how to find them

[danny crouse]

Down here in North Carolina it has been a mixed up spawning season. The fish have been strung out from early April till even now trying to do the spawning thing. The weather has been so unpredictable, hot, warm, cold, and warm again. Most times the bass will really be hot in the spawn from mid April till the first of May then it's all over. This year some fish committed early and did their spawning and moved out. Then a cool snap hit, and others spawned on the second warming period, and finally now the last of the spawners are getting finished. This has presented a real problem for me, because the fish are widely scattered. The ones that spawned early are not it the post spawn areas, however some of the late spawners are, but they seem to be smaller fish. The water has finally stabled at about 67 to 70 degrees right now,depending on the time of day you fish. My question is, how can I target the larger fish? They are not in the post spawn areas, and it seems that they are not yet in the deeper holes either. My best fish are coming on an early topwater bite, usually near points, but this only last about an hour in the morning. So, then where could they be after that? How can I put a pattern together to catch these bigger fish, or will I just have to wait till the heat of summer pushes all the bass into a summer time deep pattern?

desperately seeking fish
fishing fever

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Fever, check out some mud flats with scattered stumps, spawned fish go there to rest and follow bait fish. Spinnerbaits work well as the water is usually stained from carp spawning there alsoRat-L-Traps are another good bait. Silvers and shad patterns work very well. Try buzzing these flats then use a Zara spook right after. The buzzer excites the fish, the spook catches them. Also, try buring a Rat-L-Trap through the flat very fast then switch to a conventionasl spinnerbait slowed down. Swimming a black an d blue jig and pig through the shallow water also works. Hope this helps, Johnnie

[carl]

Johnie, I'm going thru the same thing. Today I had the best day on a public lake that I've ever had, but the conditions were perfect. I boated 25-30lbs in just an hour and a half, but as soon as the sun came out it was the same old story. I remember a pro saying that when ther're biting anyone can catch them, so I'm concentrating on trying a pattern that works during noon, and after. So far I haven't found it. Today when the bite was off, I tried a carolina/floating worm, another floater/1/16 ball head, spinners of different sizes,and senkos-zip. I keep thinking these lakes with so much fish. pressure need a finesse approach. All I've got left is maybe a slug'o, and a drop shot set up. Since our fish have already moved into their summer pattern, any tips?

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Carl, in my opinion, there's no better summertime bait than topwaters or crankbaits, deep divers. I use non-rattling deep divers most of the time in 15 to 20 feet of water fished parallel to the shorelines. Keep that bait moving fairly fast. A Zara Spook slashed across the surface is another good choice. Fish it fast also. Summer bass can get very active and will chase baits. A trick that works well if you're patient is yo-yoing a slab spoon. Cast the spoon into deep water then jerk it off the bottom, allow the spoon to fall back then repeat process until retrive is complete. Nearly all strikes occur as the bait falls back. Use chrome color. One more- try tying on a jig and pig 3/8 ounce. leave about two feet of tag line, now tie a Texas rigged floating worm to the loose end. Cast this rig out and swim it slowly back. The jig and pig covers the bottom stirring up silt etc., the floating worm will take any fish that comes to investigate. Johnnie