best way to solve no structure problem

[seaphantom]

Some of you may think this is a real lame question, but...

my lake has NO bottom structure whatsoever

I figured that jigs mainly work if you're fishing the wood or weeds, right?

What's the best way to introduce suitable jig-for-bass cover into this hole?

I've seen quite a few hawgs with nothing to relate to but those sorry hills..


sp

[bass kicker]

you can fish jiggs in any type of conditions for open water just trim the fiber gaurd

[crankybait]

drop in old christmas trees or branches and stuff from like whenever theyre collected

[bass kicker]

make cover sink a wooden crate in the lake or make a PVC tree or take alot of brush and stick it in the water along the shore and make something like a beaver damn bass lovem

[lokust]

I don't mean to sound like a jerk here, But do you know the difference between structure and cover?
-Chris

[KenDammit]

"hills" a.k.a. humps, ledges, drop offs, slopes...are great for a jig. Actually, just about anything is great for a jig. You can swim the jig(fish it basically like a spinnerbait), you can hop it along the bottom changes, drag it along them, almost anything.

Its best to work a jig UP the hill or whatever rather than down it.

BTW, for anyone wondering, structure is changes in bottom contour, solid things that fish relate to, not hide in. Points, drop offs, ledges, road beds, river/creek channels, large solitary rocks, humps, dips, holes, thats structure.

Brush piles, tree's, laydowns, stumps weeds..examples of cover. Fish hide in or around these and ambush.

[everettvet]

Originally Posted by lokust

I don't mean to sound like a jerk here, But do you know the difference between structure and cover?
-Chris

Chris, you made a great point and Ken explained it well! As I was reading the thread, I was wondering if I was confused about the whole structure/cover thing. I am glad to see that I was not. A lot of people think structure and cover are the same thing! A lot can be learned from these discussions!

[Marty]

I just have one difference with Ken. Since cover is basically objects in the water, as opposed to structure, which is changes in bottom contour, I would say that large solitary rocks are cover, not structure.

[crankybait]

id say anything a fish can hide in behind or around is cover

[1FASTLASER]

seaphantom

Used to fish a lake in pa that was just like you are describing. Structure in this lake was none exsistent. It did have contour changes and thats what you need to look for. Ledges,dropoffs, whatever changes the depth be it a 1ft change or a 10 ft change. Bass will use these just like in a bigger lake. Cover on the structure just makes it sweeter like a rock or rock pile or a stump or stump row. Get the picture.

[crankybait]

can somebody tell me how they even figure where all this stuff is? i know what to fish around and how to do it,, just dont know where to cast

[1FASTLASER]

If your fishing from a boat use your electronics. Fishing from the bank use a jig or worm and FEEL the bottom.

[crankybait]

damn that stinks for me... i cant feel like a 3 pound bass, let alone structure. wont this mean losing a bunch of lures?

[1FASTLASER]

Damn I am showing my age now. Back when there was very few electronics cept the "little green box" thats how we determined the bottom structure and what cover was on the bottom. If your using a crank be careful and you can FEEL your way through the cover. These are some of the oldest best kept secrets out there use them and utilize them to your best and I assure you u will become a better fisherman.

[crankybait]

ok then ill try it. probably use a jig, since i dont use em much anyways

[Rebbasser]

Good question, lokust.

In a nutshell, structure is a geographic feature-point, hump, creek channel, etc.

Cover is something on the structure fish relate to for safety or as an ambush point-trees, stumps, weeds, etc.

To the original question-I'd pick up a crankbait rod, tie on a deep diving crawfish colored crankbait and start throwing. Since there is no cover a crank digging up the bottom will look like a crawfish and that spells dinner to a fish.

[1FASTLASER]

What not use a jig much. Now we know why you dont get the bigguns.

[bass kicker]

i dont care what you call it all i care about is that fish are near it and i like to fish it

[crankybait]

Originally Posted by 1FASTLASER

What not use a jig much. Now we know why you dont get the bigguns.

i dont catch and uns at all lol. i dont care about size for now, just catch a few fish. jigs look too unrealistic to my eye...

[bass kicker]

lures dont have to look like any thing to catch fish

[seaphantom]

Went out and caught some 14 oz'ers lol, on a 1 oz Brown/black jig with a long craw-resembling pork chop attached...crawling up a slope.... with two rattles... couldn't get anymore attractive, eh ?

However, I've noticed some very large fish coming into the shallows about 30 min after sunrise and before sunset. But, they maybe those big grass carp

Are my chances of catching a big bass greater with a pig and jig? Should I throw that thing anywhere there could possibly be a hawg?

(I think I'd spook those shallow-dwelling evening fish with a big jig, though)

What is a sure-fire way to catch that sucker in the quiet evening, when they are easily spooked?

thanks and please keep posting ,


sp

[seaphantom]

Thanks for clarifying on the cover/structure, by the way.


sp

[1FASTLASER]

If it where me buddy I'd tie on a senko or bass assassin weightless of course or even a lizrd in your favorite color. The key here is of course dont spook them by throwing right on top of them. Try to anticipate there travel route and throw ahead of them. SLOWLY work the bait. Make take a bit to get use to but will prevail in the end.

[lizardsrule]

Originally Posted by seaphantom

Thanks for clarifying on the cover/structure, by the way.


sp

See my post on the message boards about Glossary

Lizards

[WIbassfisherman]

In a boat without electronics I used to have my anchor and rope to mark the depth. I'd make marks on the anchor rope for depth and count it down until it hit bottom. Then I could use the proper lipped crankbait for example. To find structure I would hang my rope at let's say 10 feet in open water. Then come up where I thought it was shallow until I could feel my anchor drag bottom. I'd carry marker buoys around and throw about 4 of them out in an area to give myself a mental picture of where the drops were etc. Quite a labored process, but it can be fun too as your "structureless" lake is revealed.