Found a possible honey hole but need help

cassidyta · 02-26-09, 01:03 PM

My bride has been giving me to do lists since the lay off and yesterday she only had one thing on the list. Go Fishing. (She's great at times) Well I used it to go and check out some of the water I had seen on google maps. I had packed light because I was mostly on foot and climbing over rocks and through trees.
I took one medium heavy rod and a couple of bags of plastics that I could fit into my cargo pockets. I had a pack of watermellon IKA's, a pack of pearl white flukes and a pack of 8 inch purple hand poured worms.
After a 5 mile hike I came to a spot where three creeks run together. Pitched against the 15 foot tall tulleys with no luck but did find a spot where I could see the fish on both sides of a dam. It is about 20 foot deep on the high side of the dam and varies between 3 to 10 foot on the reception side. It is full of large boulders and it crytal clear. (I could see the purple worm 15 foot down) I just didn't have anything they were interested in. The only strike that I got was by tossing my fluke onto the top of the dam and letting it fall down with the running water. I would let it sit as though stunned and then twitch it.
I plan to go back tomorrow, but as I said it is a hike to get in so I am not taking much with me I have a small backpack that will hold a couple of bags of plastics and two of my plasitc dividers. Any suggestions on what to take?

The terrain

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The Dam

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MississippiBoy · 02-26-09, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassidyta

Any suggestions on what to take?

ME!!!

Seriously, though, I'm definitely thinking finesse, with the water being so clear. Shaky head, drop shot, wacky rigged Senkos. Do you know if this dam has any fishing pressure? I figure probably not, unless there's another way to get there besides hiking 5 miles. They'll be real cautious in the clear water, regardless, so smaller lures would be better, methinks.

cassidyta · 02-26-09, 01:59 PM

No pressure that I can imagine. I did not see any signs of trash, old lines or anything else.

carolina-rig-01 · 02-26-09, 02:15 PM

as bad as i hate finesse fishing i am going to have to agree with MB. a finesse jig in a natural color and a super chunk trailer might be a good idea too.

aikenyounggun · 02-26-09, 03:21 PM

throw a jig.... or a shaky head..... or if that dont pan out go with a good ole wacky rig

Bassboss · 02-26-09, 03:35 PM

Try throwing a small, 1/4 oz white spinner bait with double willows! You could also try a small crank.

But like every one else said,try going finesse! drop shot, shaky head, wacky worm.

bamabassman · 02-26-09, 06:17 PM

first...turn the pics right side up,lmao. i got a crick in my neck,lmao. i too go with my brothar mb.

bingham · 02-26-09, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassboss

Try throwing a small, 1/4 oz white spinner bait with double willows! You could also try a small crank.

But like every one else said,try going finesse! drop shot, shaky head, wacky worm.

im gonna have to disagree with the spinner bait. if the lake is that clear it wont do you any good. i also think finesse, small crank, or even a trick worm. you may also have to use lighter line or flourocarbon. good luck!

Bassboss · 02-26-09, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bingham

im gonna have to disagree with the spinner bait. if the lake is that clear it wont do you any good. i also think finesse, small crank, or even a trick worm. you may also have to use lighter line or flourocarbon. good luck!

I got it!

WTL · 02-26-09, 09:42 PM

The heavier the current, the less skittish they will be even though water is clear. Thats why you got a bite throwing over the dam. Current adds turbidity and bubbles which reduce visibility and it makes gamefish have to make up their mind quickly, that is why current is so crucial to angling.

If its anything like my smallie streams, a 4 inch white senko will be effective. Just gotta learn to read the water - and my water has plenty of current breaks, boulders, rocks, washed out banks, shoots, riffles, runs and pools with deep water.

The Doc · 02-26-09, 09:56 PM

a small craw like a paca craw, something around 3-4 inches, I like ones with hollow bellies so I can put pop rocks or a rattle in em. (Yes, pop rocks, I'm not kidding, it works!) use a flat brown or flat green color, something with no flash (like an orange belly) on it. try to make it as flat or matte for a lack of better description as possible. I'd fish it on a split shot rig with the split shot about 18" away from the hook.

