Shallow water FALL fishing?

BigBurlyBass · 10-07-10, 10:45 AM

Hey guys. I have a local lake 5 minutes from my house. The lake does not get really any deeper than maybe 16 or 17 feet. Anyone got any info about what baits to use and how to use them. How about the time of day. It's been Sunny and high 60s and low 70s this whole week so it has been pretty warm for South East MI I was hoping to go this Saturday? http://www.wikimapia.org/9516815/Newburgh-Lake is were I will be fishing. I will be in a canoe; I will be targeting LM bass; the lake is a small lake. The lake has a lot of wood and grass in it I do not think it really has any rocks it though. The water clarity is staind. I use spinning and baitcasting rods/reels ranging from 12 to 8 pound mono and 20 to 30 pound braid. It dose have a dam at one end of the lake also.

dave0943 · 10-07-10, 02:15 PM

BigBurlyBass,
I'm sure you'll get some good help from the forum, but a little more info would be helpful.
Are you fishing from land or boat? What species of fish does this lake have? How big is the lake? What kind of structure does the lake have/ wood, rock, connecting river, stream? What color is the water? What kind of gear do you use? Kind of fill us in with more particulars and you will get some help.
Dave

3dkicker · 10-07-10, 03:39 PM

I fished a larger body of water this weekend and a friend fished a smaller one. We compared notes and found the following
1) Fish were shallow in the creeks with the bait fish
2) Fast moving baits caught fewer fish than slow moving ones
3) Rocky points next to deep water held good fish
4) Topwater was slow
5) Water temps in the low 70's and high 60's

IowaBasser · 10-07-10, 06:29 PM

The last couple weeks I've been fishing a lake similar in size, though the lake I fish is deeper. Regardless of the time of year I rarely fish deeper than 15 feet due to the weedline at around 10 feet. Recently our weather conditions have been similar to what you described and I've found the bass are shallow, within 2 or 3 feet of shore. I usually catch fish on the outside dock posts and under docks - but this time of year the fish seem to be right up on shore or near the shallow dock posts. On my lake the weeds in deeper water are starting to decay. During the summer months, I concentrate on the deep weedlines; however I suspect the decaying weeds are depleting the oxygen and driving the fish shallow.

I've done pretty well with a "Zoom Horny Toad" ...once I figured out how to hook it correctly. (see this thread) Throw it as close to shore as possible, even throw it up on shore if there aren't too many snags and pull it into the water. Keep your rod tip high and use a slow steady top-water retrive over weeds and set the hook HARD!

White-and-Yellow Spinnerbaits have also been productive. I've also caught a few on Rubber worms, Sluggos and Super Flukes, but the Spinnerbait has been the most productive bait, with the frog a close second and producing slightly larger fish.

BigBurlyBass · 10-07-10, 10:01 PM

Hey thanks guys!

Bender · 10-07-10, 11:31 PM

I'm up here in SE MI right now and have out fishing almost every day recently. It's been kind of tough though. I've been doing good with Horny Toads as well but after the first 1/2 hour tonight they wouldn't hit them. Went to a wacky rig along the edges of pads/weedline and a t-rigged beaver in the pads and weeds and caught nice fish. Topwater has been slow but one finally came on a popper tonight as well. Tried lipless cranks and spinnerbaits too but no takers. I think you may need to try several things to see what they want. This weather is strange and the fish are acting funny. It's supposed to get up to 80 this weekend here!

This time of year is usually lipless, jerkbaits, and jigs but it seems a little different since it is so warm during the day.

keithdog · 10-07-10, 11:51 PM

Last weekend I was catching nearly all my fish in 5-8 foot of water working a white/gold spinnerbait over and through the weedbeds. Couldnt buy a hit on topwater, including a frog. I did take a couple by pitchin a weightless 5" black/blue t rigged tube into pocket in the pads.

BigBurlyBass · 10-08-10, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

I'm up here in SE MI right now and have out fishing almost every day recently. It's been kind of tough though. I've been doing good with Horny Toads as well but after the first 1/2 hour tonight they wouldn't hit them. Went to a wacky rig along the edges of pads/weedline and a t-rigged beaver in the pads and weeds and caught nice fish. Topwater has been slow but one finally came on a popper tonight as well. Tried lipless cranks and spinnerbaits too but no takers. I think you may need to try several things to see what they want. This weather is strange and the fish are acting funny. It's supposed to get up to 80 this weekend here!

This time of year is usually lipless, jerkbaits, and jigs but it seems a little different since it is so warm during the day.

Thanks dude! But i know it has been unseasonally warm lately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithdog

Last weekend I was catching nearly all my fish in 5-8 foot of water working a white/gold spinnerbait over and through the weedbeds. Couldnt buy a hit on topwater, including a frog. I did take a couple by pitchin a weightless 5" black/blue t rigged tube into pocket in the pads.

