OK, a little dramatic, but I do believe this is the problem right now on several Cedar Creek Lake structures. I was out today , found fish in several places and caught them in 2 places on two different patterns. I saw bunches in other places, and they were almost impossible to catch. Where I caught them and how: Mid-lake Hump in 22 fow. They would take a #4 Mepps jump started and then reeled medium for a few turns of the reel. The 2nd place was Merimac Point in 15 fow using a #2 Mepps. It was loaded and I could have stayed and caught all I wanted, but was interested in checking out Spillway Hump and Enchanted Isle Ridge. Well, these two places were loaded with fish, but they wouldn't bite. Throwing right into two different schools of fish spread out along the bottom I managed to catch 2 in 30 minutes at Spillway on reaction strikes jump starting the #4 Mepps. Ran into the same at Enchanted Isle Ridge - tons of fish but after an hour of trying #2 and #4 I only managed 5.

So, here's what I think. Right now there are 3 generations of threadfin shad in the lake: the 3 inch or larger in size, the 1 1/2 inch size and the micro-shad (3/8 to 5/8 inches). I think at Mid-lake Hump I was on fish feeding on the larger shad, at Merimac I was on fish feeding on 1 1/2 inch shad and at Spillway and Enchanted Isle Ridge fish were feeding on the tiny shad. So, to be effective in this situation, you have to just move on when you come upon fish feeding on the micro-shad. When you find this situation, leave and go find some feeding on the larger shad and you can catch them. And, you can only know by trying each spot. However, it seems structures within the same area of the lake hold fish feeding on the same sized shad. Right now the area from Long Ridge north to Merimac (includes Long Ridge and Long Ridge West, the A-frame, Key Ranch Drop-off, Key Ranch North, Mid-lake Hump, Carolyn Estates Point, Pole Dance Point and of course Merimac Point) is holding the larger shad, and therefore, fish are catchable there. Well,that's my educated guess. BTW, in my experience September is usually the worst white bass fishing month - because of the micro-shad.

I�m seeing this also Dennis. Frustrating to say the least.

Would smaller swim baits work?

I have gone to Lane Palmers, www.constantpursuitoutfitters.com Crappie baits. Rig with a one ounce trolling sinker, they have swivels on both ends, with a 24 inch leader and 1/16 crappie jig. Bounced through or jig and slow retrieve, or combination. Change jig size/color until you find what they want.

I find a lot of my customers see a lot shad and take them for fish. The lakes are jammed packed with shad right now. No good shad kill for 4 years.
Johnny

I would agree on the different sizes. The past two weekends I have been watching various size bait from 3" to " can barely see them" from my place on Merrimac. Occasionally, the smaller groups have a few bigger ones mixed in. I will say I have never seen this much bait in the water.

We are anticipating an outstanding dead stick season. Especially on Bridgeport !

I went out again Thursday the 6th , and it looks like the micro-shad have moved into the areas I caught fish on Wednesday. Friend Ed D and I only caught 27 fish in 3 1/2 hours - most at Merimac Point. We saw lots at Long Ridge (middle and west) and Key Ranch Drop-off but they wouldn't bite a #2 or 4 Mepps. On the bright side, I went out yesterday and found fish ready to take a #2 at Swingset Hump.

I fished Lake Livingston wednesday and it was slow for me also. Talked to some other people about another lake and it was slow wednesday. We did manage some good stripers and whites but we worked for them. When we cleaned the fish there stomach was EMPTY. No shad at all . The saturday before they were spitting up shad when caught. It really seemed strange no bait in them. Yesterday was a different day and they were feeding. I don't know but like you I would like to know and usually I can find whites and figure out what they want.

Dennis, I have always enjoyed your posts! Fished with Paul J on Labor Day weekend and was able to see you catch a white bass "almost" every cast!! Thanks for letting us follow and "learn"...but your Mepps technique is not as easy as it looks! Sunday, Paul put it on me catching 35 to my 15...but what really matters is what I saw on the depth finder. What you "look for" on a spot makes all the difference. Again, THANKS for you sharing ON and OFF the water! - Doug from Sugar Land.

Keys: Be on fish on the bottom; Use right rod n reel and line; Use right presentation. Here's the four best presentations for a #4 Mepps in order of best 1st: 1. Cast away from boat to where you saw fish on the bottom, when it gets to bottom point rod toward line and take up the slack, then start reeling smoothly with rod still pointing at line, crank 3 to 6 turns, try various speeds to see how fast they want it; 2. Same as 1 but jerk-start from the bottom; 3. Hold rod down to the side, jerk start and reel 3 to 4 times, repeat; 4. Get right over fish in water 18 fow or deeper, drop Mepps right down beside boat, when it gets to bottom point rod straight down toward line, take up slack and reel straight up 3 to 8 turns. Sometimes it helps to give the Mepps a slight jerk before reeling it and sometimes it helps to hesitate a second or two between drags. For a #2 I pretty much use one presentation: cast to where you marked fish, let Mepps fall to the bottom, leave some slack in the line and jerk start it holding rod to the side and keep reeling 3 to 8 turns, repeat back to boat.

When you say micro shad are you referring to the fry that hatch every year? We see this a lot around brush piles, and are typically forced to downsize our baits. Once we downsize our presentation, everything goes as planned. If the fish are keying in on small shad, they'll hit a small jig just the same.

Yes laner. It�s amazing that at times 16 lb stripers will not hit a large bait but will tear up a school of 1� to 1.5� shad fry.

Most of us striper guys tackle rods reels and line is too heavy for small jigs and little crappie plastics. Lol
As if we don�t have too much tackle and more rods than room anyway. I need a bigger boat and storage building to hold it all now. Lol

I understand completely, Jbobo. I've got more gear than I'd care to admit. A good way to downsize without having to buy more lightweight gear is tying a small plastic or feather jig above a 1/4-1/2 ounce slab. The slab does all the work and the small jig catches the fish.

Yep done that many times. Thanks