CCbass · 02-27-09, 12:18 AM

I agree with the current idea, if your fishing the lower side use the current, most likely the bass use it to. Try to look for possible forage, minnows, ect. then do what the trouters do, match the hatch with a similar size and color plastic. Creeks here in CA. will usually have stickle back minnows in them and almost always crayfish, and its possible to have native trout.

CCbass · 02-27-09, 12:32 AM

Sorry for the second post but I just thought of something, did you see any California newts in the water. In the spring they migrate to creeks and hang out in pools to spawn. I have never had a chance to fish a creek that had bass in it but if it did I am sure they would eat them. They are a medium brown on top and orange/yellow on the bottom, might be an idea for color or to try small lizard plastics.

cassidyta · 02-27-09, 01:07 AM

I didn't see any newts but there are so many crawdads at spots that they change the color of the water. I have seen some of the newts in a few of the creeks further up stream but none down by the dam. I went back this afternoon and focused on smaller parts of the creeks. I was tossing 4 inch robo worms in the heavy current a few feet above the deeper pools. (Seen in the first pic). I will never break Geroge Perry's mark in there but it is a blast. I ended up with two fish caught that might have weighed 1 lbs combined. I am going to head back out tomorrow or saturday with my ultralight rig and some of my trout jigs.

CCbass · 02-27-09, 04:55 AM

Do you know how these bass ended up in this creek? It is not normal for bass to be in a creek like this unless the creek is feeding from a lerger lake. If so what is that lakes major food source, might be a futher clue as to what they want, or would prefer as far as a meal.

bamabassman · 02-27-09, 09:33 AM

ok...i am curious cbass for real. what is a newt? never heard or seen one. got a pic? are ther newts in all lakes? if so if i see a pic it would help me identify one. might get a bait that looks like one, hehehehe. that'll surprise em huh?

Nitro 640 · 02-27-09, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamabassman

ok...i am curious cbass for real. what is a newt? never heard or seen one. got a pic? are ther newts in all lakes? if so if i see a pic it would help me identify one. might get a bait that looks like one, hehehehe. that'll surprise em huh?

A newt is a salamander that lives in the water as an adult. Newts occur in the Pleurodelinae subfamily (family Salamandridae), found in North America, Europe and Asia. Newts metamorphose through three distinct developmental life stages, including aquatic larval, terrestrial juvenile, and aquatic adult. Some Ambystomatidae salamanders forgo metamorphosis and retain their aquatic juvenile form with gills, but they are not newts, they are neotines (Neoteny). The larvae leave the water as a terrestrial juvenile form called an eft[1]. The adult form has a lizard-like body and is either aquatic or semi-aquatic.

bamabassman · 02-27-09, 11:19 AM

well thank you nitro. never heard it called a newt,lol. guess us southern boys learn something new each day. thank you. oh yea we used to hook live ones as a kid. man they hate being stabbed with a big ol worm hook, lmao. they wiggle and flop in the water alot.....then BAM!! i just might haveta try that again someday. like live craws, fish can't stand it, eat em up.

CCbass · 02-28-09, 02:29 AM

To my knowlegde a newt and a salamander are different in the fact a salamander reproduces on land although needing a moist environment. Newts have to reproduce in water, like a frog, and live the rest of the time on land, at least the California newt. To be generic, think the term is waterdog for those that spend the entire time in an acquatic environment.

bamabassman · 02-28-09, 02:42 AM

REALLY? now that is something i didn't know. interesting. so that is what they call a waterdog. ok... again, i learn something new. dang if i keep this up i just might get some smarts after all. so do you hook it like say.......a soft plastic lizard? or how would ya hook it?

CCbass · 02-28-09, 02:49 AM

If you mean how do you hook a live waterdog I can't say, I'm sure someone on here knows. I have not fished live bait for bass since around 1983.

Jim80 · 02-28-09, 04:18 PM

In all the rocks i would start with a football head jig prob a 1/4 oz with a craw like trailer , and give a shaky head worm a shot . if the water is that clear def go with fluorocarbon line . Just my opinion .

Jim

cassidyta · 02-28-09, 04:43 PM

I ended up going with a flyrod. I scaled down to the trout sized power worms. It was a blast.