I got a couple things to try next time on the water!

dave0943 · 10-08-10, 11:30 AM

Here in Upper MI its been getting REAL COLD at night. We've had hard frost already. Water temps are dropping pretty fast. I've been taking Bass on Spinnerbaits, Chart, Black,Reds, whites. Like to add a little trailer double tail grub. This has been improving connects as the bass seem to hold on longer. Have been having some success with cranks running 2-8'. Bass, blugill colors, silver and blue, silver and black doing well. Also taking a few fish with dropshot rigs using 4" Plastics.
Dave

BassBandit · 10-08-10, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBurlyBass

It's been Sunny and high 60s and low 70s this whole week so it has been pretty warm for South East MI I was hoping to go this Saturday? The water clarity is staind.

Does the lake have shad? If so get a small square bill flat-sided balsa crankbait either tenn shad or bream (chart belly) color. And a 4 inch pearl or green pumpkin wacky rigged. Throw around the laydowns in the cove and back of the creek. Also try a 1/4-3/8 oz jig in brown/orange.

bamabassman · 10-08-10, 11:14 PM

I got 9 bass total today, 4 on a lizzard and 5 on a rattle trap while chasing the shad I open water. Water temp was 65-72 degrees. Bright sunny skies, no clouds and very little wind most of the time. Oh yeah, rattle trap was chrome with blue back I 1/2 ounce size.

BassBandit · 10-08-10, 11:40 PM

Didn't get to go out today but yesterday. Had bass frenzy for 5 mins. 8 of 14 were keepers after a mile of beating the bank. It paid off. Good time- beats at staying home.

tim4081 · 10-11-10, 10:08 PM

BigBurley, I'm in western Michigan so I've had the same weather as you. I mainly fish the Grand River bayous which are generally quite shallow and staind so very similar. I've been to get out quite a bit lately. The topwater bite has gone to almost nothing in the last two weeks and I've taken zero fish on spinnerbaits. However, a few have fallen to cranks and jerkbaits. The most productive lures have been 4" soft stick baits....green pumpkin/black flake senkos and yum dingers in junebug. This morning my son and I boated 30+ in 3 hours. We've been fishing them weightless on a t-rig. Casting to the edges of thick weed cover. Vary the retrieve until the fish tell you what they want....anything from a quick jerky type to deadsticking. Keep at em and good luck.

BigBurlyBass · 10-12-10, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim4081

BigBurley, I'm in western Michigan so I've had the same weather as you. I mainly fish the Grand River bayous which are generally quite shallow and staind so very similar. I've been to get out quite a bit lately. The topwater bite has gone to almost nothing in the last two weeks and I've taken zero fish on spinnerbaits. However, a few have fallen to cranks and jerkbaits. The most productive lures have been 4" soft stick baits....green pumpkin/black flake senkos and yum dingers in junebug. This morning my son and I boated 30+ in 3 hours. We've been fishing them weightless on a t-rig. Casting to the edges of thick weed cover. Vary the retrieve until the fish tell you what they want....anything from a quick jerky type to deadsticking. Keep at em and good luck.

Thanks I've got to try some of those senkos!

mikesluckylures · 10-12-10, 01:07 PM

Hello

I also live in SE Michigan.
Yes the weather has been up and down.

I have been catching them on a 3/4 oz red eye shad lipless (Gold with Black back)in 4 foot along the windblown shore.

Also landing nice 2-3lbers on Bitsybugs around docks

I have not tried wacky but this would also work along lilley pads etc.

Good Luck

M

10-07-10, 10:45 AM	#1
BigBurlyBass BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: detroit Posts: 188	Shallow water FALL fishing? Hey guys. I have a local lake 5 minutes from my house. The lake does not get really any deeper than maybe 16 or 17 feet. Anyone got any info about what baits to use and how to use them. How about the time of day. It's been Sunny and high 60s and low 70s this whole week so it has been pretty warm for South East MI I was hoping to go this Saturday? http://www.wikimapia.org/9516815/Newburgh-Lake is were I will be fishing. I will be in a canoe; I will be targeting LM bass; the lake is a small lake. The lake has a lot of wood and grass in it I do not think it really has any rocks it though. The water clarity is staind. I use spinning and baitcasting rods/reels ranging from 12 to 8 pound mono and 20 to 30 pound braid. It dose have a dam at one end of the lake also. Last edited by BigBurlyBass; 10-07-10 at 03:54 PM.

