Trip 7/20-28/2012

[jwfoba]

Fished out of Sunnyside for 8 days. The lake exceeded all expectations and we had an excellent time.
Found the level down over a foot with water temps ranging from 75 to 88 degrees from depending on the area and sun. The blue-green algae was in rare form and parts of the lake appeared chartreuse from a distance. This stuff occupied the upper layer of the water column so it had no real effect on our fishing other than keeping me from swimming.
We rotated through the tackle arsenal the first day or so of the trip but settled on jig/pig and Carolina rigged plastics for the vast majority of our on-the-water time. We found an untapped treasure of big LM bass and SM bass out away from the obvious structure/cover. If we had a nice point or shoal near us, we fished the deepest area adjacent to it. We caught a ton of fish up close and in the grass but the biggest fish all came from deeper water. I would motor around until I started seeing bait/fish in 12'-14' of water and fish for them. 2 out of 3 areas held fish. We settled on the mid-lake from Mutt/Jeff to the bridge as the best fishing. Tried areas above and below that with only partial success.
here are the pics from the trip:

[Glenp]

Nice

[492VS]

Nice Fish! Walleye included. What no lipping the bowfin? Almost convinced me to start dragging a carolina rig around the lake.

[jwfoba]

We read all the 'Senko' reports and did our fare share of wacky-rig on the first and second day but the light Carolina outfished it hands down in the windy conditions we were faced with. We also caught a few magnums on spinnerbait but the fish didn't seem to want to chase anything for long. Never threw a crankbait though I saw several tournament boats doing it.
We were going to Boga the Bowfin but it was too strong to deal with so it got the net photo - we saw it surfacing around Wood Isle and it bit the first close cast.
We had a blast last season and it was even better this go-round. In between the run/gun we would fish for crappies around the bridge and did well. Some of the biggest SM and LM of the trip hit a 2.5" Gulp minnow.

[sakman33]

nice fish! was the gulp minnow carolina rigged? if so, how deep were u fishing it? also, were u fishing the jig n pig off the points and sholes as well? heading up in a few weeks. Thanks!

[wildchild]

Nice report! Thanks for all the info and the pics. Good job on the bass man!

[sasnyder]

Awsome report. Thanks for the great pictures!

[jwfoba]

Sakman33 - we were fishing a 1/16th oz. painted jig with the Gulp for crappies... lift/drop... swimming it some. The bass were just in there with the crappies.
We fished open water and were throwing Hail Mary casts with the jigs (grass and football jigs in 3/8th and 1/2 oz). Same with the Carolina. 50% of the fish got the baits on the initial fall so I'm guessing those fish were suspended somewhat. When we felt the zebra mussels as we worked the baits back we knew to hold on. Those fish love the mussel beds in the deeper grass.

[sakman33]

wow! so these sm and lm were hitting jigs and light carolina in deep water huh(12-15)? now you said before and after the bridge correct? sry for all the ?'s . I tend to fish a lot of weed lines and grass beds and all i get are lm. having a hard time finding the smallies on anything other that crayfish. any suggestions?

[jwfoba]

Fish all the pins and cans on the deep side of them. Notice the pins in my pictures? We fished a lot of them.
If you see weeds by the boat or even on the graph you are too shallow. Most of the structure on the mid part of the lake runs SW to NE - fish the up-wind side first and sit way out from any visible stuff. We generally idled all the areas and watched the graph for bait/fish and any decent contour changes. Once we found this stuff, we'd move out away from it and cast back at it from deeper water. Since the majority of 'deep water' in this place is about 14', we sat in 14'. The fish seemed to be around the 10' depth on the structure. Don't forget to check your line for damage from the mussels - I retied my line at least every 10 casts or after a battle with a fish. Recommend heavier line - I was using 14, 17, and 20# fluorocarbon and still had break-offs, just less of them.
We caught big LM right in with the big SM.
When we first got to the lake, the bass were stupid for jig/pig - every cast at times. When they stopped hitting it we would throw the Carolina and start catching again. I'm sure there are other ways to get these fish, but it's hard to beat a good jig/pig bite.

[sakman33]

very helpful! Thanks!

[tr21]

jwfoba What were you using on the carolina rig? I ve used that rig other places but not here. Thanks NICE JOB

[jwfoba]

tr21 - it was a mix of anything green pumpkin. 4" Senkos, 7" Zoom Trick Worms, Baby Brush Hogs, Berkley Chigger Craws... they all worked.
We found out early, though, that a craw bait with big claws would miss a lot of fish. I was using Paca chunks and Chiggers on my jigs and missed a ton of bites. I think what was happening is the SM bass were trying to rip the claws off before eating the bait. I switched up to a #11 pork frog and it was game on. Much better hook ups.

We settled on a 3/16th Carolina rig - light I know but it didn't get so dinged up in the mussels.

[tr21]

Thanks Iam here for another week and a half.
More than likely I'll try 1/4 oz. I'll try flappen hogs.
also may try spider grubs in colors you said to try.Thanks again\

[chris14race]

Very nice... im headed up in three days for our annual august trip.. cant wait