CC, as far as the bass in the creeks, we have had them there since the floods about 4 years ago. Again they are not large, but they are fun to catch since I feel i really have to fool them. The best has been to let a small jig or worm float down the current.

Nitro 640 · 03-01-09, 12:00 AM

Hey, if you are getting some to bite keep up with the same lures and wait for a day with some wind to help them not see so much.
Good luck.

CCbass · 03-01-09, 02:16 AM

Yes nature, so fun, providing us fun with a species that can adapt to areas it should not be.

02-26-09, 01:03 PM	#1
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	Found a possible honey hole but need help My bride has been giving me to do lists since the lay off and yesterday she only had one thing on the list. Go Fishing. (She's great at times) Well I used it to go and check out some of the water I had seen on google maps. I had packed light because I was mostly on foot and climbing over rocks and through trees. I took one medium heavy rod and a couple of bags of plastics that I could fit into my cargo pockets. I had a pack of watermellon IKA's, a pack of pearl white flukes and a pack of 8 inch purple hand poured worms. After a 5 mile hike I came to a spot where three creeks run together. Pitched against the 15 foot tall tulleys with no luck but did find a spot where I could see the fish on both sides of a dam. It is about 20 foot deep on the high side of the dam and varies between 3 to 10 foot on the reception side. It is full of large boulders and it crytal clear. (I could see the purple worm 15 foot down) I just didn't have anything they were interested in. The only strike that I got was by tossing my fluke onto the top of the dam and letting it fall down with the running water. I would let it sit as though stunned and then twitch it. I plan to go back tomorrow, but as I said it is a hike to get in so I am not taking much with me I have a small backpack that will hold a couple of bags of plastics and two of my plasitc dividers. Any suggestions on what to take? The terrain The Dam __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

02-26-09, 01:59 PM	#3
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	No pressure that I can imagine. I did not see any signs of trash, old lines or anything else. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

02-26-09, 02:15 PM	#4
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	as bad as i hate finesse fishing i am going to have to agree with MB. a finesse jig in a natural color and a super chunk trailer might be a good idea too. __________________ You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.

02-26-09, 03:21 PM	#5
aikenyounggun BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: aiken, SC Posts: 2,051	throw a jig.... or a shaky head..... or if that dont pan out go with a good ole wacky rig __________________ <>< Rather be Fishing ><>

02-26-09, 03:35 PM	#6
Bassboss BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Shawano, WI Posts: 7,761	Try throwing a small, 1/4 oz white spinner bait with double willows! You could also try a small crank. But like every one else said,try going finesse! drop shot, shaky head, wacky worm. __________________ If you can't fix it with heavy squats or fish oil, you're probably going to die.

02-26-09, 06:17 PM	#7
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	first...turn the pics right side up,lmao. i got a crick in my neck,lmao. i too go with my brothar mb. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

02-26-09, 09:42 PM	#10
WTL BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,466	The heavier the current, the less skittish they will be even though water is clear. Thats why you got a bite throwing over the dam. Current adds turbidity and bubbles which reduce visibility and it makes gamefish have to make up their mind quickly, that is why current is so crucial to angling. If its anything like my smallie streams, a 4 inch white senko will be effective. Just gotta learn to read the water - and my water has plenty of current breaks, boulders, rocks, washed out banks, shoots, riffles, runs and pools with deep water. __________________ Selling live waterdogs for less since 2005.

02-26-09, 09:56 PM	#11
The Doc BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ft. Bragg, NC Posts: 270	a small craw like a paca craw, something around 3-4 inches, I like ones with hollow bellies so I can put pop rocks or a rattle in em. (Yes, pop rocks, I'm not kidding, it works!) use a flat brown or flat green color, something with no flash (like an orange belly) on it. try to make it as flat or matte for a lack of better description as possible. I'd fish it on a split shot rig with the split shot about 18" away from the hook. __________________ In the absence of orders, find something and kill it. Unk, 82nd ABN WWII

02-27-09, 12:18 AM	#12
CCbass BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Monterey CA Posts: 253	I agree with the current idea, if your fishing the lower side use the current, most likely the bass use it to. Try to look for possible forage, minnows, ect. then do what the trouters do, match the hatch with a similar size and color plastic. Creeks here in CA. will usually have stickle back minnows in them and almost always crayfish, and its possible to have native trout.

