and that creates a current break or seam. Boulders or wing dams that are located on or intersect the current breaks are good smallies areas.

Crawdads and worms washed into the river should be the prey the bass are looking for.

Tom

Wow, that is some awesome advice! Thanks for the great detailed info, that really helps a lot, I'm gonna try it out this weekend.

Temperature dropped down from the 90s to 70s here in GA because of the hurricane, and the bass didn't really bite crankbaits anymore, so i switched to my finesse setup and it's working great.