Standing timber

[bassinbob]

I am going to be fishing a standing timber lake this sunday. Never have done this type of fishing before and need some tips on lures to use.

[bamabassman]

Jigs, worms, lizards, spinners, cranks.

[WaffleJaw]

i love throwing jigs in standing timber....

[Bassboss]

When I do find standing timber, it's always a blast to fish! Here's what I like to do!

1. Vertical Trees.

Where the tree exits the water, pitch a jig there, once it hits the water, start striping line off the reel so the jig falls vertically, 95% of the time the bass will hit then. Once it hits bottom, jiggle it, than reel it on up! If the jig hits bottom before it should, set the hook, if the line jumps, set the hook, if the jig is taking to long to hit bottom, set the hook, is the line goes really slack set the hook, if the.... you get the picture! Make sure you try different weights, the bass may want a slow or fast fall. Please note that this also will work with your favorite, worm, creature, etc.

2. Horizontal trees

If you see a tree that laying horizontally, don't only fish that part you can see. Approach them this way: First off, look at the other trees around you, the ones that are not fallen. You'll see that they're an average height. If you see 5 feet of a tree out of the water, and the trees around you are 20 feet high, chances are that the 5 feet of tree you see out of the water, has 15 feet of tree under the water. If if you see a tree laying down, don't zoom right over to it and start pitching a jig or worm, you'll probably scare the bass that are in/on the 15 feet tree that's under the water. Get a long ways back, as far back as you can get and still make an accurate cast. Start throwing spinningbaits/buzzbaits, and shallow crankbait along the length of the tree. If you don't get bit that way, than cast a worm or jig along the length of the tree. If you still are yet to get bit, than go in there with your jig and worms and start pitching them into the hart of the stuff!


Hope this helps 'ya out! Hook 'em hard and land 'em good!

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Weather can mean a lot too, Bob. I normally throw worms, flukes, frogs and topwater. If the sun is high and bright, the fish are probably gonna resemble bark on the tree between the early morning and late evening. I like to hit the wood and let it fall down the tree on short cast. But if you have an overcast, they may stray off of it in the channels through the timber. Might try some cranks or jerkbaits in the timber alley. I would recommend a braid or a heavy duty line to avoid a heart break too. Good luck man.

[Bender]

Found a pic of a pond I fished this summer in Eastern Ohio that had a little standing timber, it was 15' deep under all those trees.



I didn't have much luck but I was throwing a wacky rig along side them and letting it fall. I think a Texas rigged beaver/flippin bait would be better and I will try if I ever go there again.

[cassidyta]

I fish a lot of standing timber. Water depth dictates my bates more than anything. If it is more than 10 foot, I like to throw a crank and try to nick the trees as I come past them. I also bounce spinner baits off of them. The sudden change in direction mimics a baitfish that just observed the bass near the tree.
In water 5-10 foot deep, I am pitching anything and everything. Beavers, Jigs, Ikas, Tubes....etc. Don't think that you always have to hit the tree. Sometimes the fish stage a few feet off each truck.
Under 5 foot, I throw a lot of buzzbaits. I will also toss a spinner and try to wake it.

It may just be me, but I don't have a lot of luck with worms in standing timber.

Like with any trees, look for the sunny spots early and the shady side later in the day.

[bamabassman]

dadgum bender....that looks SOOOOO good man. i would jig it ifn it were me.

[Bubba_Bruiser]

That looks like one of my fishing holes here in south MS Bender.

[maxdoty70]

we'll.....how did you do?

[MississippiBoy]

Originally Posted by Bubba_Bruiser

That looks like one of my fishing holes here in south MS Bender.

Calling Panther, perhaps?

[bassinbob]

Went yesterday and was disappointed. The timber was maybe about 4 trees and stumps. The lake was so weed choked I had to use oars. Electric lake only. Got tired of picking weeds off trolly blade. Tons of dollar size pads. Tried a lot of different baits as suggested. Got a lot of blowups on toads but didn't connect. Wind was blowing terribly, hard to position boat with wind and weeds. Ended up catching two northern pike about 20 inches. I will go back because I saw a huge bass break the pads for a bug. Also the state did a shocking and there is a good population of bass. Need to get a weedless blade for trolly. Thanks to all.