02-27-09, 12:32 AM	#13
CCbass BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Monterey CA Posts: 253	Sorry for the second post but I just thought of something, did you see any California newts in the water. In the spring they migrate to creeks and hang out in pools to spawn. I have never had a chance to fish a creek that had bass in it but if it did I am sure they would eat them. They are a medium brown on top and orange/yellow on the bottom, might be an idea for color or to try small lizard plastics.

02-27-09, 01:07 AM	#14
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	I didn't see any newts but there are so many crawdads at spots that they change the color of the water. I have seen some of the newts in a few of the creeks further up stream but none down by the dam. I went back this afternoon and focused on smaller parts of the creeks. I was tossing 4 inch robo worms in the heavy current a few feet above the deeper pools. (Seen in the first pic). I will never break Geroge Perry's mark in there but it is a blast. I ended up with two fish caught that might have weighed 1 lbs combined. I am going to head back out tomorrow or saturday with my ultralight rig and some of my trout jigs. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

02-27-09, 04:55 AM	#15
CCbass BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Monterey CA Posts: 253	Do you know how these bass ended up in this creek? It is not normal for bass to be in a creek like this unless the creek is feeding from a lerger lake. If so what is that lakes major food source, might be a futher clue as to what they want, or would prefer as far as a meal.

02-27-09, 09:33 AM	#16
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	ok...i am curious cbass for real. what is a newt? never heard or seen one. got a pic? are ther newts in all lakes? if so if i see a pic it would help me identify one. might get a bait that looks like one, hehehehe. that'll surprise em huh? __________________ so many lures, so little time.

02-27-09, 11:19 AM	#18
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	well thank you nitro. never heard it called a newt,lol. guess us southern boys learn something new each day. thank you. oh yea we used to hook live ones as a kid. man they hate being stabbed with a big ol worm hook, lmao. they wiggle and flop in the water alot.....then BAM!! i just might haveta try that again someday. like live craws, fish can't stand it, eat em up. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

02-28-09, 02:29 AM	#19
CCbass BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Monterey CA Posts: 253	To my knowlegde a newt and a salamander are different in the fact a salamander reproduces on land although needing a moist environment. Newts have to reproduce in water, like a frog, and live the rest of the time on land, at least the California newt. To be generic, think the term is waterdog for those that spend the entire time in an acquatic environment.

02-28-09, 02:42 AM	#20
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	REALLY? now that is something i didn't know. interesting. so that is what they call a waterdog. ok... again, i learn something new. dang if i keep this up i just might get some smarts after all. so do you hook it like say.......a soft plastic lizard? or how would ya hook it? __________________ so many lures, so little time.

02-28-09, 02:49 AM	#21
CCbass BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Monterey CA Posts: 253	If you mean how do you hook a live waterdog I can't say, I'm sure someone on here knows. I have not fished live bait for bass since around 1983.

02-28-09, 04:18 PM	#22
Jim80 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thomaston CT Posts: 3,862	In all the rocks i would start with a football head jig prob a 1/4 oz with a craw like trailer , and give a shaky head worm a shot . if the water is that clear def go with fluorocarbon line . Just my opinion . Jim __________________ In memory of Zooker 1/11/73-7/2/2010. You will be sorely missed and never forgotten.

02-28-09, 04:43 PM	#23
cassidyta BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,928	I ended up going with a flyrod. I scaled down to the trout sized power worms. It was a blast. CC, as far as the bass in the creeks, we have had them there since the floods about 4 years ago. Again they are not large, but they are fun to catch since I feel i really have to fool them. The best has been to let a small jig or worm float down the current. __________________ If you have ever wondered if you should retie, the answer is yes.

03-01-09, 12:00 AM	#24
Nitro 640 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Caledonia, MI Posts: 253	Hey, if you are getting some to bite keep up with the same lures and wait for a day with some wind to help them not see so much. Good luck.

03-01-09, 02:16 AM	#25
CCbass BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Monterey CA Posts: 253	Yes nature, so fun, providing us fun with a species that can adapt to areas it should not be.

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