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Turning on schools of fish
#11476164
03/14/16 02:58 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,712
Txmedic033
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,712 |
I know how to tell when schools are actively feeding on my electronics. The issue I am having is finding the active schools lately. I have not had any issues finding the fish, I just am unable to find any willing to eat what I am offering. I have tried thumping and splashing as well as a variety of baits including live shad at a variety of depths w/o success. What do y'all recommend when I am unable to find the actively feeding fish?
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Re: Turning on schools of fish
[Re: Txmedic033]
#11476324
03/14/16 03:58 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,848
SteveStrasemeier
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,848 |
Thumping the bottom of the boat may help. My opinion (and you know what that is worth) is that this time of year they have spawning on their minds and can be finiky about eating. Wait 2-3 weeks and they will be very hungry.
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Re: Turning on schools of fish
[Re: SteveStrasemeier]
#11476369
03/14/16 04:12 PM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413
TCK73
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413 |
I have found a lot of non-feeding fish lately, presumably stripers or hybrids. After giving up, I have been turning to the Whites. They have been easy pickings on Cordell Slabs in 30' of water. They are fun to catch and stock the freezer, but I'm ready to get back on some bigger fish.
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Re: Turning on schools of fish
[Re: Txmedic033]
#11476741
03/14/16 06:36 PM
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,106
Ledeez
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,106 |
Can't beat those Cordell's 2/$2.99! Tawak specials!
Teamgetsome$$$
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Re: Turning on schools of fish
[Re: Txmedic033]
#11476872
03/14/16 07:31 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 253
big D
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 253 |
I found the same schools of fish this weekend! They wouldn't touch a slab or plastic of any kind, but when I dropped a live bait in front of them it was game on!!!! The schools of whites I found would feed on anything but the striper were picky. Did you try live bait? I've been using 3-5" sunfish because shad is hard to come by on the main lake. I have also had luck with large minnows. The only problem is the whites and smaller fish will eat the minnows too!
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Re: Turning on schools of fish
[Re: Txmedic033]
#11476996
03/14/16 08:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,435
ðŸ€El Gato AzulðŸ€
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,435 |
I have found a trick to catching those hybrids right now that don't want to bite....its a lot of fun too. When all your normal tactics aren't working, I drop a 1/8 oz Christmas tree colored feather crappie jig with 10 lb test line on a spinning rod right in front of their nose and don't move it. They will hit it almost immediately...can't catch big ones as they will straighten your hook. This works like a charm for me on hybrids in Lewisville
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Re: Turning on schools of fish
[Re: ðŸ€El Gato AzulðŸ€]
#11477575
03/15/16 12:59 AM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,730
jbobo
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,730 |
I have found a lot of non-feeding fish lately, presumably stripers or hybrids. After giving up, I have been turning to the Whites. They have been easy pickings on Cordell Slabs in 30' of water. They are fun to catch and stock the freezer, but I'm ready to get back on some bigger fish. ^^^^ Me too! I spent all day, today, at PK marking fish. Thumped, splashed, went into stealth mode. All I caught was a bunch of small striper and small sand bass. From Costello island north was stained, 60 degree water. South was clear and 57 to 58 degrees. Up Cedar Creek was clear to the state park. I have found a trick to catching those hybrids right now that don't want to bite....its a lot of fun too. When all your normal tactics aren't working, I drop a 1/8 oz Christmas tree colored feather crappie jig with 10 lb test line on a spinning rod right in front of their nose and don't move it. They will hit it almost immediately...can't catch big ones as they will straighten your hook. This works like a charm for me on hybrids in Lewisville I can catch the small ones on slabs and small jigheads with small flukes. I may have to drop down a few lbs. in line size and just use a skirted jig without the plastic.
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Re: Turning on schools of fish
[Re: Txmedic033]
#11477692
03/15/16 01:38 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 850
CB327
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 850 |
I am having the same problem. Last 3 trips I have found the fish but can't get them to bite. I think the fish are in shock from all the rain raising the lake so quickly and also releasing large volumes of water at the same time. I could actually feel my lures bumping fish and brining up scales on the barbs.
Don't sweat the small stuff. It's all small stuff.
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Re: Turning on schools of fish
[Re: Txmedic033]
#11477766
03/15/16 01:56 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,687
44 Diesel
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,687 |
It's called the "Lake Benbrook Syndrome", you can find em but they don't eat
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Re: Turning on schools of fish
[Re: 44 Diesel]
#11477804
03/15/16 02:07 AM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413
TCK73
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,413 |
I liked fishing better when I just had one of those circle flasher graphs, it left me with more excuses. I'm not for certain exactly what fish I have been seeing, but they were definitely in the non-biting family of large fish. It does seem that Gaspergoos' (sounds cooler than Drum) have been running with the Sandies lately. We always seem to catch a couple in the mix.
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Re: Turning on schools of fish
[Re: Txmedic033]
#11478163
03/15/16 04:57 AM
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 124
1Tacklehoarder
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 124 |
Another bait you might try is 2" live crawfish. I know it's just another bait, but it's real easy to catch a dozen and have them on hand. I have caught a lot of hybrids on crawdads.
A country boy can survive!
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Re: Turning on schools of fish
[Re: Txmedic033]
#11478166
03/15/16 05:02 AM
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 124
1Tacklehoarder
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 124 |
And goos love crawdads, too, so if that's what you are seeing on your graph, at least you can get one to the surface to see what it is. I wouldn't be afraid to drop a good ole' fresh dug worm down there either.
A country boy can survive!
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