This week we focused mainly on crappies and bluegill. Seems like a lot of fish are still roaming the 15-20 foot range. Seems to be a key depth, also a good range for fish health… meaning we’re not pulling crappies out of deep water and seeing the affects of barotrauma. We had a solid bite in the 10-15 foot range last week as well, where a lot of crappies and bluegills were holding together and you had a nice mixed-bag of fish. Otherwise the crappies (nicer fish anyway) have been away from the bluegill and on their own on the basin edges in that 15-20 foot range. The deeper fish were moving a lot more and harder to stay on… so it’s been a nice win-win in that range.
As far as presentation, it’s been both extremes… one day it’s all aggressive, moving baits like the Clam Outdoors Pinhead Pro or size 10-8 tungsten jigs and plastics, and then other days it’s smaller finesse presentations like size 14-12 tungsten and micro plastics or tipped with a couple maggots. Wonderbread variations for the Pinhead Pros and in 1/32 and 1/16oz still. Then for the tungsten jigs we’ve used size 10-8 Drop Kicks in black/chartreuse and red glow, also size 14-12 white wonderbread Drop jigs and size 12 Swirl Drops in a white or chartreuse.
Right now the key is to look for the “right fish” you want to target. Meaning don’t settle for smaller fish if that’s not what you want. Majority of the better fish lately are grouped up and roaming off the bottom anywhere from 2-5 feet up (at least in the depths we’re targeting). We’ve found ourselves making moves even when we’re on fish to find better fish/the fish we want.
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson Outdoors
www.mattjohnsonoutdoors.com