Heading out to Lake Raven to camp and fish this weekend...probably going to fish Saturday and Sunday. Anyone been out there lately/have any tips?

Raven can be a tough lake to fish as I'm sure many will attest to. Not uncommon to see on this website for people to ask the question, "Are there any bass in this lake?" In reality, yes, plenty and big. Catching them on the other hand can be tough. This being a holiday weekend won't make it any easier. This lake, even though catch and release, gets tremendous pressure. This time of year (and with somewhat of a delayed spawn) there should be a few still up on beds. One general rule of thumb, IMO, is they are always closer to the bank than you think. I'd hit areas as close to the bank as possible with some type of drop off nearby. I'd start at the boat launch, put the trolling motor down and work from the launch around to the other side of the swimming area and the "boat house". Then, straight across from the "boat house" on the other side of the lake to the point that juts out into the main lake. Of course boat traffic will be a consideration. I'd start with a 7.5" black/blue tail worm Texas rigged and fish it slow as far back into the weeds/close to the bank as possible. Also might try a FLOATING chrome/blue backed Rattle Trap.If this fails, rework the same areas with a Carolina rig with about a two foot leader. Use a black Mann's augertail worm. Failing all of that electro shock and dynamite are effective. When Raven questions come up, I usually post this video that was made by a member here because, many times, you'd swear there isn't a fish in the lake. This video helps to dispel that notion and this video was shot last year at about this same time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JflrzL2EuKQ

Hit the edges with a wacky rigged watermelon red flake senko,has never let me down.

Patience and low expectations.

Thanks for the responses y'all. I will definitely try out what all y'all had to say...especially Rayzor haha. I never have too much luck there but it's just too darn pretty a lake to not go back (and there ARE fish in there dangit...)

That's the spirit! Take one for the team.

Report: went out there for about 6 hours, tried out what y'all had to say and also fished a few beds that had some smaller fish on them. One fish swiped at a frog and that was it. The bed fish could not have been less interested in the craws I was throwing them. I'm completely at a loss.

The frog bite has not come around yet, imo. The fish are on beds but very spooky. Pull off the bed, but still within sight fishing range and just [censored] them off. Change lures in order to help trigger a reaction, but most importantly be persistent. I had 5 today with the biggest being about 5 lbs.

Hence my caveat of dynamite and electro shocking as a back up plan.

Those stubborn Raven SOB's might not even give you the pleasure of floating to the top then either!

Hahaha...........Wouldn't surprise me.

There are several newly placed brushpiles added within the past couple of years. Find them.