10-07-10, 03:39 PM	#3
3dkicker BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Spotsylvania, VA Posts: 4,483	I fished a larger body of water this weekend and a friend fished a smaller one. We compared notes and found the following 1) Fish were shallow in the creeks with the bait fish 2) Fast moving baits caught fewer fish than slow moving ones 3) Rocky points next to deep water held good fish 4) Topwater was slow 5) Water temps in the low 70's and high 60's __________________ Smitty www.smittystubes.com

10-08-10, 11:14 PM	#11
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	I got 9 bass total today, 4 on a lizzard and 5 on a rattle trap while chasing the shad I open water. Water temp was 65-72 degrees. Bright sunny skies, no clouds and very little wind most of the time. Oh yeah, rattle trap was chrome with blue back I 1/2 ounce size. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

10-08-10, 11:40 PM	#12
BassBandit BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 430	Didn't get to go out today but yesterday. Had bass frenzy for 5 mins. 8 of 14 were keepers after a mile of beating the bank. It paid off. Good time- beats at staying home. __________________ Rest in peace Zooker

10-12-10, 01:07 PM	#15
mikesluckylures BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 88	Michigan Area Hello I also live in SE Michigan. Yes the weather has been up and down. I have been catching them on a 3/4 oz red eye shad lipless (Gold with Black back)in 4 foot along the windblown shore. Also landing nice 2-3lbers on Bitsybugs around docks I have not tried wacky but this would also work along lilley pads etc. Good Luck M

10-07-10, 02:15 PM	#2
dave0943 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Iron Mountain, MI Posts: 174	BigBurlyBass, I'm sure you'll get some good help from the forum, but a little more info would be helpful. Are you fishing from land or boat? What species of fish does this lake have? How big is the lake? What kind of structure does the lake have/ wood, rock, connecting river, stream? What color is the water? What kind of gear do you use? Kind of fill us in with more particulars and you will get some help. Dave

10-07-10, 06:29 PM	#4
IowaBasser BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ames, Iowa Posts: 360	The last couple weeks I've been fishing a lake similar in size, though the lake I fish is deeper. Regardless of the time of year I rarely fish deeper than 15 feet due to the weedline at around 10 feet. Recently our weather conditions have been similar to what you described and I've found the bass are shallow, within 2 or 3 feet of shore. I usually catch fish on the outside dock posts and under docks - but this time of year the fish seem to be right up on shore or near the shallow dock posts. On my lake the weeds in deeper water are starting to decay. During the summer months, I concentrate on the deep weedlines; however I suspect the decaying weeds are depleting the oxygen and driving the fish shallow. I've done pretty well with a "Zoom Horny Toad" ...once I figured out how to hook it correctly. (see this thread) Throw it as close to shore as possible, even throw it up on shore if there aren't too many snags and pull it into the water. Keep your rod tip high and use a slow steady top-water retrive over weeds and set the hook HARD! White-and-Yellow Spinnerbaits have also been productive. I've also caught a few on Rubber worms, Sluggos and Super Flukes, but the Spinnerbait has been the most productive bait, with the frog a close second and producing slightly larger fish.

10-07-10, 10:01 PM	#5
BigBurlyBass BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: detroit Posts: 188	Hey thanks guys!

10-07-10, 11:31 PM	#6
Bender BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 2,414	I'm up here in SE MI right now and have out fishing almost every day recently. It's been kind of tough though. I've been doing good with Horny Toads as well but after the first 1/2 hour tonight they wouldn't hit them. Went to a wacky rig along the edges of pads/weedline and a t-rigged beaver in the pads and weeds and caught nice fish. Topwater has been slow but one finally came on a popper tonight as well. Tried lipless cranks and spinnerbaits too but no takers. I think you may need to try several things to see what they want. This weather is strange and the fish are acting funny. It's supposed to get up to 80 this weekend here! This time of year is usually lipless, jerkbaits, and jigs but it seems a little different since it is so warm during the day.

10-07-10, 11:51 PM	#7
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	Last weekend I was catching nearly all my fish in 5-8 foot of water working a white/gold spinnerbait over and through the weedbeds. Couldnt buy a hit on topwater, including a frog. I did take a couple by pitchin a weightless 5" black/blue t rigged tube into pocket in the pads.

10-08-10, 11:30 AM	#9
dave0943 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Iron Mountain, MI Posts: 174	Here in Upper MI its been getting REAL COLD at night. We've had hard frost already. Water temps are dropping pretty fast. I've been taking Bass on Spinnerbaits, Chart, Black,Reds, whites. Like to add a little trailer double tail grub. This has been improving connects as the bass seem to hold on longer. Have been having some success with cranks running 2-8'. Bass, blugill colors, silver and blue, silver and black doing well. Also taking a few fish with dropshot rigs using 4" Plastics. Dave

10-11-10, 10:08 PM	#13
tim4081 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Spring Lake, Michigan Posts: 195	BigBurley, I'm in western Michigan so I've had the same weather as you. I mainly fish the Grand River bayous which are generally quite shallow and staind so very similar. I've been to get out quite a bit lately. The topwater bite has gone to almost nothing in the last two weeks and I've taken zero fish on spinnerbaits. However, a few have fallen to cranks and jerkbaits. The most productive lures have been 4" soft stick baits....green pumpkin/black flake senkos and yum dingers in junebug. This morning my son and I boated 30+ in 3 hours. We've been fishing them weightless on a t-rig. Casting to the edges of thick weed cover. Vary the retrieve until the fish tell you what they want....anything from a quick jerky type to deadsticking. Keep at em and good luck.

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